The Borrowed Rose: Beauty and the Beast Book Recommendations and Retellings

Three new  Beauty and the Beast books in this Book Report: The Bride & the Beast by Theresa Medeiros - re-read this one.  It's a standard, sweet romantic retelling. Blind Beast Mate by Milana Jacks - super racy, quick read. Scales by Alydia Rackham - young adult fairy-tale retelling.  Really enjoyed how the author changed up the character roles and used the original elements of roses, an enchanted castle and the good + bad fairies (refer to my post on the original BATB story  to catch the references).  Scales  is a great choice for all ages. ♥ I'd love to know what Beauty and the Beast retellings you are reading.  Any to add to the fan fiction list? A note on reviews , and why you won't find many here. Note:  As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Your purchases through my site help cover website maintenance fees.  Thank you for your support!

Thanks to the friend I had dinner with a few weeks ago for the super cute Disney-style Beauty and the Beast gift bag and bottle of Storyteller wine.  I love the thoughtfulness of the themed wine to go with a one-of-kind wrapping.  I'll have to gift another themed wine back.  Cheers to you, Friend!

Fans of the most excellent 1987 CBS TV show Beauty & the Beast know what an auspicious day this is. Happy Birthday, Vincent! Today is Vincent's birthday!  BATB fanatics unite on January 12! Now Friends, I did not create this picture.  It's care of Pinterest, and I wasn't able to find an artist to attribute credit.  But I am wildly amused that one exists! CBS' Beauty & the Beast show was one of the first shows I just had to watch as a geeky young lady (the affliction began early), and I would schedule around a busy (not so much) middle school social calendar.  I loved Vincent's quiet nobility and the hopeless attraction between Catherine & Vincent.  Which ended up being not so hopeless, if you catch my drift.  It was steampunk before steampunk was a thing.  It was fantasy television when it wasn't cool (except for Land of the Lost which every kid should have watched on principle alone #survivalskills).  For two legit years...

I have had a revelation.  The Phantom of the Opera is creepy, and disturbing on so many levels.  That bothers me.  But what bothers me more is that I still really love it.  #sorrynotsorry I love the desperate, creepy obsession the Phantom bears for Christine.  I love Christine's struggle with her adoration and draw to the Phantom.  I really love the haunting music that sets my soul to shivering.  I love the costumes and creative sets and the golden, filigreed ornamentation of well, everything.  While I hadn't connected the two until I began blogging about Beauty and her Beast (yes, I can be slow), I realized that Phantom is an over-the-top, wonderfully gothic, tragic Beauty and the Beast .  And Stockholm syndrome discussions aside, I. love. it. Quentin Oliver Lee is a terrific (and quite tall) Phantom + Emma Grimsley as Christine (in our production) My Bestie invited me to see the latest American Phantom tour on its stop in our neck...

I am not a literary critic, reviewer or smart in literary analysis in any such way.  Just to be clear.  I love to read, and I love to read Beauty and the Beast tales - in the case you haven't read previous posts.  While this project has increased my interest in literary analysis and I'm learning it can be a bottomless hole on the interwebs, for now, I'm keeping posts simple for us plain folk.  However, I have found a few analyses and reviews that I respect and will reference them for your edification. The OG Beauty and the Beast Reflections on the original - La Belle et La Bête by Madame Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de   Villeneuve , written 1740: Barbot de Villeneuve, author of the original Beauty and the Beast Did you know that Beauty is the daughter of a fairy!?! And the Prince's cousin!!  /ewww Monkeys, parrots and birds attend Beauty while at the enchanted castle. The Beast woos Beauty in her dreams, as her "Beloved Unknown."  She doesn't fall...