readsforlove's reviews
828 reviews

Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast by Robin McKinley

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2.0

This is my first book that I'm reading in a long line of books that I will hate, but I'm doing it for the research

No one can accuse me now of not doing my research, haha. 

So. As adaptions go, this is just a rewrite of the original story. The writing is lush and beautiful (which is why it's 2 stars, not 1) and the magic is enchanting and mesmerizing. I loved Beauty's horse (though I don't remember its name). And I feel that it is in Beauty's horse that we see just how problematic the source material of this novel is. 

Beauty is forced to agree to stay in a magical castle with a monstrous beast, or else her father will be murdered. Later we learn that the beast didn't actually plan on killing the dad, but talk about manipulation. 

I'm not going to rant more about the problems of the source material. We all know the story. And McKinley wrote a beautifully written novel with very little character development (seriously, what was with that ending? What was Beauty supposed to have learned, when her story ended like that? Pissed me off almost more than the Stockholm Syndrome). I was oddly riveted, but I think that was a combination of the narrator and the quality of the writing. 

Anyway. If you like Beauty and the Beast, then this is a great way to read the OG story. Don't expect any new twists and turns. This really is just a novelization of the fairytale. 
The 5 Sentence Method: How to Write Your D*mn Book, Already. by Rebecca Thorne

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5.0

I've written 15 novels and this book has revolutionized the way I go about planning my stories. I am writing a book next week simply to experiment with this plotting style because it actually makes sense to my brain! I highly recommend it to any writer, no matter where in the process you are. 

Also, I've never read a craft book that had a whole chapter devoted to diversity, and Thorne handled it beautifully. A very important and relevant addition to the book.
Too Bright to See by Kyle Lukoff

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5.0

This is a reread, and upon reread this really is deserving of 5 stars. The aching, beating heart of this book sticks with you. I'm glad to have reread it, and know it's not the last time I will be dipping into Bug's story.
Nayra and the Djinn by Iasmin Omar Ata

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3.5

It took me a ridiculous amount of time to read this. I was stressed out over the friendship drama, but the ending really brought the book up! I liked how the djinn paralleled Nayra's own life. It made for a very satisfying conclusion. At the same time, it did feel rather slow and the characters were very frustrating throughout. Glad I read it, but not my favorite. 

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Bingo Love Volume 1: Jackpot Edition by Gail Simone, Tee Franklin, Marguerite Bennett

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5.0

I cried multiple times reading this short but sweet comic. I don't usually read sad queer lit, and the homophobia present here hurt. But it was a good kind of hurt, because this is history, and we shouldn't forget it. 

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