The Book
A privileged boy named Kyle Kingsbury is handsome, proud, and a real jerk. You know the type… he thinks he’s better than everyone, has lots of friends and admirers, picks on the weird kids and dates the hottest, most superficial girl in school. When he invites weirdo girl Kendra to the prom as a prank it backfires.
She’s actually a witch and punishes him for his wicked heart. However, because he showed one small act of kindness by thoughtlessly giving the white rose corsage his date hated to a nerdy girl collecting prom tickets, a girl who truly appreciated it’s beauty. Instead of being permanently beastly, Kyle has two years to break the spell. Two years to find a girl who will love him for what he is instead of what he looks like, PROVE her love with a kiss, and the real kicker, he has to truly love HER in return. Kyle believes all of that to be impossible.
This is where the real meat of the story begins. Kyle is taken from his home in New York City and locked away in an expensive house in Brooklyn by his father who is even more disgustingly superficial than his son. It is here Kyle begins his real transformation. His character gradually and believably changes, matures into someone who looks past the surface. It is excellently written as you don’t feel that this part of the story is rushed or happens all at once. As he is around genuine people who care about him they manage to affect him, though he has no hope of breaking the spell. Until…
A man breaks into his greenhouse of roses and when caught, offers his daughter in exchange for his own life. The beast does not hesitate, hoping she may be THE one. He reasons that she would be better off with him than with a father that would sell her off to save his own life. It is here that he meets Lindy, or they meet again. Lindy is none other than the nerdy girl who he gave the rose to at the prom. There might be hope yet! As they spend time together the two both blossom wonderfully into very rich and endearing characters.
I’d say this one is well worth a read. It’s definitely worth a day of having your nose in a book! And I’ve just learned there is the regular edition and a deluxe edition that contains Lindy’s journal, giving you the story from her perspective. I might have to pick up the deluxe for myself this Christmas.
The Movie
I actually saw the movie before I read the book. I caught it on Showtime and recognized that it was fairytale based almost immediately. It was an interesting movie to watch, but like most movies based on books, there were some glaring differences. Even not having read the book yet I could feel there were some serious things either missing or changed not for the better. After reading the book, I realized that the changes made in the movie crippled the impact the story. I don’t plan to get into the details because there are so many.
However, Neil Patrick Harris is in the movie as a secondary character. He’s WELL worth watching in any movie, really. So, if you want to see NPH, see the movie. Otherwise, pass and just read a really good book.
I agree with you on everything about Beastly
Also have read Princess of the Midnight Ball By Jessica Day George yet?
It’s a retelling of the 12 Dancing Princesses
That movie was my ex-boyfriend’s and my first date. It wasn’t too bad. I took it for what it was: a piece of fluff “tween” movie.
Haven’t read the book yet, but I skipped the movie based on the Hollywood-ization of the two leads. For goodness sake, the Beast isn’t even a beast in the movie!
I read the book and then saw the movie. Very disappointed. There was a richness to the book that was missing from the movie. The subtler elements of the developing relationship between the two just didn’t translate well to a visual medium. A great book, though. Loved it.
I read the book, based on your recommendation (I love the beauty and beast genre). It was as fantastic as you implied, and even better had a list in back of other recommended reads, (ONE of which I had note read yet!!!!)
Oh, that’s excellent! That’s really my hope with these reviews, being able to point people to these wonderful books and them finding something they really like!
Until…
A man breaks into his greenhouse of roses
I have to admit I completely forgot about the father prisoner swap part of the original fairy tale, and after reading this section of your post I was a little disappointed to read on and find out this wasn’t a version where the beast was actually gay…
lol yes. This. Totally thought it was going in that direction.
I heard of the movie because of the subsequent Wii and DS games by the same title (I work at a Gamestop). I was curious, but never curious enough to watch (since I love the Beauty and the Beast story). I think I may now do what you did… watch the fluff movie first, then revel in the wonderfulness of the good book after. :-) I’ve found I get great enjoyment out of that instead of seeing the movie after and cringing… a lot. ;-)
I read that book while helping my aunt out at her library. I did like it for the most part, but one thing that gave me a sour stomach was how it was perfectly okay for this guy to ruin this girl’s education and future in hopes of saving himself. Sure, once he was okay again he got his father to get her back into school, but still, blech.
I read this book quite some time ago. Lovely story, a very nice modernization to the Beauty and the Beast classic (also my favorite fairy tale!). I especially liked the chat room fillers adding a whole new perspective to the fairy tale world. I also wonder if Flinn is going to expand on the stories you get a hint at in the chat room?