I realized when reading this novel that Disney's story folks are not quite as original as I thought they were. They are imaginative, to be sure, and Disney's *Beauty and the Beast* remains one of my favorite films of all time. Yet as is true of most things, so is it true of that movie, that it is really inspired by and taken from other works.
Some things are different, such as "Beauty" being a nickname, and her being a tomboyish ugly duckling who hatches into a beautiful swan before the end of the story. Other areas of difference are that the household items do not talk, at least not understandably, and the servants that *do* talk, are invisible, and not meant to be understood by Beauty. In fact, her increasing ability to understand them as the story progresses, is a major plot point.
The main premise is well-known, but herein is reworked. Beauty lives with her father, sisters, and brother-in-law at his house and smithy. The brother-in-law, is a blacksmith, and a good one at that. He grew up in that part of the countryside where they now live after his father-in-law suffers financial ruin. He warns the family not to go near the forest, for it is evil and enchanted.
Unfortunately, not all of the family listens, and on returning from a business trip, Beauty's father wanders into the woods and gets lost. He comes upon a castle, and angers the Beast who anonymously cared for him there. His life is spared provided that he, or one of his daughters, comes to live with the Beast forever.
Once the poor old man arrives home and tells his tale, Beauty volunteers to go. Upon arriving at the castle, she is settled in and meets the Beast. He thinks her beautiful, but she is disbelieving. "Beauty" is only a nickname she assumed when she was young and adorable. Now she is a plain, barely pretty, if that, adult. At least, that is how she views herself.
Robin McKinley was a masterful writer, and it shows in this fanciful tale. The mindset of the overly studious Beauty is one that just drinks in the scenery and makes sometimes foolish, sometimes intelligent, but nearly *always* witty, observations and assessments of whatever situation she finds herself in.
Beyond just a talent for prose, McKinley designed an actual system for how the old tale of *Beauty and the Beast* could work. Why was the Beast connected to Beauty? Why would he die without her? Why? While keeping the original tale's emphasis on love, and the broken heart of the Beast, McKinley suggested something enchanted about Beauty that connected her to the Beast in an almost psychic link that governs the life of the sadly cursed creature. Remember the importance of Beauty understanding the invisible servants that I mentioned earlier?
The only part that I did not like was how rushed the ending was. It seemed like a huge buildup, and a wonderful act of world-building on McKillip's part, lead to nothing. Yes, we can see that Beauty and her family are happy, and will live good lives, but that is it. We see the beginning and then it is cut short with barely a couple of pages of description. I felt kind of cheated at that. I wanted to see the family meet the Beast. Read of the celebrations, and learn more of the ins and outs of how everyone came together. It was all so rushed, seemingly, and that detracted slightly from the book.
That was, however, the only thing that detracted from the book. All in all, a great read, and now one of my favorite books. I used to love the Disney film version, but the old folk tale best. Now, I love the Disney version, the old folk tale and *this* novel best of them all. That is how good it was. Please read it.
Highly Recommended.
0 comments:
Post a Comment