The Fantasy Books

Beauty

by Mckinley, Robin

Description

This rendition of the classic fairytale inspired the Disney cartoon of the 90's, and the live action film in 2017. The fairytale I grew up with featured the typical ugly, selfish, mean-spirited sisters, and the beautiful, kind and good youngest sister, who was enviably Daddy's favorite. McKinley re-envisions the story with heart, making it a story of a loving family, torn apart by circumstance. We get loads of character development about Beauty herself, who is actually quite plain, but loves books and learning. Her sisters are actually quite lovely (inside and out), filled with affection for one another, including their youngest sister. Beauty's intelligence, resourcefulness, and courage drive the story forward here, slowly drawing the beast into something resembling civility. It's become the new standard framework for the story, and many younger readers don't realize Beauty was never bookish, strong-minded, or let's face it, all that interesting, before McKinley wrote Beauty.

About the Author

Mckinley, Robin

Robin McKinley is an American author known for her works in the fantasy genre. She was born in Ohio in 1952.McKinley's most notable works include "The Hero and the Crown," which tells the story of a young woman who becomes a legendary dragon-slayer, and "Beauty," which is a retelling of the classic fairy tale "Beauty and the Beast." She has also written several other novels and short stories set in various fantasy worlds.McKinley's writing is known for its lyrical prose, strong female protagonists, and exploration of themes such as courage, self-discovery, and the power of storytelling. She has won several awards for her writing, including the Newbery Medal in 1985 for "The Hero and the Crown" and the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Adult Literature in 1992 for "Beauty."In addition to her writing, McKinley is also a horse enthusiast and has written several books about horses. She continues to write and publish new novels and stories, and her works are enjoyed by fans of fantasy and fairy tales around the world.

Full Author Page →

Other Books by Mckinley, Robin

Booklists Featuring This Book

Best Fantasy Books of the 70's

The 70's saw us Afro hairstyle, the Me generation, the continuation of the Cold War, the end of the Vietnam war, and death of the hippy trail.  It was also... Read more →

Best Strong Female Heroine Fantasy Books

Whenever friends lament that there are no strong, realistic female leads in fantasy literature; I am astounded. Not that I'm surprised that there is a prolific amount of novels in... Read more →