The Last Unicorn, Peter S. Beagle
Originally reviewed on September 12th, 2010
Having just finished reading The Last Unicorn, I’m not at all sure what to say about it, or how I feel about it. I felt vaguely enchanted by it — not in the sense of it being twee and sweet and Disney, but in the sense of it having a hold over me. I loved the writing, the richness of it, the strange and new descriptions, e.g. “the air hung shiny as candy” — things that don’t quite make logical sense, and yet, you know what they mean.
I loved the fairytale qualities interspersed with bits of humour, with funny references, like Shmendrick knowing how to deal with Cully because he knows his Anglo-Saxon folklore, and the reference to Child — a reference I got: he collected a lot of Robin Hood ballads. I loved the bittersweetness of it, even with the humour, the way it doesn’t come out fairytale-perfect.
I might have to come back later, and say more, when it’s settled in my mind/heart.
Rating: 5/5
You can find The Last Unicorn here.
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Interesting book choice!
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Thanks!
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I like your review. You are honest, and don’t tell the story line. I’m having a book review link party as a regular feature on my blog starting today. It’s a way for reviewers to post links to their reviews based on a different theme each week. http://www.marshajustwrites.com. Come post a link. 😀😀😀
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Reblogged this on A Writer's Path.
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i always loved The Last Unicorn – the butterfly stayed in my mind ever after, with his eclectic chatter of fragments he picked up here and there
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I still have my Last Unicorn stuffed animal from when I was a kid. *laugh* 1980, the tag says it was “born”.
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This is one of my favorite books of all time. It majorly shaped how I read and write fantasy. I love the tongue-in-cheek, almost genre savvy, nearly fourth wall breaking aspect of it. That was unheard of at the time of its publishing, as though the book was shining a light toward this future where it’s far more common. Hopefully the longer it marinates with you, the more you’ll enjoy it!
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Oh I may have to try this. Thanks.
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