Rating: Summary: Highly Recommended Magical Tale Review: Page after page, this book drew me like the proverbial moth to a flame. Truly, every chapter is a wonder, filled with beauty, blood, delight, and sorrow. Blending romance and spirituality, Beast is a feast for the senses. Sure to satisfy, its taste will linger for a long time.
Rating: Summary: Fluffy little kitty Review: Pretty nifty book. Beauty and the Beast from the Beast's point of view. Most of the book focuses on what happens to the Beast before he finds the enchanted castle and meets Belle. Another interesting twist to this version is that the Beast is transformed into a lion instead of a man-beast creature. The Beast's dual nature is still there in that he thinks like a man but has the instincts of a lion. He even attempts to live as a lion but when that fails he realizes he must try to lift his curse. This is where Belle finally comes in. I really like Belle in this book. She's a lot more strong willed than the other Beauties I've read about. Beauty and the Beast's relationship develops in an fascinating way because the Beast can't talk. I also love the cute little fox they keep as a pet. If you are looking for a pure romance book this one will probably be a let down. Otherwise, pick it up!
Rating: Summary: The best book I have ever read! READ THIS ONE!! Review: Skimmimg through books at the library, I was intrigued by the spine design for "Beast." I started to read it. When I looked up again, after reading through the first six chapters without stopping, hours had gone by. I was DEFINITLEY going to take out this book! It was compelling all the time through. The ending was great, not even rushed like some books I have read. The beast, in the book, turns into a lion. He is shunned by his hometown of India, and doesn't know where to go, or how to live. By one of his mother's books, he is guided to France where he meets the stunning and sympathetic beauty, and the curse is broken. Everyone knows the story line of this novel. Still Napoli has redone the story in a greatly creative way. She shows the emotions of the beast as he goes from home to home, not fitting in with a lion pride, and finally residing in an old abandoned French castle. Napoli is one of the first authors who have written this story from the Beast's point of view. The whole time through, I was amazed by her awesome ability to write a great novel. She creates many interesting twists to the tale, such as the beast living in India, and does it in an astoundingly creative way. I greatly enjoyed this book. It really deserves more than five stars! You HAVE to read it! I would recommed this book to young adults, because some of the material is mature for younger readers. When younger readers get olsder though, they should really read this book. It was really one of my favorites! Donna Jo Napoli is really a GREAT storyteller!!!
Rating: Summary: The best book I have ever read! READ THIS ONE!! Review: Skimmimg through books at the library, I was intrigued by the spine design for "Beast." I started to read it. When I looked up again, after reading through the first six chapters without stopping, hours had gone by. I was DEFINITLEY going to take out this book! It was compelling all the time through. The ending was great, not even rushed like some books I have read. The beast, in the book, turns into a lion. He is shunned by his hometown of India, and doesn't know where to go, or how to live. By one of his mother's books, he is guided to France where he meets the stunning and sympathetic beauty, and the curse is broken. Everyone knows the story line of this novel. Still Napoli has redone the story in a greatly creative way. She shows the emotions of the beast as he goes from home to home, not fitting in with a lion pride, and finally residing in an old abandoned French castle. Napoli is one of the first authors who have written this story from the Beast's point of view. The whole time through, I was amazed by her awesome ability to write a great novel. She creates many interesting twists to the tale, such as the beast living in India, and does it in an astoundingly creative way. I greatly enjoyed this book. It really deserves more than five stars! You HAVE to read it! I would recommed this book to young adults, because some of the material is mature for younger readers. When younger readers get olsder though, they should really read this book. It was really one of my favorites! Donna Jo Napoli is really a GREAT storyteller!!!
Rating: Summary: The Prince in Disguse Review: The book Beast is a very good book. Most people that read will understand the meaning of the book since it is similar to the story Beauty and the Beast. This story is about a prince who is cursed by a fairy and turn into a lion(beast). The beast is the prince of Persian. When he was turn into a beast he ran off into the forest. On that day he knew that his father was hunting in the forest. So he tried every thing to avoid his father. The only way to break the ancient curse is by a French beauty named Belle. If you want to find out if the prince is ever release from the curse. Then I would recommend you to read this book.
Rating: Summary: Finally, the Beast's Point of View Review: This book was a first for me, in the sense that I have read a number of renditions of Beauty & the Beast, but have just now read one from the Beast's point of view. Of course, like other Napoli works, it isn't the traditional European/Disney tale we know. Exotic in location and plot, this Beast is not a product of wicked magic, at least not as it normally comes. His sin, pride, is in line with other tellings of this story, but the theme is much more religious and therefore, unique. As much as I loved both of Robin McKinley's Beauty & Beast novels ("Beauty" and "Rose Daughter"), I was glad to see the exploration of what makes up a beast: violence, hunger, killing. The bloodshed is handled well - nothing graphic or tasteless - but it is not avoided, and this Beast is definitely a carnivore. Napoli's research is, like always, superb. She has no useless words. "Beast" is a fine successor to "Zel" and other Napoli works. Maybe it didn't strike into my heart as sharply as "Zel" did, but "Beast" has its own beauty.
Rating: Summary: Finally, the Beast's Point of View Review: This book was a first for me, in the sense that I have read a number of renditions of Beauty & the Beast, but have just now read one from the Beast's point of view. Of course, like other Napoli works, it isn't the traditional European/Disney tale we know. Exotic in location and plot, this Beast is not a product of wicked magic, at least not as it normally comes. His sin, pride, is in line with other tellings of this story, but the theme is much more religious and therefore, unique. As much as I loved both of Robin McKinley's Beauty & Beast novels ("Beauty" and "Rose Daughter"), I was glad to see the exploration of what makes up a beast: violence, hunger, killing. The bloodshed is handled well - nothing graphic or tasteless - but it is not avoided, and this Beast is definitely a carnivore. Napoli's research is, like always, superb. She has no useless words. "Beast" is a fine successor to "Zel" and other Napoli works. Maybe it didn't strike into my heart as sharply as "Zel" did, but "Beast" has its own beauty.
Rating: Summary: Ok, i give this a 3 and a half Review: This book was pretty good. It had a lot of detail on "Beast's" life (hence, the title), but I was disappointed to see that "Beauty" did not enter the scene until the last chapters. I expected more interaction between the two of them, and was looking more for the original fairy tale of Beauty and the Beast. Other than that, this book is filled with great imagery and detail, and I especially liked the beginning when the prince is still in Persia. It was interesting to learn a bit about their land and culture. This is a book that I might read again in a year, but it is not good enough to read over and over again like several other of Donna Jo Napoli's books. I do recommend reading this book though, it IS worth your time.
Rating: Summary: Simply wow Review: This book was sooooo much better than I was thinking it was going to be. Here is where she's at her absolute best!!! To add to the unique quality of the story-it's in Beast's pespective. NOT Bell's. In many parts you feel the things Beast feels. You see what he sees. This book will take you to another place, another time. I finished this book in one sitting and was NOT disapointed one bit. I read on average about 100 books a year- and this book definatly ranked as one of the best I read. Everyone who reads this book will experience Donna Jo Napoli's magic with words and imagination.
Rating: Summary: 5 stars isn't enough Review: This is the best book I have read so far. That's all I can really say about this. Donna Jo Napoli portrays emotion so well. She seems to understand her characters as if she was them. The story comes alive and you can picture it. The way she tells it, you don't know it's a well known fairy tale. It's exciting and refreshing. The decriptions of the prince as a lion are so real. The book is great, so read it.
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