Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast | Robin Mckinley

Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast | Robin Mckinley | A magical fable that's stayed with me for 10+ years

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Beauty: A Retellin...

	Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast Robin Mckinley HarperTeen, 2005 - 336 pages average customer review:based on 242 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

A fantastic re-telling...

I absolutely love this book... and if you can believe it, my outdoorsy-action-loving husband liked it too! I was reading it again one night and he asked what I was reading, so I started reading out loud... and he kept asking me to read the rest of it out loud too!

Robin McKinley's books all give an unusual twist to a classic tale, but this one is by far her best. I won't go over how it's different again, since so many other reviewers have done it already, but I love the way she brought the fantasy dimension into the story in such a believable way. See... this story isn't written so much as a fantasy. Rather, it's the story of a normal girl living a normal life in a world that only has a bit more fantasy and magic than ours does... a girl who finds herself thrust into a life she didn't want, but is brave enough to make the best of, for the sake of those she loves.

I also like the way the romances for the other two sisters are woven into the story as well. It's a well-rounded story that can only be described as beautiful.

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A magical fable that's stayed with me for 10+ years

The first time I saw Monet's water lillies as a small child, I stood frozen until my mother pulled me out of my awed stupor half an hour later. While there's nothing dark or startling about Monet's water lillies, I felt in my bones the beauty and the grace and the ART. And the first time I read Robin McKinley's Beauty, I felt the same way. Warmth and gentleness and light unfurled as I experienced the story as it was told - softly, richly, deliberately. Others complain of flatness, of one-dimensionality, of a lack of darkness or contrast. But...this is a watercolor. A peaceful, sensitive fable that gently reinforces a message that, these days, is all too rare: beauty is in the eye of the beholder. No matter how many times I'd heard it, it's not often that one FEELS its truth. Especially as an adolescent girl. It's not that the beast must be "tamed" (Disney), but that one must learn to recognize what makes a beast a beast and a beauty a beauty. Thank you, Robin McKinley - I have not forgotten!

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Kiss from a rose....

Robin McKinley has a masterful way with words, that is both simple and rich. She is an expert in creating worlds that are beautifully believable. The descriptive details are perfectly imagined and her characterization is vibrant. "Beauty" is one of her masterpieces. The best of her works have heart-rending choices, a blend of intelligence and sympathy, and a heroine-in-the-making. It's nice to remember that not every girl is trying get on the a-list or be a gossip girl. McKinley captures the awkwardness of being a young woman, but shows that it's all a part of becoming someone worthwhile.

We all know this story, but the characters give this telling a lot of depth and detail. Honour, known as Beauty, is the third daughter of a wealthy widowed merchant. Her father and lovely sisters, Grace and Hope, dote on their tomboy bookworm. Beauty spends her days translating Greek and riding her horse. She doesn't think she's pretty, but her humor and accomplishments are good enough for her. A sudden change in fortune forces the family to abandon their city life for exile in the deep, mysterious north where they lead a rustic life. The plot then follows the traditional tale of the father's journey, Beauty's request, his fateful encounter, and Beauty's sacrifice.

The Beast's castle is remarkably described and imagined. The magical elements are uniquely satisfying, such as wardrobes that furnish outfits on request, libraries with every book ever written, and corridors that will automatically lead you to your destination. Beauty's narration of the story gives readers the sensation of viewing everything directly. It's eye-candy you can read. More importantly, the personalities of Beauty and the Beast are given center stage. You see their friendship develop based on mutual interests and respect. It's not a romance per se, but rather a true love story. It's all logical, fitting, and blossoming. The setting is fantasical, but the characters ring true.

McKinley takes great trouble setting scenes and letting them slowly unfurl like, well, a rose. You feel as though you are walking by Beauty's side through her adventure. The book's first person voice also helps place you right in the center of the action as well offering insight from the independent, intelligent, inquisitive Beauty. She isn't perfect - experiencing doubt, fear, guilt, and a poor sense of image - but she reaches past them as she evolves. This is perfect for any woman who still is or ever was a girl.

Note: McKinley also wrote two other retellings of Beauty and the Beast, which are readable, but spotty, especially after this brilliant book.

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Destined to be a classic

I have yet to learn just how many "Beauty and the Beast" retellings there are out there, but I am certain that this one is among the best. I have memories from early childhood where my older cousin was explaining the story to me. Today, it continues to be one of my favorites.

This time around, the character of Beauty is a simple, plain girl who likes to read. Her name is Honor, a family tradition to name girls after virtues, but a young girl cannot understand the concept of Honor. And thus came about Beauty.

Beauty tells her story in quite, beautiful prose that relies on excellent characterization, a stronge sense of story, and glittering details. The end result is beautiful to behold. It lends itself to a world of magical realism. In so many ways the story seems to be set in our own world of various philosophers and writers, and yet the infusion of magic is strong and powerful in its subtlety. Beauty's family is not the horrid group of monsters from the traditional tale, but a close, loving family despite personal differences. Beauty makes the choice to go to the Beast out of her own free well and against her father's advice. Her sisters are loving, and even have their own rich stories.

This is more than a story of Beauty transformating a Beast into a prince-- it is a story of the transformation of Beauty herself, from a plain, awkward girl to a true princess. It's classic, eternal, and touching.

"Beauty" is a must-read for all lovers of the true meaning of fairy tales.

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A Beauty-ful story!

Beauty (a marvelous retelling of Beauty and the Beast) is divided into three parts, the first tells of her and her families sumptuous life in the city with her father as the head of household with an 18 room mansion complete with servants. In this part of the novel we are lead to see that they are good, kind and decent people...not the vain, spoiled and irresponsible ones portrayed in the story I was told as a child (I particularly liked this about Beauty). Here we see the traditional bones of the story with a few nice embellishments. The father's fortunes are ruined by the loss of his shipping fleet and his eldest daughter's betrothed is lost at sea with them. The middle daughters love interest saves the day for them and they find themselves set up with him the local blacksmith in the small village of Blue Hill, on the remote edge of a dark wood and their experience adjusting to their new homespun county existence.

The second half is retelling of the fathers trip back to the city when his fortunes change some and one of his ships turns up. On his return journey, he of course encounters the Beast and the demand of the father's return in 30 days (or else) is made...with the option, of course, for one of his daughters to return in this stead. This section is a bit tedious for me...the endless going on and on about how horrible it is that Beauty is leaving then (boo, hoo)...it was just a bit too much for me, but overall doesn't detract too much from the story.

The final section is of course her experience with the monstrous beast (who is rather civilized, except for his appearance of course) and how they come to live and enjoy one another's company. The ending felt a bit rushed, but overall, it had the traditional happily ever after feel to it...and not even a villain really, just the triumph of the human spirit and goodness over the evil magic spell and they live predictably happily ever after.

You know...I knew this would be good...but was worried that since it was written twenty years ago that it would be dated...and how pleased I am to be proven wrong! This is simply a sumptuous retelling of Beauty & the Beast!! Exquisite in detail and a joy to read! Unlike the version I was read as a child, Beauty's sisters are not vain or shallow and this isn't a family glad to be rid of the competition...now this is much richer and more complex and in places heartbreaking! Beauty is not without faults though, the characters are richly drawn, but the dialogue and descriptions are a bit repetitive...over emphasis on the dark and haunted nature of the dark woods and on how plain, smart and hard-working Beauty is...but these are easily forgivable as this was McKinley's first novel and I assume that her work will only get better.

I give it a solid A, it sticks to the traditional bones of the story, but give it more heart and soul...filling in the outline with outstanding details that bring the entire family and the back story of how Beauty left them to life complete with many enjoyable quirks.

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