I finally finished the book that I started reading yesterday (Beastly). A hearty 371 pages did good to put me to sleep last night. Here's what happened throughout the rest of the book.
At first Kyle and his famous newscaster father try to “fix” his outer/inner ugliness by pleading with medical specialists to do something, but they plead to no avail. Unfortunately for Kyle, his beastliness is a part of him–a manifestation of who he has been on the inside for many years. Fortunately for Kyle, Kendra saw him perform one kindness the night of the dance when he gave a rose to the ticket taker (neither he or his date found a mere rose worthy), so she gives him a chance: “You’ve lived your life being cruel. But in the hours before your transformation you performed one small kindness. It is because of this one bit of goodness that I see fit to offer you a second chance, because of the rose.”
Since it wasn’t much of a kindness, it isn’t much of a chance, but Kendra does tell Kyle that he has “two years to find someone willing to look beyond your hideousness and see some good in you, something to love. If you will love her in return and if she will kiss you to prove it, the spell will be lifted, and you will be your handsome self again. If not, you’ll stay a beast forever.”
When Kyle’s dad washes his hands of Kyle and ships him off with a housekeeper and a tutor to a house in a more rural locale, Kyle begins to change (some may argue a little too quickly and unrealistically, but change he does). He changes his name (who knew that one meaning for Kyle is “fair and handsome“?) to Adrian, he changes his lifestyle (he takes up gardening and reading as pastimes), and he changes his attitude (adding a dollop of humility and a smattering of empathy and compa ssion).
He also joins a chat group from which transcripts of the chat sessions are interspersed throughout the story. Joining BeastNYC in the chat room are SilentGirl, Froggie, and GrizzlyGuy. Having creatures from other tales populate the group and share their own worries and woes creates entertaining discussions. These sessions add comic relief and help reveal Kyle/Adrian’s changing attitudes and feelings.
The longer Kyle/Adrian exists as a beast on the outside, the less beastly he becomes on the inside. Of course, there is the whole kidnapping of Lindy incident (who incidentally was the impetus for his good deed involving the rose), but that’s a necessary plot point paving the way to the inevitable happy ending. After all, it’s going to take a girl awhile to adjust to that much hair on a guy, and he’s only got two years.
At first Kyle and his famous newscaster father try to “fix” his outer/inner ugliness by pleading with medical specialists to do something, but they plead to no avail. Unfortunately for Kyle, his beastliness is a part of him–a manifestation of who he has been on the inside for many years. Fortunately for Kyle, Kendra saw him perform one kindness the night of the dance when he gave a rose to the ticket taker (neither he or his date found a mere rose worthy), so she gives him a chance: “You’ve lived your life being cruel. But in the hours before your transformation you performed one small kindness. It is because of this one bit of goodness that I see fit to offer you a second chance, because of the rose.”
Since it wasn’t much of a kindness, it isn’t much of a chance, but Kendra does tell Kyle that he has “two years to find someone willing to look beyond your hideousness and see some good in you, something to love. If you will love her in return and if she will kiss you to prove it, the spell will be lifted, and you will be your handsome self again. If not, you’ll stay a beast forever.”
When Kyle’s dad washes his hands of Kyle and ships him off with a housekeeper and a tutor to a house in a more rural locale, Kyle begins to change (some may argue a little too quickly and unrealistically, but change he does). He changes his name (who knew that one meaning for Kyle is “fair and handsome“?) to Adrian, he changes his lifestyle (he takes up gardening and reading as pastimes), and he changes his attitude (adding a dollop of humility and a smattering of empathy and compa ssion).
He also joins a chat group from which transcripts of the chat sessions are interspersed throughout the story. Joining BeastNYC in the chat room are SilentGirl, Froggie, and GrizzlyGuy. Having creatures from other tales populate the group and share their own worries and woes creates entertaining discussions. These sessions add comic relief and help reveal Kyle/Adrian’s changing attitudes and feelings.
The longer Kyle/Adrian exists as a beast on the outside, the less beastly he becomes on the inside. Of course, there is the whole kidnapping of Lindy incident (who incidentally was the impetus for his good deed involving the rose), but that’s a necessary plot point paving the way to the inevitable happy ending. After all, it’s going to take a girl awhile to adjust to that much hair on a guy, and he’s only got two years.
I won't reveal the ending of the book, as it will spoil the juicy flavor of the meat (the book, in my slang terms). Overall I'm happy to say that this book was a joy to read. I recommend it to readers aged from 10 to 13, due to the content that is placed in the book ( cuss words are occasional in the book). This modern Baeuty and the Beast with a twist is sure to please...
Happy Reading!!! ( did I just say that?)
Picture Caption: One example of symbolism found throughout the book, is a rose. Each color that a rose comes in has a meaning or quality. (Yellow = friendship, Red = love)
