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Loading... Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast (1978)by Robin McKinley
  
Best Fantasy Novels (71) Comfort Reads (5) » 19 more Best Young Adult (29) Favourite Books (113) Favorite Childhood Books (366) Female Protagonist (98) Elevenses (135) Books Read in 2016 (2,164) Childhood Favorites (204) Female Author (568) Sonlight Books (282) Same Title (15) A beautiful retelling. I think I would have appreciated more when I was younger. (  ) zyphax | Dec 27, 2016 |  Three days ago, I could take or leave this book. The first 50% is slow, meandering, mostly narrative rather than in-the-moment. Then, I hit the half way point and I fell in love. I don't give many books five stars, but I truly loved this one. It was sweet, lush, fantastical, magic. I loved the scenes with Beauty and Beast as they are getting to know one another, falling for one another. Sure, the book is imperfect. The pacing is off, the ending feels rushed, there are some plot holes -- but it's beautiful. And if you're in the mood for a break from all the madness and can slow your mind down for a few hours, it's worth the read. (  ) smadams | Dec 15, 2016 | Meh. I like McKinley's writing style, but this was such a bland, blah story. I love Beauty and the Beast, but this was a pretty literal retelling except for a few embellishments to Beauty's life before meeting the Beast. There was never any real explanation of the curse, or the connection to the roses, and what he had done to deserve it besides a vague few sentences about a "family" curse because they had been so pious... Whatever that implies. The ending was extremely rushed and it didn't feel developed at all, just in a hurry to end. Like, a really big hurry. I think my main issue though was the lack of emotion through the whole thing. Everyone read like a cardboard cutout, except perhaps Beauty's sister Grace who was about the only person to display any emotion at all. It was annoying, and boring to read. A big disappointment to what could have been a fantastic book... (  ) GoldenDarter | Sep 15, 2016 | If you've been a reader for a while, then I don't have to explain why this novel remains a classic example of brilliance. The author draws you into her retelling of the classic fairytale in a way that satisfies all your unanswered questions. Long before Disney began sketching Belle and their Beast, Robin McKinley re-imagined a classic tale with some fresh takes. As a child reading my favorite author's first novel, I wasn't so aware of the fact it was written before my favorite film. All I knew was it was fresh and rich and warm in a way that so many fairy tales are rarely penned any more. In this fatalistic, modern world, we tend to prefer gray as to black and white stories. Too often we don't allow ourselves satisfaction in simpler themes. Beauty is a wonderful reminder of the reason we need these hope riddled happier fairy tales. ( ) JSilverwood | Aug 27, 2016 | Very sweet straightforward telling of Beauty and the Beast,told from Beauty's perspective.Slow start,setting out the family circumstances,but once the father plucks one of the Beast's roses,the story picks up.Lovely descriptions of the magnificent mysterious castle,and a credible growing closeness between Beauty and Beast,spread over many months.Not sure of the target audience for this,since the style is simple but elegant.Maybe YA,verging on adult? Very enjoyable (  ) dustydigger | Jun 24, 2016 | no reviews | add a review
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