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A good start

Yes, this book was certainly nice. I liked the style and the characters were lovely but it was just a touch too nice.
Beauty was a plain adolescent, or at least she perceived herself as such, and that is a really good thing in my book since there are far too many stunningly beautiful heroines out there. As far as I can remember the plot follows the original storyline but seems more alife. What I really didn't like however was how the story ended. I don't really want to spoil anything but why did they had to take all the flaws in her appearance away an make her suddenly beautiful? Even though she didn't believe it herself, she was more than pretty in the end and that almost makes me feel cheated. Where's my plain heroine? Does everyone who weds the enchanted prince have to be pretty? And the prince himself, does he have to look ethereal? The more I read the more it seemed to me the author lost her touch. Where at the beginning her style and the twisting of the original story captivated me it soon lost much of its power. It was not the enchanting fairytale its predecessor was and I don't think it was ever designed to be so but I loved it nonetheless... until Beauty reached the castle and met the Beast. Slowly, very slowly the captivation faded because, even though I waited for most of the book for it to happen, once she was in the castle the plot dulled. The Beast was tame, he never really fought with her, said he couldn't deny her anything she asked and even though she had some problems accomodating at first she lead a very eventless life there and soon developed a routine that seemed almost wooden. The few things that did happen (when Beauty got Beast to meat her horse, for example) were not exploited enough for my liking and then far too soon there was the happy ending. Everyone was alife, well, and beautiful and none of it was really described. The end was abrupt, if anything. Everyone here seems to think McKinley wrote one of the best books ever. Well, maybe she did and I just didn't notice... don't get me wrong, I liked the book, that's why it still gets four stars from me (though it really oughta be three and a half) but it has its flaws. It's a pretty little book but the farther you read the more it loses depth. If you're looking for a children's book, this is it, if not, well, you might like it anyway...

This book made me love Robin McKinley

I read this book eight years ago; I was in the fifth grade. It was a beautiful story, and I was quickly drawn in by it. I've read this book over and over, and it has never lost its totally unique magic.

The descriptions are beautiful and always effective; I fell in love with the enchanted castle. I wanted to BE Beauty, strong and smart and slef-sufficient. And the Beast was much more than a prince cast down from his lofty height. This is one of my favorite books.

A Beautiful Remastering

McKinley's first book, which was never meant to be published, is still one of her best. Her complex yet flowing writing style is unequalled by any other modern author. Robin McKinley has excellent insights into the heart of the story of Beauty and the Beast, and she brings them to light superbly. The character of Beauty is the best-developed I have ever read of, excepting perhaps Lloyd Alexander's Vesper Holly and Anne McCaffrey's Menolly.

A BEAUTY IN AND OF ITSELF!

This book is definitely a beauty. I have read it five times,once twice in a row. It's not that that the subject matter requiresit; on the contrary, this book is one of the easiest to understand, while still conveying a beautiful fairy tale. McKinley retells fairy stories in such a way that they have more depth and help you to fall in love with the characters all over again, in a whole new way. This book is no Blue Sword or the Hero and the Crown, with their long and tedious passages. Without a doubt, Beauty is McKinley's best work ever!

absolute favorite

I don't remember the first time I read this book, but I do know I've reread it every year since then. The world McKinley describes is the perfect setting for the well known tale. This book is great for young adults and also a great reminder for others who wish to explore the fairytale world again.