My latest Goodreads review is up, and this time, I’m focusing my attention on a book-loving, adventure-seeking, “peculiar” girl and her discovery of true love in the most unconventional of places.
Of course, I’ve discussed the live action movie in a previous post, but I had to read the novelization for…posterity.
Beauty and the Beast Novelization by Elizabeth Rudnick
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I will start off by mentioning that I read the animated movie tie-in novel when I was nine years old, a Christmas present from my third grade teacher. This was almost a year before I saw the animated film, but the book sucked me in. The animated film was, for me, the “Frozen” of my childhood, and I remember numerous watchings over the years (I still have the original VHS print in the clamshell box!).
25 years later…
I was apprehensive about a live action version of “Beauty and the Beast,” if only for the fact that I’m a purist and a nostalgia writer. For me, there is nothing quite like the original, and while I’m open to remakes of things I love, they have to be done absolutely right Call me nitpicky, but my standards are a bit high in this area. My mom, who loves the animated movie and the Broadway show, wanted to see the movie. She dragged me along (reluctantly, especially after I made the comment that it will “ruin the original movie”), but I wound up sitting on the edge of my seat the entire movie, singing along and remembering the original movie word-for-word. I never realized until then how much I truly loved Belle, given my aversion to the whole Disney Princess thing. But, she’s a normal girl who loves to read, and cited as peculiar by everyone else.
Sounds alot like me!
Anyway, this book…
This novel is the official movie tie-in, and if you’ve seen the live action film, it wil all be familiar to you. One of the things I absolutely love about this novel (and reading in general) is visualizing the action. If you’re familiar with the original and have seen the live action version, that is made all the easier to picture everything. The attention to detail in the words are stunning, and the book became an addictive read. I had read it in dribs and drabs for the last few weeks, but when I had gotten halfway through, I spent an entire night earlier this week reading it. It really keeps you interested.
Elizabeth Rudnick made visualizing the “song and dance” scenes easier through words, and I can’t imagine this would be an easy feat. I particularly loved the part that was “Be Our Guest” in the movie, as well as “Something There” (two of my favorite songs from both movies). And of course, the epic ballroom scene? She nails it with her words, as I thought only the song “Beauty and the Beast” could do. Incredible!!!!
Visually stunning to picture, with lovely wording and meticulous attention to every detail of the movie, this was a well-written movie tie-in. It brings back wonderful memories of reading the animated tie-in all those years ago.
Highly, highly recommend!
I’m looking forward to reading “Lost in a Book” next!
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