Sheri Tepper is one of my favorite authors and Beauty is one of my favorite books. Tepper can definitely be a bit preachy sometimes but it makes me happy to see other people discovering her writing.
Oh my heart ached for Beauty. Living with a depressive illness, how Beauty comes back from her Mother's land always resonates with me. A massively underrated writer.
This is my favorite fiction book and it's a damn shame so few people have read it. Overall, it's a hot mess, but it *is* compelling and the various genres *are* written in a way where they could coexist. And you hit the nail on the head: The novel's biggest strength is following the protagonist throughout her life, seeing her grow throughout the varied periods of history, and how the internal monologue becomes genuinely richer and more thoughtful the further into the story. I particularly liked this during the last 100 pages where Beauty is imprisoned by the bad guys and is forced to evaluate the horrors of her life, but, despite the increasing trauma, she buckles through and ultimately becomes more determined and at peace with herself and her life. And that trope is so difficult to find in any type of media, much less done so well. Thank you for raising awareness.
Wow! Thanks so much for writing that - I've hardly met anyone who has read it. Your analysis is SO on point too - have you read any of her other work or books that are similar to Beauty? PLEASE let me know, I need something that's just as compelling.
I was gifted this book last year by a friend of mine. I had a hard time with it, it was not a book I could easily grasp at first, it's one that benefits from multiple readings. I just reread it, and the more I read it, the more I like it. I felt unfulfilled at the ending, I had wanted there to be something "more", but it's hard to say precisely what it is I would have wanted... Beauty's youth being taken so quickly, bothered me. The man she loved, Giles, being unable to be with her for her life truly upset me. This book makes me cry, every time I read it.
I feel that in many ways, the book feels more rushed than it actually was - that maybe Beauty did spend more time being young? The ending and her love story with Giles was bitter sweet and was in a way bigger than both of them. I do think that in her own brilliant way Sheri S Tepper was reminding us that sometimes just because we are madly in love with someone it doesnt mean that we will or should be with them when we are young - maybe we can finally be with the love of our life once we are older?
@@MaanoftheHour I seem to remember reading in the book, that Puck tells Beauty that traveling back and forth by her seven league boots made her age faster. And Beauty's dismay about how quickly she aged, also contributes to this perception. It's just so sad that Beauty wasn't able to be with Giles for longer, especially when they were old. The forays into the future though, Beauty truly did need to go into the future, because of how she would not have been able to have reconciled the necessity of protecting what Carabosse and Israfel had implanted into her, by being normal, and she would not have been able to have come to peace with who she was, and what her purpose was. She had to see what the future of the world was going to be, and she had to go through with being made the teind to hell, so that she could help bring about the war of Faery against the devil, because that war being waged, is what allowed it to be safe for her to sleep in Westfaire for an indefinite time. Because otherwise the Dark Lord would have found her there, and corrupted what she carried. And going back to the topic of Giles, she was able to endure being through hell, because of being able to have any time with him at all, even if it was so much less than they both deserved.
@@Amanda-gg6kz I did not read Beauty. I am about the start reading it. I will keep your comments while I am reading it to see if I can see as you saw. I have an inkling you are onto something though I don`t know what it is as of now and It will be a great read for me as well.
As a Tepper nut, may I say that Beauty, though a great book, is not her best!! So many different books, all so complete in themselves. The Family Tree is guaranteed to blow you totally out of the water.
@@MaanoftheHour i've read them all (and have them all). Singer from the Sea I thought (first reading) lacklustre, but 2nd time much better. True Game is wonderful though I prefer the Mavin Chronicles.
@@MaanoftheHour yes read Grass - interesting in having a fairly humourless protagonist, but truly glorious descriptions of the planet Grass, plus a very satisfying comeuppance to the "aristocracy". Most noteworthy in being the first of the Arbai novels.
@@solivier7983 I just finished reading it the other day and still unpacking the ideas in it - it was gripping (a little long though and not as good as Beauty) - is the rest of the series worth it? I’m curious
I read this book over 20 years ago…lent it out and like many books I’ve let people borrow-it never came back to me… slowly I’ve been replacing books I’ve lost to 💩friends and divorces…so I just bought it on paperback. Lilith by Sheri S Tepper is a good read too.. 🤗❤️🇺🇸
Yes! She gets way too little recognition of how amazing her work is! Sometimes I just google her to try and find articles and reviews, but there's not really a lot, and usually only the same few books. I discovered her books a few years ago and have not looked back. Her catalogue is vast and amazing! I still haven't found a book of hers I've not liked (exept maybe her last, it's not really bad, just really poorly edited, I'm guessing after her death). I do find that her books tend to be very information heavy in the first chapters, so often it's a slow start for me, but once you get past that it's always really really good. They are all recognizably Tepper, and all somehow have similar themes, even though it's not always obvious. I always recommend Grass, because that's my favourite, but the true game series (+ accompanying mavin manyshaped and jinian footseer books) is also great. The Awakeners are a bit slower somehow, but beautiful. I also highly recommend looking into wich books are connected and in what order, as most of her books can be read as stand-alone stories, but are in fact part of a series and readig them in order might enrich the experience :)
That’s so informative and helpful thanks so much 🙏🏽 it’s hard to come across others who have read her work and your insight is helpful and motivating me to read more of her work. So I got the first book from True Game series on my kindle and I read the first few chapters but found it difficult to absorb in a way - also I may have been reading it at the wrong time (right book wrong time syndrome). But after reading your comment I‘ll give it another chance and I’ll look up Grass too. Two other authors whose work I admire and I don’t think are as recognized as they should be are Mary Stewart and Diana Wynne Jones - have you read any of their works?
@@MaanoftheHour No, I've never heard of them, but I'll take a look, thank you :) Yes, her books are usually very information dense in the beginning, it ends up serving the story over time, but even with her books I love the most and re-read a lot sometimes I'll read a chapter or two into it and put it away, a "false start" or two till the time is right. I don't want this to discourage anyone from her books though, they are definitely worth it, but from other conversations I find it's a common experience. The true game books are really so amazing, and starts out more in the fantasy realm, many new names and rules and social customs to learn, a bit dense, but then it sort of opens up on a literary "clearing in the woods" and off on an adventure we go! :)
i purchased "Beauty" some time back. However` i'm just now beginning to read it` after finding it packed away in a crate due to moving. Thus far`~~~ It's pure delight`~~ "Oh" My! DELICIOUS Yes! Thank You for the review . . . Appreciated! STOKED i am!
Sheri Tepper is one of my favorite authors and Beauty is one of my favorite books. Tepper can definitely be a bit preachy sometimes but it makes me happy to see other people discovering her writing.
Oh my heart ached for Beauty. Living with a depressive illness, how Beauty comes back from her Mother's land always resonates with me.
A massively underrated writer.
This is my favorite fiction book and it's a damn shame so few people have read it.
Overall, it's a hot mess, but it *is* compelling and the various genres *are* written in a way where they could coexist.
And you hit the nail on the head: The novel's biggest strength is following the protagonist throughout her life, seeing her grow throughout the varied periods of history, and how the internal monologue becomes genuinely richer and more thoughtful the further into the story. I particularly liked this during the last 100 pages where Beauty is imprisoned by the bad guys and is forced to evaluate the horrors of her life, but, despite the increasing trauma, she buckles through and ultimately becomes more determined and at peace with herself and her life. And that trope is so difficult to find in any type of media, much less done so well.
Thank you for raising awareness.
Wow! Thanks so much for writing that - I've hardly met anyone who has read it. Your analysis is SO on point too - have you read any of her other work or books that are similar to Beauty? PLEASE let me know, I need something that's just as compelling.
My favourite Book ever! Now i'm going to read it on english 💕 i read it when i was 15, and help me in many ways, ❤ suscribed!
Thank you so much, that's so kind :)
I was gifted this book last year by a friend of mine. I had a hard time with it, it was not a book I could easily grasp at first, it's one that benefits from multiple readings. I just reread it, and the more I read it, the more I like it.
I felt unfulfilled at the ending, I had wanted there to be something "more", but it's hard to say precisely what it is I would have wanted... Beauty's youth being taken so quickly, bothered me. The man she loved, Giles, being unable to be with her for her life truly upset me. This book makes me cry, every time I read it.
I feel that in many ways, the book feels more rushed than it actually was - that maybe Beauty did spend more time being young? The ending and her love story with Giles was bitter sweet and was in a way bigger than both of them. I do think that in her own brilliant way Sheri S Tepper was reminding us that sometimes just because we are madly in love with someone it doesnt mean that we will or should be with them when we are young - maybe we can finally be with the love of our life once we are older?
@@MaanoftheHour I seem to remember reading in the book, that Puck tells Beauty that traveling back and forth by her seven league boots made her age faster. And Beauty's dismay about how quickly she aged, also contributes to this perception. It's just so sad that Beauty wasn't able to be with Giles for longer, especially when they were old. The forays into the future though, Beauty truly did need to go into the future, because of how she would not have been able to have reconciled the necessity of protecting what Carabosse and Israfel had implanted into her, by being normal, and she would not have been able to have come to peace with who she was, and what her purpose was. She had to see what the future of the world was going to be, and she had to go through with being made the teind to hell, so that she could help bring about the war of Faery against the devil, because that war being waged, is what allowed it to be safe for her to sleep in Westfaire for an indefinite time. Because otherwise the Dark Lord would have found her there, and corrupted what she carried. And going back to the topic of Giles, she was able to endure being through hell, because of being able to have any time with him at all, even if it was so much less than they both deserved.
@@Amanda-gg6kz I did not read Beauty. I am about the start reading it. I will keep your comments while I am reading it to see if I can see as you saw. I have an inkling you are onto something though I don`t know what it is as of now and It will be a great read for me as well.
As a Tepper nut, may I say that Beauty, though a great book, is not her best!! So many different books, all so complete in themselves. The Family Tree is guaranteed to blow you totally out of the water.
Thanks for your comment! I will look The Family Tree up - what other Tepper novels would you recommend? Have you read The True Game trilogy?
@@MaanoftheHour i've read them all
(and have them all). Singer from the Sea I thought (first reading) lacklustre, but 2nd time much better. True Game is wonderful though I prefer the Mavin Chronicles.
hey how are you? Have you read Grass? Any thoughts if you have?
@@MaanoftheHour yes read Grass - interesting in having a fairly humourless protagonist, but truly glorious descriptions of the planet Grass, plus a very satisfying comeuppance to the "aristocracy". Most noteworthy in being the first of the Arbai novels.
@@solivier7983 I just finished reading it the other day and still unpacking the ideas in it - it was gripping (a little long though and not as good as Beauty) - is the rest of the series worth it? I’m curious
I read this book over 20 years ago…lent it out and like many books I’ve let people borrow-it never came back to me… slowly I’ve been replacing books I’ve lost to 💩friends and divorces…so I just bought it on paperback. Lilith by Sheri S Tepper is a good read too..
🤗❤️🇺🇸
Yes! She gets way too little recognition of how amazing her work is! Sometimes I just google her to try and find articles and reviews, but there's not really a lot, and usually only the same few books. I discovered her books a few years ago and have not looked back. Her catalogue is vast and amazing! I still haven't found a book of hers I've not liked (exept maybe her last, it's not really bad, just really poorly edited, I'm guessing after her death). I do find that her books tend to be very information heavy in the first chapters, so often it's a slow start for me, but once you get past that it's always really really good. They are all recognizably Tepper, and all somehow have similar themes, even though it's not always obvious. I always recommend Grass, because that's my favourite, but the true game series (+ accompanying mavin manyshaped and jinian footseer books) is also great. The Awakeners are a bit slower somehow, but beautiful. I also highly recommend looking into wich books are connected and in what order, as most of her books can be read as stand-alone stories, but are in fact part of a series and readig them in order might enrich the experience :)
That’s so informative and helpful thanks so much 🙏🏽 it’s hard to come across others who have read her work and your insight is helpful and motivating me to read more of her work. So I got the first book from True Game series on my kindle and I read the first few chapters but found it difficult to absorb in a way - also I may have been reading it at the wrong time (right book wrong time syndrome). But after reading your comment I‘ll give it another chance and I’ll look up Grass too. Two other authors whose work I admire and I don’t think are as recognized as they should be are Mary Stewart and Diana Wynne Jones - have you read any of their works?
@@MaanoftheHour No, I've never heard of them, but I'll take a look, thank you :) Yes, her books are usually very information dense in the beginning, it ends up serving the story over time, but even with her books I love the most and re-read a lot sometimes I'll read a chapter or two into it and put it away, a "false start" or two till the time is right. I don't want this to discourage anyone from her books though, they are definitely worth it, but from other conversations I find it's a common experience. The true game books are really so amazing, and starts out more in the fantasy realm, many new names and rules and social customs to learn, a bit dense, but then it sort of opens up on a literary "clearing in the woods" and off on an adventure we go! :)
This is my absolute favorite book!!! ❤ it's mind blowing!!! I really loved your review
Thank you! Isn't it crazy that this book isn't more famous?
@@MaanoftheHour absolutely!!! I ask so many people about this book and no-one has read it!!!
i purchased "Beauty" some time back. However` i'm just now beginning to read it` after finding it packed away in a crate due to moving. Thus far`~~~ It's pure delight`~~ "Oh" My! DELICIOUS Yes! Thank You for the review . . . Appreciated! STOKED i am!
I think you would enjoy reading Fresco, it seems so relevant to today! I enjoyed Beauty too.
I'm from Greece and I have read this book . A excellent book with lot of themes .
It should have been filmed, with Jennie Garth as the young Beauty.