The Last Unicorn

The Last Unicorn was on of my favorite books as a child. I bought this book at a convention from Peter S. Beagle (very nice man), but didn't read it. I think I was afraid it would interfere or tarnish the memories I have of the story. I finally decided to just to do and...
I loved the book. It turns out the movie stuck to the book pretty closely. Many of the lines that I had loved in the movie were there in the book. Like all adapted books there was more in the book than the movie, but it filled in and flushed out the story I loved without changing it.

I watched The Last Unicorn a million times as a child in the 1980s but for some reason only now that I'm 40 did I pick up the book. I think I was afraid the magic would have faded, and I wanted to hold onto the memory of the film helping me survive those horrific, trauma-filled years. The book is beautiful and holds up well, though I found myself saddened when I got to the last page. Something about revisiting childhood gems makes them a little less ethereal, a little more flawed. But I love the story all the same, cracks and all. My rating is biased because my inner child would never forgive me for giving it 4 stars instead of 5.

Another user compared this book to poetry. I remember renting the movie as a child, and my mom claims she read it to me, but I didn't remember either. I was about to read something I already knew, and yet something brand new. It was a wonderful feeling.

I cannot praise the writing enough. I could see everything. I could feel everything. I could smell and touch them all. The unicorn rose from those pages. I saw her. I was in awe. She is the most beautiful creature the world has ever known. Peter S. Beagle brought her to life.

Some parts of this seemed to drag. Those were the scenes without the unicorn. whether intentionally or not, the book came alive when she was on the pages. I'm glad I picked this up, and I understand now why it is such a classic.