Rating: 
Summary: A Classic
Review: This book is one of my all time favorite books. I have always loved the story of Beauty and the Beast, but Robin McKinley tells it in a new way that made me love it even more. If you even mildly like Beauty and the Beast, read this story and be prepared to fall in love.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful retelling of a fascinating Fairytale
Review: I loved this book, from the first time I read it. It was different and funny. When Beauty had to leave her family, they all tried to stop her. She loved her family. And the utter joy of the library where all the books "haven't been written yet." I want a libaray like that. Read it. Then read everything else she wrote, you'll be glad you did.
Rating:
Summary: Beauty is Breathtaking
Review: I love this book. I read it in less than a day the first time I read it. It gives me hope for the future of fantasy. The characters are wonderful, the plot is a great adaptation of the original fairy tale. I have always loved Beauty and the Beast, but this is the best version I have ever read. Keep your great books coming McKinley! Thank you!
Rating:
Summary: There's nothing to be feared only to be understood
Review: I'm 23 yaers old with the heart of a child. I still love fairy tales and this was my first experience in a retteling. It's masterfully written.In this account of "Beauty and the Beast" the heroine Honor, whose nickname is Beauty, is the daughter of a wealthy merchant that lost his fortune. Beauty's family has to move to a far away village into a small country cottage. In a simple country living, this loving family, and three loving sisters; Beauty, Grace an Hope; learn to be happy with what they have. Then Father goes away on a trip and returns with mourful news. Beauty must go into the Beast's castle or Father will die... Written in a simple fluid way, this novel presents Beauty's courage to face her fear of Beast. Beast's loliness for 200 years is poignant but his gentleness and kindness shows us that true beauty lies within. As the novel goes on the caracter's learn to understand each other and love each other as they are. The caracter's are well developed and you can easily identify with them. The plot is a little changed from the originall french tale but the changes a well made and add to the book. My highest compliments. This is Robin Mckinley's best book.
Rating:
Summary: Beauty - A beautious book
Review: I loved this boook, and I thought that it couldn't have worked out better. It was well-written and used beautific language. I couldn't believe that my favorite fairy tale could gett any better. I would tell everyone to go out and read it immediatly! It will change even the most hard-core Beauty and the Beast/ fairy tale haters' minds about what is good reading and what isn't.
Rating:
Summary: A three dimensional fantasy tale of beauty...and a Beast
Review: What would happen if you took the flat fairytale of Beauty and the Beast, and fleshed it out into a three dimensional fantasy tale of a young girl who loves her father and her family enough to do anything to save them? Beauty, by Robin McKinley is what you would get. Beauty's life starts out wonderful enough, daughter of a well-to-do merchant and ship-owner, living in luxury with him and her two sisters, Hope and Grace. When her father's entire fleet is lost, he makes plans to settle his debts and retire to the country with what little remained to him. Grace had lost her love Robbie on one of the ships, and Hope's secret love Gervain, who was nothing more than an ironworker in Father's shipyard, steps forward to tell of a place to be had for little money in his hometown of Blue Hill. He offers to travel with them back to his hometown and set up a blacksmith's shop with Father, and they all agree to do this. Blue Hill is a far cry from the city from where the girls came, and they struggle to fall into a routine of work that they are unaccustomed to. Beauty was the youngest, but also the strongest, and she was the one who took on the rougher, outdoor chores, leaving her sisters to care for the household. Life continues, Hope marries Gervain, who superstitiously warns everyone to never venture into the woods behind their cabin at any time. Comes the day Father gets word of one of his ships coming in, returns to the city, and on his way back, of course, gets lost in the woods where he runs into the estates of the Beast. The fairytale bargain is struck, and Beauty agrees to take her father's place at the Beast's grand palace to keep him company. McKinley tells a beautiful, fully fleshed out story here, far more than the fairy tale with loveable characters, believable events, comedy and tragedy and love. If you need a break from life for awhile, pick up Beauty and give it a whirl. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: One of My Favorites!
Review: I read this book for the first time several years ago having only seen the Disney version, but I recently read a version of the origional. Wow! This is so much better! The characters have personalities and real motives, and of course the action is much more complex. I actually like Beauty better than Robin McKinley's other books because it's more...clear(for lack of a better word)and doesn't dwell much on her love of horses(I guess I'm just not that sympathetic).
Rating:
Summary: BEAUTY IS THE NARRATOR.
Review: I've read Beauty twice before, and it's just as excellent, as ever. Robin Mckinley says, that when she was very young, Beauty and the Beast used to be one of her favorite stories, but I think, she owned her version from the orginal authors, after the French author's story. Once again, Beauty and the Beast is a tale as old as time.
Rating:
Summary: GREAT
Review: OMG, this book is AWESOME! Beauty is a totally real character who knows what she'd doing. The writing is eloqent and the characters are well-rounded. The ending is GREAT, because it's so not like the Disney movie. I bought it awhile ago and LOVE it! The descriptions of the castle are wonderful. I can like and admire Beauty, something that's rare in fairy tale books. Buy this book! You won't be disappointed. It's a wonderful escape into a world you'll never forget!
P.S. I didn't tell about the plot 'cuz...well...come on. It's Beauty and the Beast. Plus, I like to find out for myself, don't you?
Rating:
Summary: Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast
Review: robin McKinley's first novel is so amazing it is hard to believe this is her first one. The story is in much contrast with the classic French tale. Beauty is actully not nearly as beautiful as her two kind and clever sisters, no matter what her nickname might lead you to believe. As Beauty grows up and acknowledges her plainess, she begins to dwell instead on books. After the end of their father's fortune, Beauty and her family move into an old smith's house near an enchanted wood. Their new life requires hard work but is very satisfying. Ona journey home, Beauty's father takes the forbidden rose and must send Beauty to the Beast's castle. Believing she will be of no loss to the family, Beauty travels to the Beast's magical palace. She ten discovers that the Beast is kind, clever, thoughtful, and caring, despite his looks. Beauty slowly learns to enjoy the Beast's companionship and comes to care for him. When she confronts the true feelings of her heart, the curse is broken. This is a wonderful piece of literary art. Robin McKinley has cast a spell over this classic fairytale, making it a book you will come to treasure forever.
| 
