A classic of its type,

I found this a "mildly interesting" book. It never really pulled me in with a captivating force that made me completely engrossed. However, it was interesting enough in its own way that I decided to stay with it and continue reading. It's sort of like a weak tea. It's drinkable, but it's not something that I'm overly pleased with. It doesn't have that strong flavor or excitement that would make it a truly remarkable or outstanding book. Instead, it just kind of exists in a middle ground, being neither extremely good nor extremely bad. It's an average read that I can say I've read, but it's not one that I would highly recommend to others or that would leave a lasting impression on me.

E o carte-licornă, răvășitor de frumoasă și de poetică, ce lasă o urmă adâncă, luminoasă.

The writer's exuberant imagination draws you into a story from which you no longer want to emerge. It is a gem.

This unique book is like a magical unicorn, enchanting and captivating with its beauty and poetry.

The words seem to dance on the page, creating a vivid and unforgettable world.

As you turn each page, you are drawn deeper into the narrative, unable to tear yourself away.

It is a work of art that leaves a lasting impression, a treasure to be cherished and reread.

Whether you are a lover of literature or simply looking for a good read, this carte-licornă is sure to delight and inspire.

\\n  “We are not always what we seem, and hardly ever what we dream.”\\n

In my mind, the movie The Last Unicorn holds a special place. It was the first and so far the only book, movie or TV show that ever gave me nightmares. I vividly remember seeing it for the first time when I was around 5 or 6. I was completely entranced by it, and it instantly became one of my favourites, despite the fact that I couldn't sleep for a week after that initial viewing. I never knew it was originally a novel until now.

After reading the book and re-watching the film, I finally understand why it had such an impact on me. This story is not for children. My grandmother, who gifted me the film, must have fallen into the common trap of thinking that any cartoon is for kids just because it's animated. Anime lovers can surely relate to this struggle.

There is nothing childish about this novel or the movie. Yes, it's about a unicorn, a wizard, an evil king and a heroic prince, but it still isn't for children. It's not clichéd or predictable as some might think. The story centres on a unicorn who believes she is the last of her kind. She bravely leaves the safety of her forest to find out what happened to the others. Along the way, she meets a diverse range of unique and memorable characters who help her in her quest.

The Last Unicorn is a classic for a reason. Although the movie follows the book's storyline closely, they have completely different tones. The movie is serious and somewhat tragic, while the book is more of a satire with many humorous moments. It's these satire elements that truly make the book a masterpiece. Peter S. Beagle takes fantasy tropes and turns them upside down. He does it so well that the novel reads like a fairy tale, but with a hilarious and ironic twist. The author even makes his characters aware that they are in a fairy tale.

\\n  “Robin Hood is a myth,” Captain Cully said nervously, “a classic example of the heroic folk figures synthesized out of need. John Henry is another. Men have to have heroes, and so a legend grows around a grain of truth, like a pearl. Not that it isn't a remarkable trick, of course.”\\n

The book has beautiful prose that is easy to get into. It flows smoothly and keeps the plot moving at a steady pace. I was never bored or dissatisfied. The story was both calm and suspenseful. The characters were outstanding. If you're tired of seeing the same old recycled characters in classic fantasy literature, this book will offer you something completely different. We have these typical fairy tale characters placed in very atypical roles. They provide comic relief while also making subtle social commentary. They were incredibly self-aware.

\\n  “Great heroes need great sorrows and burdens, or half their greatness goes unnoticed. It is all part of the fairy tale.”\\n

Moreover, every character in this story has fundamental flaws. The unicorn is proud to the point of vanity, Schmendrick is overconfident, Molly Grue deeply regrets her lost youth, King Haggard is selfish and depressed rather than one-dimensionally evil, and Prince Lir fails to distinguish between real heroism and posturing. My last point is perhaps the main reason why I believe this novel is for adults or at least young adults. The themes are quite profound. The mood can be very melancholy at times. Death is clearly depicted and discussed, and the element of time and growing old plays a significant role. Dreams don't always come true.

\\n  “I have been mortal, and some part of me is mortal yet. I am full of tears and hunger and the fear of death, although I cannot weep, and I want nothing, and I cannot die. I am not like the others now, for no unicorn was ever born who could regret, but I do. I regret.”\\n

The ending is bittersweet. It's definitely not your typical fairy tale ending. Overall, it's not a very hopeful story, but that's perhaps why I enjoyed it so much.

All in all, I highly recommend both the book and the movie! They are both well worth your time.

“The Last Unicorn” holds a special place in my heart as it was my favorite movie during childhood. Given that the movie is as old as I am and I still watch it at least once a year, it shows its lasting charm. I remember realizing in my teens that there was a book with the same title and that the movie was an adaptation. It was a bit of a bookworm fail on my part. However, I was overjoyed to discover that the book was just as wonderful as the movie. I often bring it out during difficult times, when I'm feeling blue or simply in need of a little boost of loveliness in my life.

Even when I read it now, it feels timeless and untarnished. In this sense, it is a true fairy tale, similar to the works of Hans Christian Andersen. Although there are some subtle anachronisms here and there, and it is more quirky than most fairy tales, it still has a dream-like quality that makes it unique. The prose flows beautifully, painting amazing images in your mind that are impossible to forget.

The story follows a lonely unicorn who decides to leave her forest and search the world for others like her. Along the way, she befriends an incompetent magician and a grumpy middle-aged lady. Their journey is filled with fear, hilarity, and heartbreak. But the unicorn never gives up, always pushing forward.

For me, “The Last Unicorn” is a story about hope. It teaches us to hold onto hope even when life is tough and disappointing. This is why I turn to this book when things get bleak. The unicorn faces every challenge head-on and fights, even when the outcome is not what she expected. Sometimes, winning can be bittersweet, but she never gives up. She learns and grows from her experiences.

A good fairy tale should impart a valuable lesson, and the importance of keeping hope no matter what is a lesson worth learning. I highly recommend this book to everyone.

This was such a lovely book.

It turned so many things upside down in my head.

And it left me in such a good mood that I have to give it a five-star rating.

The story was engaging and full of surprises.

The characters were well-developed and relatable.

I found myself completely immersed in the world of the book.

It made me think about many different aspects of life and relationships.

Overall, it was a truly enjoyable read and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good book to lose themselves in.

I can't wait to see what the author comes up with next.

2023-03: 5 stars.
It's truly fascinating to revisit the books that one read during their youth and that had an incredibly profound impact. Well, Peter S. Beagle's "The Last Unicorn" remains astonishingly moving. It alternates between being hilarious, heart-wrenching, and is constantly highly conscious of the tropes within fairy stories and those related to unicorns, delicately playing with them.
The characters of the Unicorn, the kind yet tough Molly, and the bumbling magician Schmendrick are all superbly developed. There is a thrilling quest, an evil ruler, a prince who discovers his true self, and of course, the Unicorn, who sacrifices something while simultaneously rectifying a great injustice. The story features lyrical writing and high stakes. The best part? I fell in love with it all over again.
My first reading: 5 stars. Lovely. And so very sad.

Melancholy peppered with loveable characters, added with prose better than Tolkien! Wheew!

Some of you might disagree, but as you delve into this book, you truly live with every single word of it! You can almost taste and feel the coldness that permeates Haggard's keep, and you come to know precisely how each character feels in a given situation at a given time.

The writing is incredibly emotional. I vividly remember this passage from page three:

"Who knows? Times change. Would you call this age a good one for unicorns?"

"No, but I wonder if any man before us ever thought his time a good time for unicorns. And it seems to me now that I have heard stories - but I was sleepy with wine, or I was thinking of something else. Well, no matter. There's light enough yet to hunt, if we hurry. Come!"

They burst out of the woods, spurred their horses to a gallop, and raced away. But before they disappeared from view, the first hunter looked back over his shoulder and called, as if he could see the unicorn standing in the shadow, "Stay where you are, poor beast. This is no world for you. Stay in your forest, and keep your trees green and your friends long-lived. Pay no mind to young girls, for they never become anything more than silly old women. And good luck to you."

The unicorn remained motionless at the edge of the forest and said aloud, "I am the only unicorn there is." They were the first words she had uttered, even to herself, in more than a hundred years.

See what I mean!? This is an absolute must-read!

I first read “The Last Unicorn” in my twenties. At that time, I didn't really enjoy it because I had no interest in unicorns at all. However, a few years ago, I came across Michael Green’s wonderful book “The Unicornis Manuscripts on the History and Truth of the Unicorn”. From then on, I was completely hooked on these mythical creatures. So when I reread Peter Beagle’s book, I was quite intrigued to find that I preferred it much more the second time around. It's truly one of those amazing books that can be enjoyed by all age groups.

It must have been a huge shock for the unicorn to discover that she might be the last of her kind. It all began one day when she overheard two hunters who had entered the magical forest discussing unicorns. One hunter believed that all the unicorns had left the forest, while the other was certain that one still remained there as it was a magical forest and unicorns were known for their magical deeds. When she heard this, she spoke for the first time in a hundred years: “I am the only unicorn there is.” Then, she set off to find out where the other unicorns were and got involved with some interesting characters. For example, the butterfly told her that Red Bull had chased the unicorns away to a faraway land. Schmendrick the Magician, without realizing it, changed her into a human being and she became Amalthea when they arrived at Haggard’s castle, where they hoped to find the other unicorns. It turns out that they are kept under the sea nearby and … well, that is for you to discover.

If you have a passion for unicorns, magic, fantasy, and beautiful prose, you must definitely read this book.

This is still astonishingly good.

Everything within it is not only perfect but also perfect in its excessiveness. The words are like precious gems, the characters are vivid and alive, and the story is like a joking fairy tale that captivates the heart.

This is one of those rare books where I can truly feel the language coursing through my body. It's all just so dazzling and enchanting.

Surprisingly, I remembered the story less than I had expected, even though my last re-read wasn't that long ago. Somehow, I had completely forgotten the entire episode in the forest with the group of bandits who are desperately trying to imitate Robin Hood but keep failing miserably.

This time around, however, that particular part of the book became my absolute favorite.

I am in love with the effect that the unicorn has on the people around her. Whether they can see her at all because they don't believe in magic or just catch a fleeting glimmer that something truly incredible has passed by, it's all so fascinating.

I was completely wrapped up in the play of delusions and illusions, and the ways in which the characters convinced themselves to give up or settle, only to have their dreams reignited, just out of reach but still worth chasing with all their might.

I vividly remember watching that animated movie when I was a kid. It had a special charm that captured my heart from the very beginning. The story was so engaging and the characters were brought to life in the most wonderful way. As the movie reached its end, it always managed to tug at my heartstrings and make me cry.

Years later, I discovered that the book on which the movie was based had the same effect on me. The written words painted a more detailed and immersive picture, allowing me to explore the story and the emotions of the characters even deeper. It was truly amazing to see how the same tale could have such a powerful impact in both visual and literary forms.

Whether it's the animated movie or the book, they both hold a special place in my heart and will always be remembered for the tears they have shed and the joy they have brought.

The Last Unicorn is not just an animated film that traumatized countless children whose naive parents took them to the cinema,

and among them was me. It is also a beautiful artistic fairy tale, somewhat enlarged to the length of a modest novel, written in an intensively lyrical language and so melancholic that Andersen himself would not have been ashamed, and yet much more human-loving than him (not that this is difficult). At the same time, it can be seen that it was written with youthful passion and idealism and yet convincingly imagines the pain of old age and loneliness that often accompanies it. And it is often spiritual, but in such an effortless and unobtrusive way - its emotional center is not the Lady Unicorn, but the good, earthy Molly. There is no moral and thank goodness for that, only sparsely tender images and the beauty of all passing things.

*Surely it must have looked from the outside like when I went to the cinema a decade later to watch Princess Mononoke and all around me were some misdirected people with children three or four years old. Ahahaha.

Having just completed reading The Last Unicorn, I find myself in a state of uncertainty. I'm not entirely sure what to express about this book or how precisely I feel towards it. There was a certain vague enchantment that surrounded me while reading it. It wasn't the kind of enchantment that is overly twee, sweet, and Disney-like. Instead, it had a unique hold over me. The writing in this book was truly remarkable. The richness of the language, the strange and novel descriptions, such as "the air hung shiny as candy," which don't seem to make strict logical sense at first glance, yet one somehow understands their intended meaning.

I adored the fairytale qualities that were interspersed with touches of humour and funny references. For instance, Shmendrick's knowledge of how to handle Cully because he is familiar with Anglo-Saxon folklore, and the reference to Child, which I was able to pick up on as he collected numerous Robin Hood ballads. The bittersweet nature of the story, even with the presence of humour, was captivating. It didn't end in a typical fairytale-perfect manner, which added to its charm.

I might need to return to this book at a later time and say more once it has fully settled in my mind and heart. There is still so much to explore and understand about this wonderful literary work.