Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast by Robin McKinley Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast
Book Review: Back-Room Wonder
Summary: 4 Stars
Sometimes I worry about Back-Room Books. Sure, they're already on shelf, already established, and don't need the buzz Up-and-Coming Wonders require. Or do they? Every once in a while I stumble across an ugly paperback that hasn't been checked out in years. The title's familiar, but as to being any good, I haven't the foggiest. Back on the shelf it goes--and I miss something amazing. (Blast that library godmother. She's supposed to give neglected gems an effervescent glow.) Maybe I'm just ignorant--after all, 1 in 49 people I meet have read "Roller Skates." But in the absence of signs and wonders, it would be lovely for librarians to shine a little light on back-room stacks. Notwithstanding their dusty appearance, some novels shouldn't be missed.
Beauty isn't a beauty. Her nickname is only the result of kind, wry humor. She is good, however, and when her merchant father sets sail for foreign lands, she asks him to bring back a rose.
McKinley might not alter much of the original plot, but the reassuring familiarity of her story is like a bowl of steamy rice pudding (the novel is perfectly enjoyed alongside that comfort, by the way). Delicious prose is reason enough to read a fairy tale; small delights, such as a castle library replete with past and future classics, just add to the book's charm.
Beauty was written long before the recent crop of fairy tale retellings, whose twists and unexpected departures seem necessary to sustain interest in the "same old story." McKinley obviously did not intend to put a new spin on a familiar plot, but to remind readers of the simple beauty every fairy tale holds, common loveliness, preserved by thousands of peddlers, housewives, cooks, and nurses. Beauty is McKinley's performance beside the fire, imparting the story to yet another generation of imaginations.
Book Review: a very enjoyable read
Summary: 4 Stars
I find this retelling of beauty and the beast to be incredibly charming. I enjoy the backstory with Beauty's family. The backstory, for all of its vagaries, manages to ground the bulk of the story in the "real" world. When contrasted with Beauty's time at the castle, it serves to impart a sense of magic. I particularly enjoyed that there is no villain in this book, simply a set of unfortunate and often tragic circumstances.
Overall, the story flows quickly and easily. McKinley has a good sense for when to embellish and when to simply move the plot along.
The only reason I didn't give this story 5 stars is because of some basic construction issues. McKinley slips sense often in this book, switching from past voice to present with little rhyme or reason. Also, McKinley is obviously well versed in mythology and classical texts and as such Beauty often makes references to authors and characters that I'm not familiar with. Generally, I get the idea from the context, but I did find the continual references to be a bit annoying. It implies a shared knowledge base which simply isn't there for some readers.
But even those annoyances are minor. Overall, the book is a joy to read, witty and quick. I highly recommend it.
Book Review: Best Book Ever
Summary: 5 Stars
I read this book for the first time when I was a fourth grader, and it blew me away. Robin Mckinley is genius. She takes a classic (and overused) fairy tale and transforms it into something original. The heroine isn't the beauty of the family. The evil sisters are actually as beautiful on the inside as they are on the outside. Beauty decides to go to the beast and save her father's life because the adventure calls to her. She's stubborn and plain, but she's also brave and honorable.
It isn't difficult to understand how Beauty can fall in love with the Beast. Beast is everything every hero should be, except that he is no longer human.
I loved the magic and imagination that jumps from each page, and I can read this book over and over again.
Book Review: The rest of the story
Summary: 5 Stars
Such a beautiful story! Robing Mckinley brings so much life and depth to these old and somewhat dry fairy tales of the past. She gives us that extra bit of detail that we want, "the rest of the story."Book Review: Retelling of my favorite :)
Summary: 4 Stars
I loved Beauty and the Beast animated version from Disney. Of course its not the same, but it does have some fresh twists and my only complaint seems that it wasnt detailed enough towards the ending. Felt a little rushed, and I was a little upset that the Beast had no real competition. I would have liked it more drawn out but it worked perfectly as one of my "fun" reads in between the serious stuff.