Book Review: "Beauty" by Robin McKinley

[crankyoldman]

Finished reading my last of the required three books for the herding cats reading challenge Recced by Melissa.



I picked this one because it is my favorite of the classic fairytales--I don't know, I just have a thing for "appearances can be deceiving" morals. But what made this stand out was the author pulled this with the heroine--Beauty is really only called that because of something smart alecky she said as a girl. Even more than the Beast is her transformation, one that I've always empathized with; that from a prickly and clever girl into a confident woman.

This is also an introduction to a writer that worldbuilds without rambling; something I'll admit to being more than annoyed with. Exposition is flowing, and goes with the action and feels natural. Not only that, it's interesting because the characters within the world are interesting. It doesn't suffer from the typical fairytale problem of only using the older siblings as plot devices, nor does it make them perfect.

My only complaint is the ending felt a little rushed, as if breaking the spell just sped everything up. It felt abrupt and I wanted more. But considering the author had another re-write of this story I have a feeling she knew this.

Verdict? I need more McKinley, even though I'd already been told this five billion times. I'm getting to it!

Main reasons you should read this:

- If you like prickly female leads

- If you like good family dynamics (this is something I look for, I won't lie)

- If you like fleshed out fairytales

Comments

[t3h-w0lfy.livejournal.com]

Will definitely check it out! I remember reading some Robin McKinley book I really liked when I was in junior high or something. I've gotten so lax on actually reading lately...

[first-seventhe.livejournal.com]

Email me your address. I'm sending you Rose Daughter and Spindle's End. They are another version of Beauty and the Beast and a retelling of Sleeping Beauty, respectively. But both have excellently non-traditional, prickly-type heroines. And and and [I don't know whether you care about spoilers, or if a hinty spoiler will actually only make you want to read it MORE, so I actually won't write what I was going to] but you will love the part that I have just omitted.

[venefica-aura.livejournal.com]

I don't mind spoilers, really.

~Cendri

[first-seventhe.livejournal.com]

Let's just say in one the heroine falls in love with a cranky old man, and in the other one a Beast remains a Beast.

Seriously, you would love them.

[venefica-aura.livejournal.com]

I TOTALLY WOULD. KICKASS.

Yes, you need to be sending these to me plz.

~Cendri

[darcenciel.livejournal.com]

I love Spindle's End!

though my favorite "retelling" of hers (if this even counts as one) is Deerskin.

[first-seventhe.livejournal.com]

Deerskin is a fantastic book. It's so different than a lot of her other writing.

Have you read Sunshine??

[astralavator.livejournal.com]

What does prickly mean?

[venefica-aura.livejournal.com]

Prickly, like, not necessarily goodness and friendly, but not a complete and utter bitch?

Kind of something you see more in old man characters and less in girl heroines. XD Prolly why I like it.

~Cendri

[astralavator.livejournal.com]

In one way I’d say half the girls from Avatar fit the description, yet, I wouldn’t consider them old men.

Thanks as the other two point sounded interesting but I"m particular about my leading ladies of late so I was curious.