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: Another reason to like retellings!
Summary: 5 Stars
This was a great book; I literally couldn't put it down! Not at all like the Disney version, yet it still had the same elements in it of the original story. And there's a few interesting plot twists to boot! Don't miss this one!Book Review: Awesome
Summary: 5 Stars
When my sister first started reading me this book I loved it. But she never got past the first part, well than she wouldn't finish the book for me. So she challenged me to read it. Well it took me awhile to read it but when I started reading the book I could barley but the book down it was so good now later I'm very glad she made me read it. Every one should read this book it's awesome.
Book Review: BEAUTY IS THE NARRATOR.
Summary: 5 Stars
I've read Beauty twice before, and it's just as excellent, as ever. Robin Mckinley says, that when she was very young, Beauty and the Beast used to be one of her favorite stories, but I think, she owned her version from the orginal authors, after the French author's story. Once again, Beauty and the Beast is a tale as old as time.Book Review: BEAUTY ROCKS!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
This is my favorite book of all time and I'm not even that fond of the story of Beauty and the Beast. I've read the book at least a dozen times and done two book reports on it so far. They were the only book report projects I have ever been excited about. The story is enchanting and different enough from other versions that it keeps you excited until the end. I am currently buying Spindle's End because I am curious as to how Robin McKinley approached retelling my favorite fairy tale. Beauty is definitely a must-have for all lovers of fairy tales and magic.Book Review: Beautifully written; true to the old tale... but...
Summary: 3 Stars
This is Robin McKinley's version of "Beauty and the Beast", told with her excellent grasp of the written word.Wonderful prose; wonderful characterization of Beauty and her family (a point I have often found lacking in almost all "Beauty and the Beast" versions.). In this version, we are made to understand how Beauty's family could give her up to a terrible Beast, how human they are in the face of such unexplainable enchantment, how they react to the surreal events of their lives when it comes to loss. I appreciate this part of the book where her sisters and father are actually people who have volume, not just mentioned characters who seem so heartless and greedy giving up their sister to such an uncertain fate.
The beast was intriguing, but as with most of Robin McKinley's male characters who happen to be her heroine's love interest, they are weakly developed, or at least half-baked. Which is strange because all the rest of the male characters come pretty strong.
Now, while generally, Beauty in this tale isn't the typical Beauty of the tales we've already heard, the retelling, as a whole, really doesn't divert much from the original. While I realize that this could be a good thing, I was hoping for something fresh; a twist of sorts, like the way "Spindle's End" was told. Unfortunately, this came off with the same impact as McKinley's "The Outlaws of Sherwood".
I would recommend "Beauty and the Beast" for first time visitors of the old tale. I would recommend this book to those who want to understand the motives behind Beauty's family. I would not recommend this book to someone looking for a fresh take.