Customer Reviews

Beauty (Spectra special editions)

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

In this novel by renowned author Sheri S. Tepper, one woman -- a young fifteenth century noble, Beauty by name -- finds that she is a pivotal character in a number of familiar fairy stories as she haplessly travels through the past and future, and lands real and imagined, on her way to a bizarre destiny.

Tepper is at her most engaging when she slyly retells the classic fairy tales, adding a cynical, sometimes earthy slant that can engage the reader's more adult sensibilities even as the familiar patterns of the old stories awaken childlike nostalgia. These sections are easily the most amusing of the book. She also fully imagines a fascinating version of Fairyland. Additionally, Tepper pulls off a remarkable feat in her writing. The book is organized as Beauty's diary, commencing when she is fifteen and continuing well beyond middle age, and Tepper convincingly changes Beauty's voice over the years, so gradually I barely noticed it was happening, as Beauty matures and as the events of her life change her outlook.

What keeps this book from greatness is that its central thesis -- that the beauty of art and nature should be preserved and appreciated -- is undercut by the way Tepper describes beauty itself. Too often, Tepper's words of appreciation of beauty segue into extremely mean-spirited rants against what Tepper perceives to be ugly. She devotes many pages of her book to describing a well-realized and vicious hell for writers of horror fiction, which she clearly hates with an ugliness that rivals any of the uglinesses she denigrates. Tepper is hardest on horror fiction, but does not spare other twentieth century institutions. If you think there is any beauty in modern music or architecture, or that there is any point to art other than beauty, Tepper has some pretty mean things to say about you.

Tepper's bitterness overpowers quite a bit of her book, but Beauty is a long book, and there is room for a lot of good in it. The plot is fascinatingly intricate in the way it weaves Tepper's thesis in with fairy- and folktales, and Tepper's writing technique kept me reading steadily to the finish. The fact that Tepper sometimes loses control keeps Beauty from being a true classic (or truly beautiful), but it is still a worthwhile read.

I wasn't sure what to rate this, right now I am giving it a four, but I just might change my mind by the time I am done writing this. I can say that this was my second tepper book. The first was A Plague of Angels, and the only reason that I read Beauty was my friend promised me I would like it. I have to say that overall, Tepper has the gift to disturb her readers, well at least almost all her books disturb me. Beauty isn't any different. I was told that this was a book about Sleeping beauty who had a daughter who turned out to be cinderella whose daughter was snow white, etc. I thought it sounded like a fun book. Boy was I wrong. From the author's note to the last sentence, this book plunges you down into a deep (abyss?). It's not a "fun" read, rather, it's a very deep story. It definitely hits heavy on the environmentalist aspect, but it's also speaks about loosing "magic" (hope?) and all that is not just physically beautiful in the world, but spiritually for lack of a better word. While I loved this book and have reread it, I have to say that the two parts that I didn't like was the Chinanga part--I didn't particularly see the point of it, and also Giles character. What a shallow shallow hero. However, it is still a beautiful story and as depressing as it is, ends on a note of hope.

Oh, I guess to be fair, I agree with the person who said that Tepper uses religion to get out of situations. I guess I'll let the four stars stand after all. I still highly reccommend this book though

I started reading this book when I was in high school, but put it down after reading a particularly disturbing scene (those who've read the book will probably know which one I'm talking about). I picked it back up a few weeks ago and loved it. I'm so sorry that I didn't read it all the way through the first time.
Overall I thought the book was very good, a few flaws, but the strengths outweigh those. Some portions of the book are stronger than others, so my advice is that if you come to a section you don't care for, keep going. I personally loved the idea that her child and grandhild would also become stars in their own little fairy tales. Beauty really holds the book together, and I enjoyed the first person perspective Tepper uses. The book has a beautiful message, as do a lot of Tepper's novels. Sometimes she can be a bit preachy and that can throw you right out of the book, but I really loved this book and would highly recommend it. She has found a way to make what could be a depressing outcome into a touching ending that will stick with you.

I wish I had never read this book. The sheer amount of violent imagery is overwhelming. Though I have no problem with feminist themes (and I disagree with the previous author that they are excessive) the commentary that they are rammed down your throat are accurate. Violent, lewd, disturbing imagery pepper the book which is presented as a re-thinking of fairy tales. Though it is somewhat consistent with the original fairy tales which were often violent cautionary tales, this book makes use of so much violence that it is by sheer excess gratuitous and unnecessary.

This is topped by the incredibly hypocritical theme of the book which criticizes horror novels and popular culture for embraces violence, this in the midst of a book with scenes just as or more violent and disturbing than and Stephen King novel I have read.

You hold on, continuing to read hoping for at least some hint of hope or a clever insightful twist at the end but the "twist" hardly merits the darkness of the book. If this is Sheri S. Tepper's world, I don't want to live in it.

The idea of the main plot points (if you can find them) is intriguing, but the execution is dreadful. Tepper's writing itself is good, but the content and execution are just dreadful. If you are looking for a clever retelling of familiar fairy tales may I suggest Robin McKinly or Terri Pratchett. This is not a light, fun, clever or even modernized and insightful retelling of a familiar story. It is horrific, depressing and at time nauseating.

Skip it - unless your idea of a good time includes scenes of mass suicide and rape I'd pick up a different book.

After reading the reviews, it is obvious that this is one of those books on which opinions are divided. There is no middle ground. People either love it or hate it.

I have to confess, I'm one of those who loves it. I thought it was a beautiful book with a very strong, if not positive message. Beauty is the daughter of a noble and she lives in fifteenth century Britain. She runs away from home and, barely a day after, blunders into a film crew from the far-off future who are making a documentary about that time. Not wanting to leave a witness, they kidnap her and she is taken into the future: a harsh, overpopulated world where the food is nutrients packed into a bar, and people live in an area 100 feet square. It would be too ambitious to outline the whole plot; it is too convoluted and complicated, with journeys back and forth through time, and in and out of various fairy tales. Needless to say, Beauty has a hand in all of them; in fact, the original Cinderella is her daughter.

Though I don't necessarily agree with her picture of the future, I think that Beauty portrays a very real message. I agree with what some of the reviews have said: Beauty (the character) remains cold and distant. You don't really get to know her because the book is formatted through diary entries which, far from pouring her heart out, are basically the pure facts. However, I think this fits in with the mood of the book.
I think that it is really clever the way the author has intertwined most of the well-known fairy tales with the plot, with some strange twists: Cinderella is a bitchy and selfish girl, Snow white is a dumb blonde, etc.

The land of the faerys was accurate with most legends of the faerys. I can never like them. They are selfish and manipulative and care nothing for the lives of mere mortals of the likes of us. Time travels differently in faery land, so seven years in faery land could pass as a hundred in the real world, which makes an ending nothing short of tragic.

I don't know who to reccomend this book to; it seems that you either like it or you don't. This was my second Tepper book, the first was the Gate to Women's country. I didn't like it much, but I fininshed it and for some reason I decided to read Beauty. Then I started a Plague of angels, but was too bored to finish it. So I think that this is the best of her books, and anyone who likes fantasy should try it, even if it's for just another opinion.

I have to admit that I love Sheri Tepper, and that I've read every book of hers that I could find. But, I must say that this is THE BEST BOOK of hers to date. I have had to buy so many copies of this book because I've lent it to friends that simply refuse to give it back. I can't believe some people are so hooked on "agenda"s! This book has a message, yes. But to put it down for that is like putting down any book that tries to inspire people to be better than they are. If you don't care for excellent writing, deep characters, or intelligent stories, please, PLEASE, don't get this book. This way those of us who do appreciate these things can go on without hearing "pernicious nonsense" from those that don't. Read this book with an open mind, and you will find a most engaging story with characters so real, you will have a hard time closing the cover for fear you are closing it on their life!

I, as it seems many others have, read Beauty for the first time about 10 years ago. I was thrilled as the story proceeded to intertwine the "princess" fairy tales with some twists! I was touched by the insight with which she described the world's waning humanity. It was not hard to devour the story with Tepper's eloquent descriptions and well defined characters. This book does indeed take you to another time and place...to many in fact. I applaud her artistic imagination and thank her for sharing with us. Beauty was and is a delight.

As I was browsing in a used bookstore one day, I was attracted to this book by the cover and the simple title. Over the past 10 years, I have gone back to this book again and again. I fall in love every time! The romance between Beauty and Giles is one of the most beautiful I have read anywhere. I am fascinated by time travel, fairy tales, and the struggle to discover identity, and Tepper skillfully weaves all these and more into a simply wonderful story. After reading this, I went out and looked for her other books, but the only one I would recommend beyond Beauty is "A Plague of Angels". My only caveat: some of Tepper's ideas are very liberal, but don't let that stop you from discovering this priceless book.

This has to be one of Ms. Tepper's better works. In too many of her books, we usually see some kind of weird deus ex machina or whatever thrown in (Family Tree, Gibbon's Decline and Fall, the Visitor) so I am pleased to say that this story is more coherent than these.

Anyone familiar with Ms. Tepper should not be surprised at her inclusion of commentaries against this or that - Ms. Tepper is quite the feminist, and snarks against religion, violence, patriarchy, the abuse of the environment/natural resources and so on and so forth. She paints a rather grim picture of the future, a future where by the end of the 21st century, the people of the earth have pretty much screwed themselves - just about everything else besides humans are extinct, and everyone has to eat this crap called Fidipur, which is the only thing to eat, and the world is overcrowded. Ms. Tepper doesn't seem to have an optimistic view of our future (The Companions, for example) but given the current state of the world, I can see why.

But a good part of this story is set in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries and contains quite a bit of history. The character of Beauty is likeable. She's not SMART, but she is practical, and this in itself is pretty smart. She learns a lot when she travels to the 20th and 21st century. It's fun how other fairy tales have been woven into here with tweaks and the like to make them more realistic and adult. She is mother to Cinderella, grandmother to Snow White, and great-grandmother to the Frog Prince. Sounds crazy - but it actually works!

Faery is also wonderfully described and illustrated, as Ms. Tepper has a way with her pen that enables her to describe things wonderfully. This is definitely a good book, and thought-provoking, and wonderfully imaginative.

I couldn't stay away from the book once I started it. I realize I'm late to the reading of it and frankly I had never heard of the author until about a month ago; these facts notwithstanding, I loved this book! It moves quickly and I couldn't wait to see what would happen next. It begins with the story of Beauty, the 15-year-old daughter of a Duke, who lives with her father and her aunts in the 14th century. Beauty is a beautiful and delightful child but that can't keep her parents around. Her mother is a fairy who disappeared after her birth and her father is constantly going on pilgrimmages around the world leaving her to be raised by her elderly aunts (all of whom are named after herbs) and one priest who loves and educates her.

She was cursed at birth by her godmother so that when she turns 16, she will prick her finger and fall into an enchanted sleep (sound familiar?). She does manage to escape her curse though and I loved how this happened. Further, she has something that burns brightly in her chest which will come into play later in the book. She ends up in the 21st century which is quite bleak and I found myself rooting for her return home. She moves back and forth through time often throughout the book. Also, she will manage to arrive in and out of several different centuries and end up in a "make believe" place; the land of faery; and various other magical and wonderful places. She pays a heavy price for her time and world travels however.

In with all the above, the author manages to interweave several fairy tales, i.e., Sleeping Beauty; Rapunzel; Snow White; Cinderella and The Frog Prince. Plus Beauty and "The Dark One", which comes into play a lot in the later part of the novel, is the quinessential good versus evil storyline. Through this vein of the story it seems to me that the author is attempting to tell a story about the loss of beauty as the world loses more of its natural beauty (forrests, species, etc.) due to overpopulation and uncaring attitudes of mankind. If you ever felt like you would have enjoyed living in an earlier, simpler time, you will relate to what she is saying in these parts.

The book is so exciting in so many ways and I found it to be very captivating regardless of the length (which is over 400 pages). It is beautifully written and not for one minute did I ever lose interest. I kept wondering what was going to happen next when I was away from it. In fact, I'm having a hard time reading my next book because my thoughts keep going back to Beauty.