she was far from poor, lived in a beautiful village, had a supportive, loving dad, a whole village that adored her, a friendly book store owner who'd give her free books... I don't understand anyone who says she had a hard life just because some people thought her reading was strange.

Ariel was spoiled, well-off, had lots of family, but she had least had family issues.

^^ I agree with AudreyFreak about Belle.
I don't know how other people would act in this situation, but if I was forbidden from something I love and it seems like I would never get it and everyone else tells me to stop and everyone hates what I love, I'd probably get very sad and cry a lot. Ariel's living conditions were good, but I think what she was going through emotionally must have been really hard.