Book Review - Beauty by Robin McKinley

Synopsis:  Beauty has never liked her nickname. She is thin and awkward; it is her two sisters who are the beautiful ones. But what she lacks in looks, she can perhaps make up for in courage.

When her father comes home with the tale of an enchanted castle in the forest and the terrible promise he had to make to the Beast who lives there, Beauty knows she must go to the castle, a prisoner of her own free will. Her father protests that he will not let her go, but she answers, "Cannot a Beast be tamed?"

First Line:  "I was the youngest of three daughters."

Random Quote:  "Dinner had refreshed me, and I set out if not eagerly at least energetically.  I walked across more corridors, up and down more stairs, and in and out of more rooms than I cared to count."

Review:  There are a bunch of different versions of the Beauty and the Beast story - from Cocteau's brilliant film to my favorite, the one that is collected in Richard Chase's brilliant book of Appalachian folk tales, The Grandfather Tales. I even like the Disney version (and that's saying a lot - I mostly loathe Disney). This is a novel-length adaptation for young adults. The book is extremely faithful to the story and mostly just lengthens it.

Illustration for Beauty and the Beast by Walter Crane - Image via Wikipedia

I was wondering how I missed this as a teenager, but then I realized it was written when I was 15. I don't know about the rest of you, but when I was 15 I was too grown up for "kid's books" and way too busy reading The Diaries of Anais Nin to have read this.

In any event, I sort of wish I had read it when I was 15 because I think I might have enjoyed it more. At this point in my life this one goes in the okay pile - well-written, cool story, but for me nothing particularly special.

Reading Challenges:  Once Upon a Time IV Reading Challenge, 2010 100+ Reading Challenge, 2010 Support Your Local Library Reading Challenge