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Beast
Beast
Author: Donna Jo Napoli
Who was Beast,before Beauty found him?
Orasmyn is a young Persian prince with all the privileges and responsibilities his royal position holds. But when he falters and makes a single wrong decision, his pride angers a pari -- a fairy -- who sets an ancient curse into motion, crucially changing his life on the...  more »
ISBN-13: 9780689835896
ISBN-10: 0689835892
Publication Date: 11/1/2000
Pages: 272
Reading Level: Young Adult
Rating:
  • Currently 3.8/5 Stars.
 17

3.8 stars, based on 17 ratings
Publisher: Atheneum
Book Type: Hardcover
Other Versions: Paperback, Audio Cassette
Members Wishing: 1
Reviews: Member | Amazon | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

althea avatar reviewed Beast on + 774 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
A retelling of the story of Beauty and the Beast, told from the Beast's perspective. (it's also told in present tense, which I found rather distracting - but overall, it was quite good, although not as good as the other book I've read by Napoli, 'Zel'.)
Here, the Beast is a young Persian prince. Inadvertently, is crosses a peri, who curses him that his father will kill him the next day. The next day, his father has a lion hunt planned - and the prince realizes that he has physically become a lion.
He manages to avoid being killed, and hopes that the curse will wear off, but it doesn't - and he learns that his only hope is to have a woman love him for who he is, without knowing that he is under an enchantment. He finds that to be hopeless, so he simply goes in search of a place where he could live as a lion, without the danger inherent in staying in his father's hunting park.
In an unlikely and quickly-skipped-over journey, he gets from Persia to France, and finds an abandoned castle (which mystifyingly, still has lots of useful stuff in it), and from there, the story-as-we've-heard-it basically ensues...
obxsurfergurlo2 avatar reviewed Beast on + 29 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
I thought this was an awesome retelling of 'Beauty and the Beast'. Definitely worth reading.
gypsybookworm avatar reviewed Beast on + 27 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
I LOVE Beauty and the Beast- my all time favorite fairytale....and so I was fired up about finding this...
Yes, it has a different take on the tale, as all attempt...but I felt that for ME, the style was a little amateur.... Ugghh, I feel bad saying it...but I did try...gave it about 100 some pages of its 250...and couldn't take anymore....I believe that is probably why it's suggested for young readers, although I did find some of the content to be a bit suggestive and think it may be a little inappropriate for them....
You may not mind...your preference may be different...if you like the B&Beast story- you may like it...but if you order it- order if from my bookshelf! ; )
reviewed Beast on
Helpful Score: 1
This was a fairly good book though the content is sometimes meant only for people older than teenagers. It is an interesting take of one of the age old fairy tales.
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reviewed Beast on
Napoli's retelling of Beauty and the Beast is taken from the perspective of the prince this time around. The prince is cursed from a spiteful diety and must adapt to life as a beast, losing everything he once held dear. Napoli likes to take a very introspective stance on the prince's character and the majority of the tale focuses on how he copes with his new life.

Fans of Napoli or retold fairy tales will find Beast a very interesting take. It's not my favorite retelling (that would be Beauty by Robin McKinley) but it's still good. Probably 4 out of 5 stars.
aprild85 avatar reviewed Beast on
everyone one knows the cartoon version of Beauty and the Beast. but this is the original story of Beast. I read this title last year and absolutely loved it. I would recommend this book for anyone 11 and up.
kayladaila avatar reviewed Beast on + 33 more book reviews
This version of Beauty and the Beast starts out slowly. I felt that the addition of Arabic and Persian words and their definitions was possibly the reason. There is less of that towards page 50 and then the story begins to pick up. I started to really get into the book when all of a sudden it ended. I had so many questions and was very disappointed in the ending. Overall it was a good book and worth the read.
reviewed Beast on + 5 more book reviews
good book


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