Belle by Cameron Dokey

 Softback book purchased from Thriftbooks.

Belle by Cameron Dokey

I have been a a Beauty and the Beast kick lately so I was very interested in how Belle would be different from the book Beauty seen in my last posting. 

Some aspects are very similar to that of Robin Mckinley's Beauty. However, there are distinct differences that make this worth the read. It is certainly a much different interpretation of our classic fairy tale. 

A father who is a ship merchant and wealthy. A wife and three daughters who could not be more different from one another. Celeste, April and Annabelle. Annabelle is considered the "ugly duckling" of the three. While the eldest two are beautiful and go to all of the balls, Annabelle would prefer to stay home and do woodcarving in the shop with her father. Needless to say the relationship between the mother and Annabelle is rather strained. 

We get to see Annabelle, who has been called Belle since birth, since it means Beauty, and her sisters are beautiful. However, Annabelle realizes at a young age that she cannot live up to the name Belle. This is one aspect of the book I enjoyed. The author was able to show the conflicts families can go through and the effect on the children by having certain expectations that do not reflect who they are. 

Fortunes are lost just as the ships are at sea. They move to the country into a smaller dwelling. In order to get there they have to go through the Wood. You can get to the country in a day if you go straight through or 3 days if you ago around. There is a clear path through so they all follow it on horseback. 

Growing up they were told stories about the Wood. How a monster lived in the Wood. They were also told of a love story from the Wood. How a husband and wife love each other so much a tree sprouted with the most unusual petals. The petals would never wither and die. It was said that the wood could show the face of your true love within it. Annabelle has always been able to take any piece of wood and hold it in her hands and see what is wants to become. However, the tree must choose to give you a branch as it is forbidden to cut it. It's just a story. 

Overtime they get used to their new country living. Word arrives that ship has returned so father sets off to town to see what is left. The girls ask for practical items unlike other versions. A pan and seeds to make their lives there better. They do not seem to want to return to the fancy life they had before. 

After a stormy day father returns looking pale and tired. He has a story to tell. All of the stories that were told as children's tales about the Wood....are true. He tells how he got lost in a storm on his journey home and a magical mansion with iron gates. He saw the tree. He was smart enough not to even attempt to cut the Heartwood. However, the tree dropped a branch right at his feet. As soon as he picked it up he met the Beast. The tree gave the branch willingly so it's not like he was stealing or doing anything wrong. The Beast offer him a way out. All he has to do is look into his eyes for 5 seconds and he's free. If he cannot do so then he must send Belle to him as she is the one who can see within wood. 

Needless to say he could not look at him for 5 seconds. So now Belle has to take the branch and go to him and see what is hidden inside. 

I highly recommend this book. If you are a Beauty and the Beast fan this is a great rendition of the classic fairy tale.