Beauty

A Retelling of the Story of Beauty & the Beast

By: Robin McKinley

Narrated by: Charlotte Parry

Length: 7 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

New York Times best-selling author Robin McKinley has won numerous awards for her writing, including the prestigious Newbery Medal. Though her two sisters are beautiful, Beauty, despite her name, is thin and awkward - but she's also courageous. So when her father makes a terrible promise to a Beast living in an enchanted castle, Beauty knows she must volunteer to be the Beast's prisoner.

©1978 Robin McKinley (P)2013 Recorded Books

My favorite

This has been one of my favorite books for years. Since I was probably 10 or so years old!! (Estimate)
I'm now 28 and it's still one of my favorites! Great writing, imaginative, an the performance was excellent! Definitely recommend.

Always loved this book!

I've always loved this re-imagined version of Beauty and the Beast. The narrator nailed it!

surprising

Having grown up with the cartoon version of this story, I wasn't thinking it would be much different. But it was and fantastic at that. A great read or listen that I definitely recommend!

Very Traditional Fairytale

Years ago I read this book once I finally discovered reading was fun. My mother enjoys Robin McKinley books and finished this novel, so I picked it up. In its pages I discovered magic and romance, and a new favorite fairytale was then mine. I rediscovered this novel several times over the years until I discovered I no longer owned the book. With baited breath I waited for Disney to retell this story, but they stuck too closely to McKinley's novel and changed too much at the same time to make their version of her story unpalatable to me. I also read Rose Daughter, but possibly wasn't ready for this new version written by McKinley to unsettle my preference for Beauty so much that I remember being unpleased with it as well. I will try again with that book someday. However, and for now, this will remain my preferred telling.

I enjoyed Charlotte Parry's voice, with her Cornish accent, a lot. It added a depth to the narration. She was not overly dramatic, but emotional enough to do the story justice.

Fabulous!

One of my favorite Beauty and the Beast retellings. Completely clean and beautiful. Enjoy every minute!

Well-written re-telling of the fairy tale

in Robin McKinley's unique and down-to-earth style of writing. I've listened to this book twice, and read the print version at least once. this is one book I will come back to again and again, because it is a very enjoyable read. I will be searching out other audiobooks of Robin McKinley's work!

Best telling of Beauty and the Beast!!

I first read Beauty when I was 14. I have reread it more times than I can count. A wonderful read!!

Narration my only complaint

I have loved this book for 30 years, and have re-read it dozens of times. This is one of my “bedtime books” I fall asleep listening to.

My only complaint is the narrator’s interpretation of Beauty. I had always imagined her to have a wry, mature-beyond-her-years, mostly calm demeanor, but the narrator gave her a high-pitched, excitable, often squeaky voice which makes her feel less mature and intelligent to me, and really highlights the May-December romance that this is. I have no complaint about any of the other voices, and I have listened to this audiobook many times regardless of my complaint.

love it Better than all the Disney versions.

I owned the book before 1995. More Magical and Story telling than Disney. I LOVE Disney! I was there when Beauty and Beast was on the big screen. A Must Read.

My favorite Beauty & the Beast version

excellent retelling of Beauty & the Beast; so many things make sense now! The humor scattered throughout is nice too;-)