Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast
Original price was: $9.99.$7.99Current price is: $7.99.
The New York Times–bestselling author of Rose Daughter reimagines the classic French fairy tale of Beauty and the Beast.
I was the youngest of three daughters. Our literal-minded mother named us Grace, Hope, and Honour. . . . My father still likes to tell the story of how I acquired my odd nickname: I had come to him for further information when I first discovered that our names meant something besides you-come-here. He succeeded in explaining grace and hope, but he had some difficulty trying to make the concept of honour understandable to a five-year-old. . . . I said: ‘Huh! I’d rather be Beauty.’ . . .
By the time it was evident that I was going to let the family down by being plain, I’d been called Beauty for over six years. . . . I wasn’t really very fond of my given name, Honour, either . . . as if ‘honourable’ were the best that could be said of me.
The sisters’ wealthy father loses all his money when his merchant fleet is drowned in a storm, and the family moves to a village far away. Then the old merchant hears what proves to be a false report that one of his ships had made it safe to harbor at last, and on his sad, disappointed way home again he becomes lost deep in the forest and has a terrifying encounter with a fierce Beast, who walks like a man and lives in a castle. The merchant’s life is forfeit, says the Beast, for trespass and the theft of a rose—but he will spare the old man’s life if he sends one of his daughters: “Your daughter would take no harm from me, nor from anything that lives in my lands.” When Beauty hears this story—for her father had picked the rose to bring to her—her sense of honor demands that she take up the Beast’s offer, for “cannot a Beast be tamed?”
This “splendid story” by the Newbery Medal–winning author of The Hero and the Crown has been named an ALA Notable Book and a Phoenix Award Honor Book (Publishers Weekly).
ASIN : B00OGWASXC
Publisher : Open Road Media Teen & Tween (November 18, 2014)
Publication date : November 18, 2014
Language : English
File size : 2.7 MB
Text-to-Speech : Enabled
Screen Reader : Supported
Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
X-Ray : Enabled
Word Wise : Not Enabled
Print length : 218 pages
7 reviews for Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast
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ilovewoofy –
ONE OF MY FAVORITES!!!! Any comments for ones like it by McKinley???
Ok, let me just say I am SO harsh when it comes to reviewing books. I almost never love a book. Usually, I like books, think their decent but would never want to read them again and think some of the book was a waste of time. This book? Absolutely wonderful! The author is so amazing at writing, I’ve never seen someone be able to weave a story with such beautiful descriptions before without losing the reader’s interest. The storyline is great too, like the classic but with enough of added details and character developments to fully engage the reader’s attention. I really loved how Beauty’s sisters were nice even though they were so beautiful, I was expecting the whole evil stepsister kind of attitude. I also liked the Beast’s personality and how it differed between Beauty’s father and herself. I liked the minor characters of Ger (one of Beauty’s sisters’ husbands) and the babies they have and the hints the Beast gives to one of these babies as well as the other characters. I like the neighbors and how self sufficient and kind they are with this heartfelt, rugged aspect the author gives them, like they’ve adapted to the raw and forlorn landscape they live in physically but without losing their sense of kindness. I love how the author portrays this landscape and how the characters depend on each other, with Beauty being the most independent yet finds a new sense of dependence as the story goes on.She really is an awesome character, one I could so easily be friends with. She’s braver than I could ever be but she’s an avid reader, knows what its like to stand in her sister’s shadows, is a bit insecure about her appearance, is confident in herself mentally and physically but not when it comes to appearances. She’s a huge animal lover, particularly of horses, which I really love about the story because I love horses as well so reading about them, what they look like and behave like in this fiction story was great. I really loved Beauty’s horse and how he acted like a big puppy, following her around, protecting her, but being scared sometimes himself even though he’s this giant draft horse. He reminded me of the white horse in the movie Tangled, he thinks he’s a guard dog sometimes lol! I also loved the castle’s enchantments, it was wonderful yet almost scary as Beauty began to adapt to it and become a part of it.The only critique I have!! The ending! It was a beautiful ending, predictable yes but we all knew what was going to happen. However, it was just too fast. I was a bit confused as to Beauty actually seeing her family parade through the woods or just see it in the mirror? There’s no way it could happen in reality, how could they even know about the wedding let alone get there in a few minutes time frame when the castle was hours away? It was just way too rushed and confusing, I think the author was trying to end the book on a light note but it really could have used a few more pages so that it actually felt real rather than made up. I get the book is supposed to be fiction but the author actually kept a realness throughout the whole novel..up until the very last pages that it.Overall, I love this book to death! I actually had a hard time leaving its story behind, I was so ready to re-read the book again and I think I just might! Living in the author’s descriptions felt so real and magical, I just have never felt that in a story before and trust me, I’ve read hundreds of books! I’m definitely going to be buying more of McKinley’s books, but not many seem to get the rave reviews as this one. If anyone has any comments as to which book of hers is most like this one in writing style with a great story to go along with it, be free to comment! There is another Beauty and the Beast story of hers, but I hear its not nearly as good as this one!!
MereChristian –
The (I think) Potential Inspiration for Disney’s Take on the Tale
I realized when first reading this novel a few years ago, and recently once again, that Disney’s story folks are incredibly original and creative, but like most creators, they had sources of inspiration from which they borrowed ideas. I believe that the creators of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast found some of their inspirations in the book I am here reviewing, Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast by Robin McKinley.Granted, that much is different (I said I believe Disney got some ideas, not adapted the work). For instance, “Beauty” is her nickname, not her name, and she is her tomboyish ugly duckling who hatches into a beautiful swan before the end of the story. Other areas of difference are that the household items do not talk, at least not understandably, and the servants that do talk, are invisible, and not meant to be understood by Beauty. In fact, her increasing ability to understand them as the story progresses, is a major plot point. In other words, the enchanted servants, as well as roses and so on that one will see in the novel I believe did inspire the film-makers, but that was it. The story is still quite different. Other similarities exist that I can not properly describe without spoiling the whole book. You’ll just have too see for yourselves.The main premise is well-known, but herein is reworked. Beauty lives with her father, sisters, and brother-in-law at his house and smithy. The brother-in-law, is a blacksmith, and a good one at that. He grew up in that part of the countryside where they now live after his father-in-law (Beauty and her sisters’ father) suffers financial ruin. He warns the family not to go near the forest, for it is evil and enchanted.Unfortunately, not all of the family listens, and on returning from a business trip, Beauty’s father wanders into the woods and gets lost. He comes upon a castle, and angers the Beast who anonymously cared for him there. His life is spared provided that he, or one of his daughters, comes to live with the Beast forever.Once the poor old man arrives home and tells his tale, Beauty volunteers to go. Upon arriving at the castle, she is settled in and meets the Beast. He thinks her beautiful, but she is disbelieving. “Beauty” is only a nickname she assumed when she was young and adorable. Now she is a plain, barely pretty, if that, adult. At least, that is how she views herself.Robin McKinley was a masterful writer, and it shows in this fanciful tale. The mindset of the overly studious Beauty is one that just drinks in the scenery and makes sometimes foolish, sometimes intelligent, but nearly always witty, observations and assessments of whatever situation she finds herself in.Beyond just a talent for prose, McKinley designed an actual system for how the old tale of Beauty and the Beast could work. Why was the Beast connected to Beauty? Why would he die without her? Why? While keeping the original tale’s emphasis on love, and the broken heart of the Beast, McKinley suggested something enchanted about Beauty that connected her to the Beast in an almost psychic link that governs the life of the sadly cursed creature. Remember the importance of Beauty understanding the invisible servants that I mentioned earlier?The only part that I did not like was how rushed the ending was. It seemed like a huge buildup, and a wonderful act of world-building on McKillip’s part, lead to nothing. Yes, we can see that Beauty and her family are happy, and will live good lives, but that is it. We see the beginning and then it is cut short with barely a couple of pages of description. I felt kind of cheated at that. I wanted to see the family meet the Beast. Read of the celebrations, and learn more of the ins and outs of how everyone came together. It was all so rushed, seemingly, and that detracted slightly from the book.That was, however, the only thing that detracted from the book. All in all, a great read, and now one of my favorite books. I used to love the Disney film version, but the old folk tale best. Now, I also adore this novel as well. That is how good it was. Please read it.Highly Recommended.Rating: 4.5/5 Stars.
Alessandra M. –
La trama è ritagliata sullo stampo della classica storia della Bella e la Bestia, con qua e là qualche riaccorgimento che in inglese (dopotutto il libro è in inglese, NB!) non potrei che definire “endearing”: la protagonista è molto più umana – se non nel finale dove appare puntualmente “bellissima” -, i (pochi) abitanti del castello sono caratterizzati in maniera diversa, la Bestia è quasi sempre gentilissima, e via di questo passo; ma nessuna sorpresa rilevante.Lettura piacevole che scorre bene, forse pochi di scena e ritmi di tanto in tanto lenti o, meglio, tranquilli; ma chi sceglie un libro del genere lo fa per il tema romantico/favolistico e non per la suspense o lo stile. Apparentemente meno originale, ma a mio parere più interessante di un libro che è un altro “Beauty and the Beast” sotto coperta, Dragon Rose [https://www.amazon.it/Dragon-Tales-Latter-Kingdoms-English-ebook/dp/B00A81XPX0/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1483175863&sr=1-1&keywords=dragon+rose], questo chiaramente ricalcato sulla fiaba classica ma con minore scorrevolezza, forse pagando lo scotto di volersi differenziare per forza dalla matrice originale. Beauty invece non ha grandi pretese di originalità, ma come retelling moderno è apprezzabile.
troussieux catherine –
Un livre qui développe un peu plus le personnage de Belle.
Becc –
I fell in love with this book in high school. One day recently I remembered this book and decided to look for it. I found it, which is surprising, because the last time I read it was over 30 years ago. Thank you for letting me walk down memory lane!Professional, prompt service.Highly recommend ☺️
Heather Guthrie –
One of my favorite all time stories. I first read it in 2001 in middle school and I love it to this day. Bought this copy as a gift.
J Parry –
Wonderful