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

Sooooo… that vacation. Yep, off the books due to Covid. I hate that. We love to travel and like to get away and see something new every few moths or so. In the meantime, I'm discovering some cool ways to explore the world. Phantom phans, this one is for you. BATB fans, the Phantom is a creepy cousin to the Beauty & the Beast tale. Well, both are rather creepy. Beauties and beasts, in their own fashion, so we're going with it. The Palais Garnier in Paris and Google Arts & Culture partnered to bring us a virtual tour of the Palais Garnier . Woot! There are views of the lake under the Palais, views of lovely Paris from the rooftop, the Library-Museum and the theater itself where you can see the fresco ceiling and famed chandelier. They also include pictures of the artwork and statues that adorn the Palais, inside and out. Every nook and cranny has a sculpture or painting to discover. The Wikipedia site on Palais Garnier includes a fun illustration indicating ...

As I mentioned in the  reading list for 2020 post , I'm endeavoring to change up my go-to genres for reading in general.  I've taken that to heart and added a bit of variety for the retellings read over the 2020 winter months.  A contemporary romance, sci-fi rendition, and an Amish retelling made the list this season. Of Beast & Beauty  by Stacey Jay - A dystopian, sci-fi-esque, young-adult retelling with a moral undertone encouraging acceptance of differences. Belle:  An Amish Retelling of Beauty and the Beast (An Amish Fairytale Book 1)  by Sarah Price - A sweet, clean romance between a disfigured recluse and a heart-strong Belle. Beauty & the Billionaire:  A Dirty Fairy Tale (Dirty Fairy Tales Book 1)  by Lauren Landish - A racy BATB-esque story. Masque (Two Monarchies Sequence Book 5)  by W.R. Gingell - A delightful read about a smart, savvy protagonist set in an environment evoking the Victorian era. 💖 Beauty and the Phanto...

Everything has to have a first, including happily ever afters (HEAs).  The love story of Cupid & Psyche is noted to be literature's first fairy-tale.  Elements within the story influence tales such as Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast.   Shakespeare also drew on elements from the tale for his M idsummer Night's Dream . The story of Cupid & Psyche itself is cleverly embedded within a larger story, called Metamorphoses (which was also called The Golden Ass ), written by Roman author Lucius Apuleius Madaurensis in 2nd century AD.  Cupid & Psyche's story is one of overcoming obstacles with a heavy dose of soap-opera drama.  You know those fickle, attention-greedy mythological gods. Cupid & Psyche's Story:  The First Happily Ever After Psyche Revived by Cupid's Kiss by Antonio Canova (my own photo) The general plot goes something like this:  Psyche is gorgeous and Venus is jelly.  She sends her son Cupid to make Psyche fal...

Happy New Year, 2020! Last year I decided to track what I read each month.  As I review the list, I realize that I don't have quite as much diversity in my genre selections as I'd like.  So this year, I'm taking a new approach to grow the variety of genres that I ingest.  Sure, I'll still throw in random picks, because, you know, you get an itch for a particular something every once in a while. I have a monthly list of books I'll be tackling for general fiction and a few "business" selections.  I also have 12 Beauty and the Beast choices, that I'd love to share with you.  I typically lean towards retellings that are fantasy in nature. This year, I'd like to read a few retellings that are yes, fantastical, because the fairy tale is that, but in a different setting--contemporary, for example. So, in no particular order: updated 6/28/20 Of Beast and Beauty by Stacey Jay - read Masque by W.R. Gringell - read Lord of Scoundrels by Lor...

A great resource for those with a passion for fairy tale retellings?  Kindle Unlimited .  I found I was spending $3-5 for many of the quick reads I enjoy and most of them were Kindle Unlimited offerings.  The $10/month investment in Kindle Unlimited has been a savvy savings for us, as the hubs has made great use of it, too.  We both consume books at a fast clip, and most of the Unlimited books are self-published, affordable, quick reads, making it a good value for us.  A majority of the books I read for book club or catching up on my ever-growing wish list are not included on Unlimited, but that's ok.  When perusing a quick weekend paranormal mind-melt, it's a good bet. Currently, two of the books on the list below are included with  Kindle Unlimited . New Beauty and the Beast discoveries   Hunting the Beast:  A Beauty and the Beast Fairy Tale Retelling (Fairy Tales with a Bite Book 1)  by Anna Santos & May Freighter - ...

Steampunk is a sub-genre of science fantasy (sci fi + fantasy - I see what they did there) inspired by the Victorian era and steam-powered technologies.  It features alternative futures and innovations.  I enjoy poking around in the steampunk world, and quickly get sucked into the steampunk vortex, with it's rich culture in fashion, literature, movies, music and more.  Wikipedia has a thorough article here on all things steampunk if you, too, desire to travel the vortex. Steampunk Beauty and the Beast Retellings Art by nahp75 on Deviant Art Beauty & the Beast has not escaped the steampunk filter.  Here are three to add to your TBR list today: Firelight (Darkest London Book 1) by Kristen Callihan Loosely inspired by  Beauty and the Beast where Beauty hides a supernatural secret and the masked Beast character, who hides a mysterious past, has been trolling her for some time. Beauty & Beastly: Steampunk Beauty and the Beast (Steampunk Fairytales B...

I've realized that I have a tendency to read in themed phases.  Do you do that, too? Sometimes I'm all about finding a fun, modern fantasy.  Sometimes I'm eager for the classics.  Sometimes it's one Beauty and the Beast fan fiction pick after another.  Other times, I'm looking for a quick and dirty read with good character development.  And I always have a business or non-fiction book, I'm working through.  I find that I'm discerning about solid writing, but I don't have a go-to genre.  And variety is good, right?   Have you noticed a trend in your book choices?   Beauty and the Beast will always be a feature in my reading list, and I have a TBR list when Beauty and her Beast call. Three Beauty and the Beast Tales to Add to Your TBR List To Love a Monster   by Marina Simcoe -  Contemporary, adult romance set in Canada.  Beauty gets friendly with Beast while he's a beast, which is... interesting. Hea...