Beast

People tend to feel strongly about Ivory's work, one way or the other, and Beast will be no exception. Be prepared to really think, even long after you set the book down. Set in the early 1900's on both a luxury oceanliner and Mediterranean France, Beast stars the disfiguered, Charles (who lives in a state of semi-self-denyal about his looks) and Louise (Lulu), who is eighteen and acts it. Louise is beautiful to mythic heights and rich beyond belief, but instead of acting like so many romance novel heroines (Snow White and Mother Theresa rolled into one), she acts like any gorgeous, wealthy, eighteen year old might act. She flirts with handsome young men, she loves jewelery and rich foods, and she doesn't fall instantly in love with her tragic prince. At least, she doesn't think so. And despite her stunning beauty, Louise finds herself wishing she weren't always judged by it, and wondering if she has anything of worth to offer besides the physical. I've read reviews by readers who thought Louise was cold and calculating, some who called her an outright witch, but I found her refreshingly real. She tries very hard to put her heart into being "good" and doing "what's right", and grows up quite a bit by the end of the book. Charles, I have to love because his motives are truly all out of self-preseration. Surrounded by mirrors, he doesn't really *see* himself until the end of the book. This is a wonderful character study of two people who loathe being judged by outward appearances, and it produces interesting results.

I have now read all three of Ms. Ivory's books, and I'm totally impressed. Her books are intelligent (not a common acholade for this genre), entertaining, and convincing. The situation where the hero paints himself into a corner through his own "cleverness" is terrific, and the heroine's faithfulness to her "mystery" lover is perfect irony, and there's the bonus of Ms. Ivory's prose, which is almost lyrical.

I loved this book the first time I read it, and I enjoy it just as much every time I reread it. Ms. Ivory has created wonderfully complex characters that do not fit the standard romantic "formula". I believe this is the reason readers either love or hate this book.

I can't disagree enough with the reviewer just below. Beast is a warm, humane portrait of romance, eros, love, and the way that partnership with another human can help us live with our insecurities and work to overcome our human foibles -- all cloaked in a delicious romance. I adore romance novels, and I love and respect them when they're able to teach as well as delight. This is one such novel.

Judith Ivory (who has also written as Judy Cuevas) outdid herself with this one. BEAST is both dark and humorous, erotic and sophisticated. It is also absolutely original. To give just one example, it's the first romance I've read where the age gap between the hero and heroine, so typical in romances, actually creates a stumbling block for the hero.Ivory's prose is far above that of most writers in the romance genre. Her rich language and characterizations are comparable only with Laura Kinsale's and Patricia Gaffney's, but her books are unlike anyone else's.BEAST is her best by far. My second favorite of hers is DANCE, written under the name Judy Cuevas.