Book Author: Liz Braswell
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Suggested reads:
The scariest, most frightening person can turn out to be quite a lovely character…if you give him time.
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A retelling of a timeless tale that has the potential of becoming its own epic, As Old As Time brought a touch of realism that complimented well with the old fairytale we all loved
Who will love it?
To those who love Beauty and the Beast, and story retellings, in general, would surely appreciate this book. Though I won’t be recommending this book as a bedtime story for a five-year-old, I believe this book is for both young and young at heart.
If you love this fairytale as a child and are afraid this retelling will ruin it for you, I assure you, it won’t. If still not convinced, read the full reading notes below.
Where to grab a copy?
This pundit highly recommends finding a copy you can borrow (e.g., from a friend or library) instead of immediately buying a new book. Trees are generally used to make the paper in the books we read, so let’s be mindful.
If not possible, that’s only when one should consider buying a new book, and make sure to support your local bookshops. Online shopping must only be your last resort.
Happy reading!
Full Reading Notes
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Click here for the blurb.
What if Belle's mother cursed the Beast?
Belle is a lot of things: smart, resourceful, restless.
She longs to escape her poor provincial town for good. She wants to explore the world, despite her father's reluctance to leave their little cottage in case Belle's mother returns - a mother she barely remembers.
Belle also happens to be the captive of a terrifying, angry beast. And that is her primary concern.
But Belle touches the Beast's enchanted rose, intriguing images flood her mind -- images of the mother she believed she would never see again. Stranger still, she sees that her mother is none other than the beautiful Enchanctress who cursed the Beast, his castle, and all its inhabitants.
Shocked and confused, Belle and the Beast must work together to unravel a dark mystery about their families that is twenty-one years in the making.
Why read “As Old As Time”
This book is the first retelling of Beauty and the Beast that I’ve read and it definitely set a high standard for the next retellings I’ll come across.
The old Disney film that introduced this story to me all those years ago was easily enticing to a child with its fairytale atmosphere – the music, the singing, the quirky magical characters. Above all, it was because Belle was a bookworm that made her such a relatable character to me.
But now, I’m an adult.
Life has removed my innocence and the fairytale atmosphere is not enough to entertain or amuse me.
Nevertheless, this retelling did just that.
The story was realistic and the characters were written well. I liked that Belle’s curiosity and eagerness for knowledge and adventure were not lost but instead amplified.
Other characters that seemed only secondary in the film were given more substance here. They became more human, more real. And it added to the charm of the story.
Drawbacks of “As Old As Time”
The POV used in telling the first chapters of the story though was quite confusing that it hindered me from settling into the story’s world. The reveal of the antagonist, if I should call her/him that, also somehow felt flat. Maybe because it was obvious, right from the beginning, where the story was going.
Though it was brilliantly written, I couldn’t really call it superb and that’s why I’m only giving this a 4-star rating.
Still, it was a great read. As I kept mentioning, it was realistic yet its fantastical charm isn’t lost. I guess this quote from the book could better describe how and what I felt.
-The ArKivist
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