The Last Unicorn, by Peter S. Beagle

The Last Unicorn

Publisher: Penguin Roc
Page Count: 294
Fiction Genre: YA, Fantasy, Classic, Sci-Fi, Romance, Magic
Dates Read: December 26-30, 2015

Reading Challenge: 2016 Topic Discard Challenge 
Topic: A book your parent(s) read as a teenager
Series: The Last Unicorn, 1

Good Reads Summary
She was magical, beautiful beyond belief -- and completely alone...

The unicorn had lived since before memory in a forest where death could touch nothing. Maidens who caught a glimpse of her glory were blessed by enchantment they would never forget. But outside her wondrous realm, dark whispers and rumours carried a message she could not ignore: "Unicorns are gone from the world."

Aided by a bumbling magician and an indomitable spinster, she set out to learn the truth. but she feared even her immortal wisdom meant nothing in a world where a mad king's curse and terror incarnate lived only to stalk the last unicorn to her doom... 

Review
From a childhood favorite movie to an adulthood favorite book.  How could I not love this as much as I do.  This book is full of so much symbolism that I don't think I would have recognized if I had read it when I was younger and not as world-wise.  #ShelteredChildhood Beagle is a talented and classic author who has given us one of the greatest gifts we never asked for.  This book.  His story is beautiful, and if you're a non-crier like me, you will ugly cry in parts of this book, mostly towards the end.  Beware of the Red Bull.

When I was a young girl watching the movie ... With the awesome soundtrack ... I really connected, or at least wanted to connect with The Unicorn.  I think that has a lot to do with the special snowflake syndrome of my generation.  But now as a 20-something I feel a fond connection to Molly and her connection to The Unicorn.  There''s kind of an ironic beauty to it.  Molly saw so much hope, beauty, and innocence in the unicorn, and she wanted to hold onto those things for as long as possible.  Here I am holding onto Molly as she holds on to The Unicorn.

What really gets me about this book is the lack of happy anything.  This book is down right gritty and all throughout the book you feel this looming sense of despair and hopelessness.  You're not sure this is going to be a Disney story where "happily eve rafter" is guaranteed.  

"It cannot be an ill fortune to have loved a unicorn.  Surely it must be the dearest luck of all, though the hardest earned".

Ratings (based on a 10 point scale)
Quality of Writing - 9
Pace - 8
Plot Development - 8
Characters - 9
Enjoyability - 9
Insightfulness - 7
Ease of Reading - 8
Photos/Illustrations - N/A
Overall Rating - 5 out of 5 stars

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