TLU: June 2019 Pick: The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle

[John (Taloni)]

^My local doesn't have it but the County library does. I'll be making a stop. Well, unless I buy from Amazon. I'd do that if my local library would take the book when I'm done. I'm at the stage of life where I just don't want any more stuff.

[Tina]

Barnes & Noble has it, if you want to buy a new copy
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/last...

[LouLouReads]

I’ve been meaning to read this for years - one of my friends really loves the film and I’ve been wanting to read the original novel since I saw it as a student. Really pleased that it’s this month’s book pick so that I’m finally prompted to do it!

[Caitlin]

Beth wrote: "This is probably a silly question, but have you tried your local library?"

That's where I got mine!

[Ruth (tilltab) Ashworth]

Beth wrote: "This is probably a silly question, but have you tried your local library?"

No, not available at the library either. I feel a little guilty, as I have the humble bundle copy but lemmed it, and don't plan on reading along.

[William]

I know people are having trouble with Audible, but my local library has an audio version of the Last Unicorn (its on cassettes, but I still have one cassette player). Maybe some other libraries have a copy on Libby or BARD.

[Jessica]

I got the book out from my library (searched for it online, put a hold on it, went to pick it up once it had arrived at my local branch). When I read people were having a hard time locating a copy of the novel, I though, well that stinks, I had no problem getting it from my library! Then I opened it up to start reading and...it's the graphic novel.

[Iain]

Mine finely arrived from a small book seller today.... 12 days after my first attempt at ordering it... Back to the nineties.

[Molly]

I just finished. While I enjoyed it overall, I think I fell in love the writing more than the actual characters/plot. The prose has a lovely kind of poetry to it at times, not dissimilar from Bradbury. There were lots of little moments that I really liked—the singing butterfly, Cully’s self-obsession, the talking skull. Will be interested to hear what everyone else thinks!

[Hannah]

I just finished the book. I feel like I would have enjoyed the story more if it had kept its focus on the unicorn has the protagonist and its feelings and thoughts throughout their experiences. It felt like once she had humans with her the reader didn't need to care about those things. She became the object and motivation for other characters and not her own discrete being. It was no longer what happened and what does it mean for "the last unicorn" and more what does it mean for humanity. I lost interest in that. However I still liked the book, I just thought it fell flat.

[John (Taloni)]

^ I found the book a mixed bag. Some enjoyable vignettes but it didn't really hold together as a coherent story.

Seemed like a deconstruction of fairy tales for most of the book. She's the last unicorn, it doesn't seem like the rest are ever coming back. Magic is well on its way out, and only scattered reminders remain. Magic, such as it exists, is a downer or a curse.

(view spoiler)[Then the Prince goes off killing magical baddies by the score. The unicorns get free and restore health and magic to the land. There's even a hit-the-audience-over-the-head moment of "in case you missed it, stereotypical fairy tales are still goin' ON!" It's almost as if Beagle didn't feel like he could go with the downer ending he'd been leading to. (hide spoiler)]

[Melissa]

So I thought I was getting 'The Last Unicorn' at the library. I was in a hurry and asked the librarian to put a hold on it for me. What I was sent was The Last Unicorn: The Lost Journey. Very different book from what I was expecting. Much darker and humans are in trouble.

So now I wait for the right book.

[Jessica]

Better late than never? I just read this, after purchasing a copy when it was the monthly pick.

It was pretty much a 3 star read for me, but I wound up giving it a fourth when there were so many wonderful quotes to choose from when I wrote my review

It seems my opinion differs from the majority who posted here. For one thing, I found the roving band of outlaws part kind of annoying. And although I agree that it seems like a different book once Lady Amalthea reaches King Haggard's castle, I actually super enjoyed that part. I missed the unicorn's perspective during that part of the book, but I think Haggard is a seriously underrated character! He's like the proto-Quentin Coldwater - everything he thinks will bring him joy only makes him happy for a relatively fleeting time.