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55th out of 187 books
—
580 voters
Beauty
by
Susan Wilson (Goodreads Author)
What if the fairy tale came true?
In this bittersweet love story, it isn't Beauty who needs to discover the man inside the Beast—but the man himself.
When Alix Miller takes off for a remote spot in New Hampshire to paint a portrait of the reclusive aristocrat, Leland Crompton, nothing has prepared her for what's in store. The housekeeper is unnerving. The castle-like house—w...more
In this bittersweet love story, it isn't Beauty who needs to discover the man inside the Beast—but the man himself.
When Alix Miller takes off for a remote spot in New Hampshire to paint a portrait of the reclusive aristocrat, Leland Crompton, nothing has prepared her for what's in store. The housekeeper is unnerving. The castle-like house—w...more
Hardcover, 209 pages
Published
1996
by Orion
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This is an interesting retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I really enjoyed seeing the relationship between Alix and Lee, the painter and the deformed man. It was beautiful and convincing as it unfolded. However, the ending really didn't work. It felt rushed, sloppy, and, in some key ways, unnecessary. **SPOILER** What I wanted to see was how their relationship progressed as they worked at being married. That really had to bring up a lot of issues for both of them, but it was all skipped over as...more
This is a beautiful interpretation of the beauty and the beast story. Lee, the hero, is truly hideous on the outside. He has acromegaly, a totally disfiguring condition, which has utterly distorted his looks. The first time the heroine, Alix, sees him, she is completely repulsed. The author unveils the beautiful person within Lee layer by layer, and we slowly learn to appreciate his considerable inner beauty along with Alix as she gets to know him. You fall in love with Lee along with Alix, unti...more
This is a wonderful book. I suppose one could technically classify it as a romance, but it is so much more than that. Its idea taken from the classic tale of Beauty and the Beast, Beauty brings the story into the modern world and gives it a twist.
Alix Miller is an artist and has taken a job painting the portrait of reclusive Lee Crompton. For centuries, Miller's have been painting portraits of the Cromptons and this time it will be no different, except it will be Alix instead of her father. She...more
Alix Miller is an artist and has taken a job painting the portrait of reclusive Lee Crompton. For centuries, Miller's have been painting portraits of the Cromptons and this time it will be no different, except it will be Alix instead of her father. She...more
Apr 24, 2012
Bronwyn Rykiert
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
romance,
library-book
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Absolutely beautiful. It will truly touch your heart. It's a really interesting recounting of the famous story, "Beauty and the Beast", like how the first reviewer mentioned. Although, this book is written from a realistic perspective in this society. To elaborate, this book is exemplary of what true love is, really. It's not about a woman who falls in love with some gorgeous man, then gets married...until that marriage starts to fall apart. In "Beauty", it's about a woman who falls in love with...more
I could have sworn I reviewed this. Oh well. I should have liked this. It had all the elements I enjoy. It's a retelling of Beauty and the Beast for crying out loud. How could I NOT like it? The 'beast' was a man from a wealthy family with a disfiguring disease. The 'beauty' was an artist who was filling in for her ill father, commissioned to paint the man's portrait. Good so far. LOVELY so far.
After they meet, great, I'm along for the ride and enjoying it, despite some minor issues I had with...more
After they meet, great, I'm along for the ride and enjoying it, despite some minor issues I had with...more
Not going to say much about the plot, the synopsis is pretty self-explanatory. Alix Miller is hired to paint a portrait of Lee Crompton, who is a disfigured recluse. For practicality, she lives with him while she works on it. I'm not going to say much more, because half the point is the ending, and I don't want to give it away.
I am only going to say that I absolutely love this book. I've had this book since 1996, and it has made it through every book donation clean out that I've had. (And I've...more
I am only going to say that I absolutely love this book. I've had this book since 1996, and it has made it through every book donation clean out that I've had. (And I've...more
So I bought this book ages ago and just now got to reading it. It was my attempt at rejuvenating myself for yet another vampire, fallen angel, and/or demon book.
It was decent enough. I love the original Beauty and The Beast. So this book was a nice somewhat less glamorous version.
The story in itself was good, however all the descriptions overwhelmed me and I found myself skipping those long paragraphs - frankly, I don't care to read what snow covered landscapes look like.
I enjoyed this book - un...more
It was decent enough. I love the original Beauty and The Beast. So this book was a nice somewhat less glamorous version.
The story in itself was good, however all the descriptions overwhelmed me and I found myself skipping those long paragraphs - frankly, I don't care to read what snow covered landscapes look like.
I enjoyed this book - un...more
Very well-written and oh, so sad.
The story is indeed the "Beauty & the Beast" fairy tale in modern times, there is even a rose motif. It is the Beast - this time a man with gigantism -- who must realize his beauty and lovableness inside. His capacity to love is great, but he feels he cannot be loved. Alex, his Beauty, can scarcely teach him, but love and grief do win out in the end. Yes, grief - it's all part of the deal.
But oh, it left me SO sad - I remember reading it and then wandering a...more
The story is indeed the "Beauty & the Beast" fairy tale in modern times, there is even a rose motif. It is the Beast - this time a man with gigantism -- who must realize his beauty and lovableness inside. His capacity to love is great, but he feels he cannot be loved. Alex, his Beauty, can scarcely teach him, but love and grief do win out in the end. Yes, grief - it's all part of the deal.
But oh, it left me SO sad - I remember reading it and then wandering a...more
I loved the story, the characters seem so real and have been handled with a lot of sensitivity. But I completely hated the book in the last few pages, when the story is about to end. That's maybe because I absolutely detest tragic endings particularly when hopes are built that everything is going to turn out to be a happy one. Leaves you feeling sad and heart broken.
Not bad but it doesn't even come close to the classic retelling by Robin McKinley. Even without checking the pub date I could tell it was written in the early 90s. It just felt a bit dated. The ending felt awkward and abrupt, but I enjoyed the beginning and middle with the developing relationship between Alix and the 'beast.'
Jan 24, 2012
Jennifer
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
contemporary-romance,
unusual-heroes
Quick read, challenging story. Curve-ball of an ending-- in which I'm trying to be the sympathetic reader that understands what the author was shooting for, but really, I'm annoyed at that the modern interpretation of a fairy tale didn't have the fairy-tale ending.
I made the mistake of reading this on a plane...which meant I couldn't throw it out the window when I finished. There are books that have endings that make me sad even while I see the logic that led to that ending. But this just felt mean and unnecessary.
This is one of my favorite reads. If nothing else sounds interesting, this is what I pick up. Its the typical story of beauty and the beast but set in modern times, with the "beast" being a regular man with a genetic distortion to his body.
I'm going to have to give this book another shot, considering the number of high marks given by other readers here. I read it a very long time ago, and just wasn't overwhelmed. Perhaps it was the timing, but I'm going to attempt this again.
Jun 14, 2010
Bekki McClish
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
contemporary-romance
This book was really great - then it seemed as though Susan got bored at the end and put and really bummer ending on it. I was disappointed in the end, but everything before that was great. I wasn't able to put it down.
I have read this book four or five times. It is a great take on the beauty and the beast theme. I especially like the growth of the main characters. However the ending is unsatisfactory.
I read this book in 1999 (yes, I keep a reading journal) and I noted that it was "VG! Cried!!"
I think it's time to read it again!
I think it's time to read it again!
It was a good story, but it could have been even better without the swearing and sex. Lame additions that don't further the plot at all.
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This was a pretty enjoyable read and nicely written, but the fair lack of conflict and terrible ending made the whole thing seem pointless.
I felt that ending was a bit below the belt. Right in the feels. Defiantly this was a product of it's time (oh the 90's)
I don't often read love stories per se, but this one was a very enjoyable read. Felt it was well written.
Loved Loved Loved. I couldn't help but feel the love they shared. The near ending swayed me.
A modern-era "Beauty and the Beast" that will totally captivate you. I absolutely loved this book.
This is an absolutely fabulous story of loving someone for who they are, not what they look like.
A modern retelling of the tale of Beauty and the Beast. Very well done.
Beautiful. The story doesn't leave you when your done reading the book.
Dec 26, 2010
Michelle
added it
moving and fascinating modern retelling of my favorite fairy tale
Jun 28, 2009
Christy Stewart
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fairy-tales-retold,
romance,
fairy-tales,
books-i-own,
fiction,
contemporary,
disfigured,
gimpy,
ugly,
female-authors,
sad,
reviewed
I'll love any book that has a disfigured leading character, and what was good about this book was that instead of it being 'At first, I was taken aback but I can see the beauty there. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder' it was 'He's ugly. No, ugly ugly.' Aside from that, the leading lady was the right amount of feminine to make her believable and not annoying. So that makes for two winning characters in my book.
Lastly, the book is a great realistic version of a re-told fairy tale and despite t...more
Lastly, the book is a great realistic version of a re-told fairy tale and despite t...more
I'm not sure I liked the ending... But overall a good read.
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Born in Providence, RI, raised in Middlefield (Rockfall) Connecticut. Post High School Education, Middlesex Community College, Middletown, CT and Eastern Connecticut State University, Willimantic, CT.
Married, two grown daughters and a granddaughter and grandson.
Lives in Oak Bluffs, MA, on Martha's Vineyard.
Those are the stats. I am a novelist, seven published, one in progress, and a occasional co...more
More about Susan Wilson...
Married, two grown daughters and a granddaughter and grandson.
Lives in Oak Bluffs, MA, on Martha's Vineyard.
Those are the stats. I am a novelist, seven published, one in progress, and a occasional co...more
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