A review by klarasomogyi
The Beauty and the Beast (Illustrated with Interactive Elements) by Gabrielle-Suzanne de Villeneuve

adventurous lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

 As many people around my age, I know Beauty and the Beast through the Disney movie. And when I came across the original, I was curious to see how different it was. 

Basically, Beauty and the Beast is a fairytale - a somewhat complex story for kids. Apart from the known characters (Beauty, her father, the beast), there are actually fairies too. And the second part, the majority of the book is to explain why and how everything happened before the lover’s fate intertwined. 

This was nice to read, but the way Beauty and the Beast interacted felt short and flat. Learning their background through the fairies meddling felt like a mythological story (which is a nice comparison, I think), with all the complications, and slightly higher powers, but for kids. 

I find it genius, how based on this story Disney came up with such a complex and entertaining retelling, and made it all come to life. Beauty and The Beast is one of my favorite childhood movies, and now I appreciate it even more, thanks to the book.