crankyoldman (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
crankyoldman) wrote2008-08-13 07:09 pm
crankyoldman) wrote2008-08-13 07:09 pm
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Book Review: "Beauty" by Robin McKinley
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
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
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~Cendri
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Seriously, you would love them.
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Yes, you need to be sending these to me plz.
~Cendri
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though my favorite "retelling" of hers (if this even counts as one) is Deerskin.
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Have you read Sunshine??