Penelope

First off, the movie is one of my all time favorites. If I am feeling upset, bored, or need a pick me up I can watch this movie and help keep my mind off of things. So the book is just a written variation of the movie since the movie technically came first, however, I thought what the hell 'I've never read a book based on a movie so why not?'

There are some differences, mostly with the beginning, I found it to be sort of long winded but we get more background information on her family which is nice. We also get more of an insight on Penelope and her childhood plus it better shows the relationship she has with her father, something they sort of gloss over in the movie.

Her mother is (surprisingly) more horrid in the book than the movie if show more you can believe it. It also gives more of the supporting cast more depth like Lemon, and the matchmaker whose name I cannot think of right now, but it does have its drawbacks. The whole getting to know Max (Johnny) was too brief in my opinion, at least to make it believable that they love each other, I feel like the movie shows it better.

Overall was it a bad idea to read this? Absolutely not. Like I said more insight into otherwise bland characters. I won't say I love it more than the movie but you can definitely read and watch and you won't regret it. show less

The story of a cursed Penolope, bound to find 'one among your class to love you' in order to have her real human face--with no snout. The story is kind of a fairytale, except that it isn't. (Well, if you don't count the witch.) There is no prince charming or knight in shining armour. Penelope has to rescue herself--just like any girls with some senses should do these days. I think this book is a good antidote for those who dream too much about love fantasies.

I've wanted to see this movie for awhile but never got around to it, but I was just as thrilled when I stumbled upon the book. Penelope, a 25 year old, is placed under a curse that goes back 150 years. Because of her great-great-great grandfather Ralph choosing to marry an upper class woman instead of the woman he truly loves who's a servant in order to please his family, the mother of the servant places a curse on the Wilhern family, making it that the next Wilhern daughter will be born with a pig snout for a nose, and the only way to break the curse is the daughter must marry a blue blood who can accept the way the daughter is. Penelope gets tired of being hidden away in the house with her mom and her assistant interviewing guy after show more guy to be her possible husband, so she breaks away. And along the way, Penelope makes friends and finds herself. In the end, she accepts and begins to truly know what it's like to love herself, despite her "flaws". A book that I just really couldn't put down, I defintley recommend this book to everyone who loves a good fairy tale with a twist. show less

In the same week I discovered I was listening to an abridgement (World War Z) and reading a film-to-book adaptation (this). How embarrassing.

Pretty bland reading, but I'd bet the movie's cute.

Actually it's really cool in its shelve, "fairy tales". it has a good story-line and it's really fetching if you'd picked it wisely, you know 'cause it's kinda fantasy and I know everyone doesn't love this kind of story telling. Personally, I don't like these kind of story but if you want to read something fairy, it's really a good choice.
End of all it's really cool for kids to read for.

Captivating, I couldn't put it down, yet not structured well enough to be nominated.

Liked the movie