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Title: Beauty Sleep: A Retelling of "Sleeping Beauty" (Once Upon a Time)
ISBN: 1416940146
Author:
Cameron Dokey
Publicate Date: 2006-10-24
Publish: 2006-10-24
List Price: $5.99
Average Customer Rating: 4.0
Format: Mass Market Paperback
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $2.51
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $0.01
Amazon Merchant Price: $5.99
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| Customer Review: |
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1: A Princess in Pants
Mmm... I DID think this story was mediocre, which makes me wonder about the series. I think it is fine for young girls under 15. But knowing the Princess is 16 is enough to make me want more from the storytelling, which didn't happen. I feel you get what you pay for here. The author is a good writer, and got the book off to a tremendous start with her explanations of what magic is. Unfortunately, it goes downhill from there. You don't get your 12 fairies here, or even three fairies, or for that matter - ANY fairies! In my mind, that is unacceptable. You don't get a princess who grows up in the woods, you get a princess in pants! The cover-art is deceptive and the book is nothing like the painting you see there. So this didn't keep me. Part of her life was to spend time with the peasants, which lasted about two paragraphs. Aurore does connect with one major character, but seemed to have a bigger personality than what was developed. Although I finished the book, it was a strain to stay with it and see how the story would play out. For me, the romance and the mystery and magic were nil. I also did not care for some of the underwordly descriptions of supernatural occurrences (which were more off-putting than interesting). Being a student of the supernatural, I was not feeling it in this writing. (I got a sense that the company didn't pay the author adequately to write something memorable.) Again, OK for anyone under 15, who might be inspired later to write something better themselves!
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2: Short, Sweet and Quite Fun!
I want to admit right off that I have become rather fond of this series (Once Upon a Time) and Beauty Sleep has just become my second favorite in the series (Before Midnight being my favorite). All the stories in this series are short (this one coming in just over 200 pages) and Beauty Sleep is sweet with a romantic bent (i.e. happily ever after) yet it offers a number of fun, new twists on the classic fairytale we grew up with. The Aurore of this version is not a helpless, spoiled princess; she is an independent, vibrant young person with a passion for life, a genuine curiosity about the world around her and a penchant for getting herself in trouble. Because Dokey's version focuses on Aurore...her personality and her life (how she has to live as a result of the curse) rather than on that of those around her and while the curse hangs thick around her, very little of the story line is given over to the "evil fairy" and almost nothing is given over to her "nap." I also enjoyed the development of the "Charming" character...it was a nice twist on the original storybook character with echoes of traits seen in some recent movies (think Shrek), but which still manages to be original and it was interesting to see his character develop. I have to admit some disappointment with the ease with which I was able to figure out the "twist" at the end, but overall the story was very enjoyable and quite original (based on my reading up to this point). I give it 4 stars and two thumbs up! I'll definitely be picking up a copy of this for my permanent collection! Also, I want to point out that while the stories in this series are short and simple...they can be quite entertaining and enjoyable for adult readers as well...especially if you LOVE fairytale adaptations (as I do).
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3: Mildly Distracting, but Good
In the plethora of first person princess narratives (The Princess Diaries, Ella Enchanted, etc.) this one is pleasant, but forgettable. The short length makes the plot fall a little flat, and the case of "mistaken identity" becomes apparent almost the second you meet the character in question. This should not be shelved or categorized as young adult. The simplicity of the storyline makes it more of an intermediate reader's novel.
However, it's a fun, if not mind-blowingly enjoyable, read on a stormy night or in the tub before bed.
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4: Amazing retelling of Sleeping Beauty
This book is an amazing and fresh new telling of Sleeping Beauty. I bought this book before the Once Upon A Time series started and then there was only Beauty Sleep, Storytellers Daughter and Snow. It made me sad when I went to buy the book, again since I lost my first copy, that it was out of print. I stumbled upon it on this website just to find out that they had taken it out of print to put into the Once Upon a Time Series.
This book gives us a great view of Aurora's family and how she grew up. I love how this book is in first person, it gives it a sort of personal feel, like all of Cameron Dokey's Once Upon A time books. This one is probably my favorite, if not my all time favorite, so far in the series. It's the first one I have read and the one I have treasured most. Snow comes in a close second. This book is just amazing, and I have my 23 year old friend addicted to them now so it is not just a book for teenagers, it is a book for everyone.
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5: An Original Take on "Sleeping Beauty"
Retellings of fairy tales are in fashion now, and a lot are mediocre. But "Beauty Sleep" is a surprisingly fresh interpretation of "Sleeping Beauty". The story is original, with very little of the it devoted to Aurore's hundred year nap. Instead it focuses on the events that preceeded it- the princess's childhood and her family, and her worries about the spells that will eventually affect her. When Aurore realizes that her kingdom will suffer if she doesn't fall under the spell, she takes matters into her own hands, and this part is just as interesting. This is short book, which is good because none of it seems to drag. The story is interesting and moves at a good pace, which is one thing I like about the "Once Upon a Time" series in general.
I liked the characters fine, and the romance is good. I also liked the writing, though it can be a little hard to follow at times. It's a little overwrought in places, and at times I had to go back over a sentence to get what it was saying, but the tone is fitting for a fairy tale. The themes the book had were interesting, and I loved Aurore's explantion of the magic in her world.
Overall, this is a quick read, but it has some depth too. The fairy tale ending left me feeling happy and was unexpected at the same time. I enjoyed it very much.
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