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Belle is convinced she has the wrong name, as she lacks her sisters' awe-inspiring beauty. So she withdraws from society, devoting her time to wood carving. Secretly, Belle longs to find the fabled Heartwood Tree. If carved by the right hands, the Heartwood will reveal the face of one's true love.
During a fierce storm, Belle's father stumbles upon the mysterious Heartwood -- and encounters a terrifying and lonely Beast. Now Belle must carve the Heartwood to save her father, and learn to see not with the eyes of her mind, but with the eyes of her heart.
During a fierce storm, Belle's father stumbles upon the mysterious Heartwood -- and encounters a terrifying and lonely Beast. Now Belle must carve the Heartwood to save her father, and learn to see not with the eyes of her mind, but with the eyes of her heart.
204 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
59 people are currently reading
8649 people want to read
About the author
Cameron Dokey
52 books944 followersCameron Dokey is an American author living in Seattle, Washington. She has a collection of over 50 old sci-fi and horror films. Cameron was born in the Central Valley of California. Cameron grew up reading classical literature and mythology, perhaps due to her father, Richard, being a teacher of Philosophy, Creative Writing, and Western Literature.
Cameron has one husband and three cats, and is the author of over a dozen young adult novels. Her favorite read is J.R.R. Tolkien's trilogy, "The Lord of the Rings." Her favorite TV show is "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."
When she's not writing, Cameron likes to work in the garden and is learning to quilt.
Cameron has one husband and three cats, and is the author of over a dozen young adult novels. Her favorite read is J.R.R. Tolkien's trilogy, "The Lord of the Rings." Her favorite TV show is "Buffy the Vampire Slayer."
When she's not writing, Cameron likes to work in the garden and is learning to quilt.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 748 reviews
July 6, 2025
So everyone keeps saying that
this
is a crap knockoff of Robin McKinley's two B&B stories Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast & Rose Daughter. Supposedly, they're both lovely and enchanting and everything that a retelling should be.
Except.
Well, I've read those, and the ending of each of them grossed me out to varying degrees.
Fuck no. Take your disgusting and go somewhere else.
And I was somewhat afraid that Dokey was the same kind of author because she pulled the same vile nonsense at the end of her Sleeping Beauty retelling, Beauty Sleep.
This time around, however, there was nothing hinky or strange about the young man in question. I mean, other than the obvious fairytale curses and whatnot.
So far, so good.
The biggest drawback to this one was that the family stuff took up the vast majority of the book, which was fine because I really liked the story of Belle and her family.
But.
It made the romance with Beast seem very rushed and glossed over.
Backstory, backstory, backstory, backstory - finds the magic tree!
Meets the Beast.
Ooooh! He's so scary and evil!
She doesn't like him. They fight, and she shows off her spunk.
yadda, yadda, yadda...
But wait!
There may be something there that wasn't there before!
Goes home. Comes back.
*sings* Tale as ooooold as time...
Boom, bitch! You're in love!
And then they get married and go live in his castle.
Except...not really.
He's not actually a prince or anything. However, they do get to keep the original creepy (now at least 50% not as creepy!) real estate that the Beast was trapped in for however long he lived there before she broke the spell. So, you know...Yay!
Ok. So this isn't some life-changing B&B retelling, but it's cute, short, and there wasn't anything about the romance that made me throw up in my mouth.
I'm calling that a win.
Except.
Well, I've read those, and the ending of each of them grossed me out to varying degrees.
Fuck no. Take your disgusting and go somewhere else.
And I was somewhat afraid that Dokey was the same kind of author because she pulled the same vile nonsense at the end of her Sleeping Beauty retelling, Beauty Sleep.
This time around, however, there was nothing hinky or strange about the young man in question. I mean, other than the obvious fairytale curses and whatnot.
So far, so good.
The biggest drawback to this one was that the family stuff took up the vast majority of the book, which was fine because I really liked the story of Belle and her family.
But.
It made the romance with Beast seem very rushed and glossed over.
Backstory, backstory, backstory, backstory - finds the magic tree!
Meets the Beast.
Ooooh! He's so scary and evil!
She doesn't like him. They fight, and she shows off her spunk.
yadda, yadda, yadda...
But wait!
There may be something there that wasn't there before!
Goes home. Comes back.
*sings* Tale as ooooold as time...
Boom, bitch! You're in love!
And then they get married and go live in his castle.
Except...not really.
He's not actually a prince or anything. However, they do get to keep the original creepy (now at least 50% not as creepy!) real estate that the Beast was trapped in for however long he lived there before she broke the spell. So, you know...Yay!
Ok. So this isn't some life-changing B&B retelling, but it's cute, short, and there wasn't anything about the romance that made me throw up in my mouth.
I'm calling that a win.
January 20, 2009
*sigh* It was so close, and yet... no. It was good, i guess, but it was clear that Cameron Dokey had read Robin McKinley's "beauty" dozens of times. There is no rose. I liked that. The whole love-tree with a secret inside of it that only belle,the fabulous wood carver, can unlock... this was new and interesting. And, phew, the part in the boat (read it, you'll like that part) was really sweet. But there were so many moments where I just rolled my eyes. Either she had copied and pasted robin mckinley's masterpiece exactly or she had (quite obviously) done the exact exact opposite. Also, she didn't meet the beast until it was past halfway through the book. That's not okay. How can I fall in love? uh... erm... i mean, how can she fall in love... in just half of a book?
It was okay, though. Read it anyways and see if you like it.
It was okay, though. Read it anyways and see if you like it.
March 8, 2011
I had mixed feelings about this book.
For the first 140 pages, I was getting into the story. I enjoyed the good writing, the descriptions, I even liked all the characters. This was a nice version of "Beauty and the Beast" where Belle still had both her parents and even her sisters are kind and good. Nothing was really happening in the story. We were watching the main character grow up, which was somewhat boring but a little cool since she liked to carve wood and had a magical "gift" to see inside the wood to what it truly wanted to be shown...though we never got to see her do it more than once.
At least...I trusted that this WAS "Beauty and the Beast" since the back cover said it was. For over 100 pages, though, there was no mention of a Beast or a forest or any other elements that would make this story even remotely connected to the famous fairy tale.
Spoilers ahead...be warned:
Finally, Belle's family's fortune takes a turn for the worse and they set off through the mysterious Forest and we hear that there may be a monster living in it. We also hear the story of a magical Heartwood Tree. Belle is intrigued by this story since she likes to carve wood. Belle and her family make it through safely and come out on the other side and start living a happy, well-adjusted life in a farmhouse in the country.
Many more pages...nice interactions with her sisters...everyone is surprisingly making the adjustment from a rich, fashionable life to a quiet country life with no servants very well...ah, at page 130 or so, finally Belle's dad has an encounter with the Beast, which he tells to his family after the fact.
Then at page 142, Belle goes to meet the Beast. Many pages are taken up with descriptions of what it's like to meet him. The Beast asks Belle to look into his eyes for the count of 5 "to free them both." She can't do it.
He asks her to do this every day, and she can't. Why? No idea. She didn't ever even try, not once. There is no explanation of why this is impossible or even any description of how she feels about it except that she's frustrated that she has to tell him no.
At first I thought this was a cool device, the look-into-my-eyes thing. Better than the traditional proposal question the Beast is supposed to ask every night, and more realistic. But since there was no explanation of why strong, confident, courageous Belle didn't even try to do this once, it soon fell flat and became meaningless.
Belle and the Beast, during a mere 40 pages (not a lot because this is a very small book), have a couple of conversations. The rest of the time she wanders around on her own. Then one day, he lets her go home, just like that.
While she's home, after a few days, she's feeling kind of depressed. She has a talk with the family friend, an adopted-grandfather type. Suddenly she realizes that she must love the Beast and she has to go back.
Huh?? Where did that come from? It was totally out of left field. No warning, no indication. So she goes back and the Beast is dying and she looks in his eyes for the requisite 5 counts and tells him "don't leave me to love alone." The spell is broken (the spell that wasn't really satisfactorally explained at all) and he turns into a handsome young man. They get married and live happily ever after.
And yes, all of this--her realizing she loves him, and going back to save him, and getting married and the end--takes ten pages.
Talk about disappointment. The story described Belle's childhood, feelings, and growing-up years in such detail that I assumed we would get the gradual friendship and romance between her and the Beast with even more time, care, and attention...but no. It was a big let-down and made me not care about their fate at all. And the Heartwood Tree that was sounding like such a cool device and different twist turned out to be rather hokey, too, because it never said what Belle carved out of the branch or how the Beast even came to own that property with the tree on it. Very strange. You'd think after making such a big deal out of her "Gift" to "see" what each piece of wood really had inside and carve it, it would show the process of her and the Beast discovering it together. I felt kind of cheated out of their "relationship" and not getting to see how fear and loneliness turned to gradual friendship and then acceptance and then trust and then love.
For the first 140 pages, I was getting into the story. I enjoyed the good writing, the descriptions, I even liked all the characters. This was a nice version of "Beauty and the Beast" where Belle still had both her parents and even her sisters are kind and good. Nothing was really happening in the story. We were watching the main character grow up, which was somewhat boring but a little cool since she liked to carve wood and had a magical "gift" to see inside the wood to what it truly wanted to be shown...though we never got to see her do it more than once.
At least...I trusted that this WAS "Beauty and the Beast" since the back cover said it was. For over 100 pages, though, there was no mention of a Beast or a forest or any other elements that would make this story even remotely connected to the famous fairy tale.
Spoilers ahead...be warned:
Finally, Belle's family's fortune takes a turn for the worse and they set off through the mysterious Forest and we hear that there may be a monster living in it. We also hear the story of a magical Heartwood Tree. Belle is intrigued by this story since she likes to carve wood. Belle and her family make it through safely and come out on the other side and start living a happy, well-adjusted life in a farmhouse in the country.
Many more pages...nice interactions with her sisters...everyone is surprisingly making the adjustment from a rich, fashionable life to a quiet country life with no servants very well...ah, at page 130 or so, finally Belle's dad has an encounter with the Beast, which he tells to his family after the fact.
Then at page 142, Belle goes to meet the Beast. Many pages are taken up with descriptions of what it's like to meet him. The Beast asks Belle to look into his eyes for the count of 5 "to free them both." She can't do it.
He asks her to do this every day, and she can't. Why? No idea. She didn't ever even try, not once. There is no explanation of why this is impossible or even any description of how she feels about it except that she's frustrated that she has to tell him no.
At first I thought this was a cool device, the look-into-my-eyes thing. Better than the traditional proposal question the Beast is supposed to ask every night, and more realistic. But since there was no explanation of why strong, confident, courageous Belle didn't even try to do this once, it soon fell flat and became meaningless.
Belle and the Beast, during a mere 40 pages (not a lot because this is a very small book), have a couple of conversations. The rest of the time she wanders around on her own. Then one day, he lets her go home, just like that.
While she's home, after a few days, she's feeling kind of depressed. She has a talk with the family friend, an adopted-grandfather type. Suddenly she realizes that she must love the Beast and she has to go back.
Huh?? Where did that come from? It was totally out of left field. No warning, no indication. So she goes back and the Beast is dying and she looks in his eyes for the requisite 5 counts and tells him "don't leave me to love alone." The spell is broken (the spell that wasn't really satisfactorally explained at all) and he turns into a handsome young man. They get married and live happily ever after.
And yes, all of this--her realizing she loves him, and going back to save him, and getting married and the end--takes ten pages.
Talk about disappointment. The story described Belle's childhood, feelings, and growing-up years in such detail that I assumed we would get the gradual friendship and romance between her and the Beast with even more time, care, and attention...but no. It was a big let-down and made me not care about their fate at all. And the Heartwood Tree that was sounding like such a cool device and different twist turned out to be rather hokey, too, because it never said what Belle carved out of the branch or how the Beast even came to own that property with the tree on it. Very strange. You'd think after making such a big deal out of her "Gift" to "see" what each piece of wood really had inside and carve it, it would show the process of her and the Beast discovering it together. I felt kind of cheated out of their "relationship" and not getting to see how fear and loneliness turned to gradual friendship and then acceptance and then trust and then love.
October 10, 2009
I am totally in "like" with this series. Why do I go all mushy inside every time I read one? I guess I carry way too much estrogen but I'm not ashamed. No way. Part of the reasons fairy tales have been around so long is because they show us something about what the heart can do.
Belle doesn't fit her name. At least she doesn't feel like she does when she is next to her gorgeous sisters. The author doesn't make us feel sorry for Belle in the least, which I thought was odd but good. Though she isn't the beauty of the family she can carve wood. Her one true gift. And that gift is what brings her face to face with the beast and that's where the real story begins...
In many parts of the book I felt that the imagery and the lines just seemed to fit and go perfectly for the age old tale of the Beauty and the Beast. From the heartwood to the water that could show you what your heart most wished for. Belle is honest and can't see the beauty she does possess, and the Beast, though as painful as a figure as he is, you end up understanding him more than you would have anticipated. Nice touch about the eyes of the Beast. Belle's family is wonderful. Needless to say I truly enjoyed it and in all reality the book has gotten a 4.5 star rating from me.
You might be wondering why I used like instead of love. Well it's because of the rushed ending. I was excited to give this book 5 stars and talk about it to death, but then it ended way too fast. It gets too easy in the end for the protagonist each and every time. I know as readers we want to be spoiled from time to time, but I do wish to see more struggle and something that is fought hard for. It's not that the ending bothered me, but how fast everything goes once there is a resolution. The back story is always done superbly, but then it all gets hastily tied in a bow. I want the bow to be neater. Well enough with my metaphors. Even with my complaints do read the book to get a new take on this fairy tale.
Belle doesn't fit her name. At least she doesn't feel like she does when she is next to her gorgeous sisters. The author doesn't make us feel sorry for Belle in the least, which I thought was odd but good. Though she isn't the beauty of the family she can carve wood. Her one true gift. And that gift is what brings her face to face with the beast and that's where the real story begins...
In many parts of the book I felt that the imagery and the lines just seemed to fit and go perfectly for the age old tale of the Beauty and the Beast. From the heartwood to the water that could show you what your heart most wished for. Belle is honest and can't see the beauty she does possess, and the Beast, though as painful as a figure as he is, you end up understanding him more than you would have anticipated. Nice touch about the eyes of the Beast. Belle's family is wonderful. Needless to say I truly enjoyed it and in all reality the book has gotten a 4.5 star rating from me.
You might be wondering why I used like instead of love. Well it's because of the rushed ending. I was excited to give this book 5 stars and talk about it to death, but then it ended way too fast. It gets too easy in the end for the protagonist each and every time. I know as readers we want to be spoiled from time to time, but I do wish to see more struggle and something that is fought hard for. It's not that the ending bothered me, but how fast everything goes once there is a resolution. The back story is always done superbly, but then it all gets hastily tied in a bow. I want the bow to be neater. Well enough with my metaphors. Even with my complaints do read the book to get a new take on this fairy tale.
August 8, 2017
Bleh! Just another insipid retelling of Beauty and the Beast that reads amateurishly plotted & characterised, with the additional aggravation that Dokey is unashamedly trying to reproduce Robin McKinley's Beauty, without a drop of the latter's charm.
Don't bother with this copycat book, is what I'd recommend to those checking it up to see if it might be their thing. You'll be best served going for McKinley's, or if you crave something like that story, with the same plot but different enough to satisfy, then go for T. Kingfisher's Bryony and Roses. It's just like McKinley's retelling, with a dash more humour and better developed.
Don't bother with this copycat book, is what I'd recommend to those checking it up to see if it might be their thing. You'll be best served going for McKinley's, or if you crave something like that story, with the same plot but different enough to satisfy, then go for T. Kingfisher's Bryony and Roses. It's just like McKinley's retelling, with a dash more humour and better developed.
January 25, 2018
Like the previous Dokey book I read, Before Midnight, this book did a great job of establishing the main character's world and everyday life, but rushed the last act, which contains the actual fairytale that the book is supposed to retell.
Pros
1. I liked how Belle's mom was still alive and her sisters were actually nice to her.
2. The lore of the Heartwood Tree was pretty intriguing (albeit resolved way too quickly), and Belle's talent for carving was refreshingly different. Too bad Dokey didn't use it that much.
3. In this version, the Beast . That was odd, but again refreshing.
Cons
1. The book spends barely any time in the Beast's castle, which was always my favorite part of this story.
2. Belle spends the whole first half of the book whining about not being as drop-dead gorgeous as her sisters. It got old. By about page three. And even she admitted that she wasn't bad-looking, so what was the big deal?
Conclusion
This retelling of "Beauty and the Beast" doesn't bring many new ideas to the table, but it's still pleasant. A short, squeaky-clean book that's great for young teen girls.
Pros
1. I liked how Belle's mom was still alive and her sisters were actually nice to her.
2. The lore of the Heartwood Tree was pretty intriguing (albeit resolved way too quickly), and Belle's talent for carving was refreshingly different. Too bad Dokey didn't use it that much.
3. In this version, the Beast . That was odd, but again refreshing.
Cons
1. The book spends barely any time in the Beast's castle, which was always my favorite part of this story.
2. Belle spends the whole first half of the book whining about not being as drop-dead gorgeous as her sisters. It got old. By about page three. And even she admitted that she wasn't bad-looking, so what was the big deal?
Conclusion
This retelling of "Beauty and the Beast" doesn't bring many new ideas to the table, but it's still pleasant. A short, squeaky-clean book that's great for young teen girls.
May 15, 2011
Halfway through reading this, I realized I was halfway through the book and had yet to meet the Beast. That in itself wouldn't have been a problem if I had liked Belle herself at all.
However, early on, Dokey sets this up as a tale about Belle being Not As Pretty as her sisters and her Issues With That (god, why the hell are heroines clearly described as beautiful always considered "plain"?). This device was gross to me for a couple of reasons. One, she's described as "plain", but evidence is to the contrary because the actual description of her is of a pretty girl. Two, she decides (without actually confronting her mother or anyone else she thinks sees her "plainness") that she must be so out of tune with her name that she needs to never go out into society ever. Because it's not like plain girls would like social functions. After all, being plain must be like being a social outcast.
Oh, and three? Because then Belle - you know the heroine? The one I'm supposed to think is strong and interesting? Spends over half the book thinking about how pretty she is or isn't. Which, I'll put this out there, is really boring. If I wanted to read that book, I'd read an ugly ducking romance novel. At least there, I'd meet the hero in the first ten pages.
So, five hundred pages later, they all move out to the country. Instead of being interesting, Dokey decided to say that Belle can carve. She's got a magical carving ability instead of a personality. About 80% of the way through the book (I was reading on Kindle), we finally meet the Beast.
And this is where the book went from boring to kind of surreal. Because as a kid I read Robin McKinley's version of "Beauty: A Retelling..." alot, so when certain scenes began reading as familiar, I went with my gut.
Whole scenes, whole pieces of dialogue are essentially cut and pasted from Robin McKinley's book. Except where in that one they'd been used to show an at first acrimonious, then slowly becoming warm, then slowly becoming love in this book they're just... there.
For example, in Beauty, the two bond over reading books. I think she reads to him? Because his claws make it hard. In this one, he shows her his claws and says he likes reading. Later, Dokey says they have conversations about books, but we never hear them, since she thinks we should just believe they're falling in love without any proof. This is, after all their love story. Why would we want it shown instead of told?
Instead of asking her to marry him, the Beast asks her to look at him for five seconds. Interesting! However... not really. She's so desperate to escape, but she doesn't try, not even once. At least in "Beauty" as she grew to love him, the idea of saying she couldn't marry him became painful to Belle. In "Belle", we don't have an idea of what their relationship is like. As she refuses to even try to look at him, it becomes clear that that's a metaphor for how Dokey sees their relationship.
She shouldn't have to try to write it for us. We need to take it on faith that it's there.
Oh, also, the whole carving thing was one long, unshot Checkov's Gun. It had absolutely nothing to do with the conclusion.
It must be hard to write a version of Beauty and the Beast after Robin McKinley did it. However, this one decided to either copy or do the opposite of whatever McKinley did. Instead of making this one a unique, interesting book, it just left me with a craving for the original.
However, early on, Dokey sets this up as a tale about Belle being Not As Pretty as her sisters and her Issues With That (god, why the hell are heroines clearly described as beautiful always considered "plain"?). This device was gross to me for a couple of reasons. One, she's described as "plain", but evidence is to the contrary because the actual description of her is of a pretty girl. Two, she decides (without actually confronting her mother or anyone else she thinks sees her "plainness") that she must be so out of tune with her name that she needs to never go out into society ever. Because it's not like plain girls would like social functions. After all, being plain must be like being a social outcast.
Oh, and three? Because then Belle - you know the heroine? The one I'm supposed to think is strong and interesting? Spends over half the book thinking about how pretty she is or isn't. Which, I'll put this out there, is really boring. If I wanted to read that book, I'd read an ugly ducking romance novel. At least there, I'd meet the hero in the first ten pages.
So, five hundred pages later, they all move out to the country. Instead of being interesting, Dokey decided to say that Belle can carve. She's got a magical carving ability instead of a personality. About 80% of the way through the book (I was reading on Kindle), we finally meet the Beast.
And this is where the book went from boring to kind of surreal. Because as a kid I read Robin McKinley's version of "Beauty: A Retelling..." alot, so when certain scenes began reading as familiar, I went with my gut.
Whole scenes, whole pieces of dialogue are essentially cut and pasted from Robin McKinley's book. Except where in that one they'd been used to show an at first acrimonious, then slowly becoming warm, then slowly becoming love in this book they're just... there.
For example, in Beauty, the two bond over reading books. I think she reads to him? Because his claws make it hard. In this one, he shows her his claws and says he likes reading. Later, Dokey says they have conversations about books, but we never hear them, since she thinks we should just believe they're falling in love without any proof. This is, after all their love story. Why would we want it shown instead of told?
Instead of asking her to marry him, the Beast asks her to look at him for five seconds. Interesting! However... not really. She's so desperate to escape, but she doesn't try, not even once. At least in "Beauty" as she grew to love him, the idea of saying she couldn't marry him became painful to Belle. In "Belle", we don't have an idea of what their relationship is like. As she refuses to even try to look at him, it becomes clear that that's a metaphor for how Dokey sees their relationship.
She shouldn't have to try to write it for us. We need to take it on faith that it's there.
Oh, also, the whole carving thing was one long, unshot Checkov's Gun. It had absolutely nothing to do with the conclusion.
It must be hard to write a version of Beauty and the Beast after Robin McKinley did it. However, this one decided to either copy or do the opposite of whatever McKinley did. Instead of making this one a unique, interesting book, it just left me with a craving for the original.
January 1, 2016
SUMMARY: Belle is convinced she has the wrong name, as she lacks her sisters' awe-inspiring beauty. So she withdraws from society, devoting her time to wood carving. Secretly, Belle longs to find the fabled Heartwood Tree. If carved by the right hands, the Heartwood will reveal the face of one's true love.
During a fierce storm, Belle's father stumbles upon the mysterious Heartwood -- and encounters a terrifying and lonely Beast. Now Belle must carve the Heartwood to save her father, and learn to see not with the eyes of her mind, but with the eyes of her heart.
REVIEW: The story of "Beauty and the Beast" is one of my very favorites. This book, in turn, is one of my favorites so far in the Once Upon a Fairy Tale series. The beginning half was a bit slow and the continuous whining of Belle about her "beautiful sisters" and lamenting her own plain looks felt a little cumbersome. Once the Beast enters though the story becomes much more interesting. Cameron Dokey's books in this series seem to have more depth and a more definite lesson or moral in them which makes them more endearing to me. She keeps the focus on the main plot without a lot of unnecessary side plots which helps to strengthen the lesson she is emphasizing. Belle learns, as we all need to, that true beauty is not just what is on the outside but even more what is within.
FAVORITE QUOTES: "Everything is beautiful in its own way, ma Belle, even if you have to look hard to find it."
"The memory of being unhappy has the power to hurt us long after the fact."
"And happiness, once found, is hard to give up."
"Love is many things, ma Belle. And the face it wears is not always what we expect. That's one of the things that makes it wonderful."
"True love never has just one face, does it? It must always have two, or it isn't true love at all."
During a fierce storm, Belle's father stumbles upon the mysterious Heartwood -- and encounters a terrifying and lonely Beast. Now Belle must carve the Heartwood to save her father, and learn to see not with the eyes of her mind, but with the eyes of her heart.
REVIEW: The story of "Beauty and the Beast" is one of my very favorites. This book, in turn, is one of my favorites so far in the Once Upon a Fairy Tale series. The beginning half was a bit slow and the continuous whining of Belle about her "beautiful sisters" and lamenting her own plain looks felt a little cumbersome. Once the Beast enters though the story becomes much more interesting. Cameron Dokey's books in this series seem to have more depth and a more definite lesson or moral in them which makes them more endearing to me. She keeps the focus on the main plot without a lot of unnecessary side plots which helps to strengthen the lesson she is emphasizing. Belle learns, as we all need to, that true beauty is not just what is on the outside but even more what is within.
FAVORITE QUOTES: "Everything is beautiful in its own way, ma Belle, even if you have to look hard to find it."
"The memory of being unhappy has the power to hurt us long after the fact."
"And happiness, once found, is hard to give up."
"Love is many things, ma Belle. And the face it wears is not always what we expect. That's one of the things that makes it wonderful."
"True love never has just one face, does it? It must always have two, or it isn't true love at all."
September 9, 2009
I've always loved the story of "Beauty and the Beast". Probably from watching the Disney movie when I was really young(Belle was my favorite Disney princess). So I obviously had some high hopes for it. I can't say that I absouletly loved it, but like any fairy tale lover, the happy ending had me smiling.
Quick Overview: Belle feels like her name is a lie. One that you can see quite plainly when you look at her face. Belle means Beautiful and that is a word that describes her sisters, not her. Her sisters Celeste and April are Beautiful with a capital B. Belle knows that the old saying "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" doesn't really ring true. Because isn't Beauty meant to be obvious? Is it really Beauty if you have to go looking for it? Belle must learn though, that where Beauty really comes from is the heart. When one can't use their eyes, it's the heart they see Beauty in.
Alright I know it sounds kinda chessy(that's because it kinda is), but Cameron Dokey does a much better job of explaining this stuff than my short blurb. At first I thought I'd have to read about a self-pitying girl who spends her time complaining about how she isn't as pretty as her sisters, but Belle tells it more as fact rather than with jealousy. Instead Belle just decides to hang in back where she can't be compared to her sisters (having two other sisters myself I can tell you that people actaully do this a lot). I really liked that the two sisters have opposite types of beauty. People relate it too much to a certain set of traits when beauty really has infinite meanings. It was also nice to see that the "Beauty" of the story wasn't gorgeous. I always thought that it wasn't fair that the Beast was loved by this beautiful girl. He didn't have to go and look into his heart or anything. He had a pretty sweet deal if you ask me. It was very satisfying to see that it was different in this version.
As most of Dokey's books in this series the first half is a little slow because it's setting up the backstory and ground work for the climax, but I never got bored. Just a little restless. I always feel like it wraps up too fast in the end and I would've liked to see more of the Beast. He doesn't show up until the second half which I think was a little unfair. And I just can't write this without saying that I hated the fact that the line "Oh, my love" was used in here. I'm sorry but that is just one of my peeves. I HATE that line. There's no getting past it.
Other than the fact that the end was a bit too fast and, okay, maybe a bit cheesy(it's a fairy tale though) I really enjoyed reading about Belle and Dokey does a really good job of expressing her ideas. Although I didn't love it, it was a very nice take on the old fairy tale.
Quick Overview: Belle feels like her name is a lie. One that you can see quite plainly when you look at her face. Belle means Beautiful and that is a word that describes her sisters, not her. Her sisters Celeste and April are Beautiful with a capital B. Belle knows that the old saying "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" doesn't really ring true. Because isn't Beauty meant to be obvious? Is it really Beauty if you have to go looking for it? Belle must learn though, that where Beauty really comes from is the heart. When one can't use their eyes, it's the heart they see Beauty in.
Alright I know it sounds kinda chessy(that's because it kinda is), but Cameron Dokey does a much better job of explaining this stuff than my short blurb. At first I thought I'd have to read about a self-pitying girl who spends her time complaining about how she isn't as pretty as her sisters, but Belle tells it more as fact rather than with jealousy. Instead Belle just decides to hang in back where she can't be compared to her sisters (having two other sisters myself I can tell you that people actaully do this a lot). I really liked that the two sisters have opposite types of beauty. People relate it too much to a certain set of traits when beauty really has infinite meanings. It was also nice to see that the "Beauty" of the story wasn't gorgeous. I always thought that it wasn't fair that the Beast was loved by this beautiful girl. He didn't have to go and look into his heart or anything. He had a pretty sweet deal if you ask me. It was very satisfying to see that it was different in this version.
As most of Dokey's books in this series the first half is a little slow because it's setting up the backstory and ground work for the climax, but I never got bored. Just a little restless. I always feel like it wraps up too fast in the end and I would've liked to see more of the Beast. He doesn't show up until the second half which I think was a little unfair. And I just can't write this without saying that I hated the fact that the line "Oh, my love" was used in here. I'm sorry but that is just one of my peeves. I HATE that line. There's no getting past it.
Other than the fact that the end was a bit too fast and, okay, maybe a bit cheesy(it's a fairy tale though) I really enjoyed reading about Belle and Dokey does a really good job of expressing her ideas. Although I didn't love it, it was a very nice take on the old fairy tale.
September 17, 2020
2020
I've always love fairy tales! And of all of my favorite fairy tales, the story of Beauty and the Beast has always been one of my favorites. This story was very sweet and included some interesting quirks that I have not come across before with the Beauty and the Beast tale. I really liked that the author made it so that neither the beast or Belle could look in each other's faces. It was an interesting twist. Plus, it put them on equal footing with each other. And, personally, I liked that Belle couldn't see her beauty. It's always been that Belle was known to be the most beautiful of all the people, but beauty can be a very tough thing to see, especially when you are trying to see your own, so I liked that Belle couldn't seem to grasp her own beauty. And the story of the Heartwood tree was especially sweet and magical. Honestly, my only complaint is that all three of the sisters didn't get their happily ever after. Only two of them did.
I've always love fairy tales! And of all of my favorite fairy tales, the story of Beauty and the Beast has always been one of my favorites. This story was very sweet and included some interesting quirks that I have not come across before with the Beauty and the Beast tale. I really liked that the author made it so that neither the beast or Belle could look in each other's faces. It was an interesting twist. Plus, it put them on equal footing with each other. And, personally, I liked that Belle couldn't see her beauty. It's always been that Belle was known to be the most beautiful of all the people, but beauty can be a very tough thing to see, especially when you are trying to see your own, so I liked that Belle couldn't seem to grasp her own beauty. And the story of the Heartwood tree was especially sweet and magical. Honestly, my only complaint is that all three of the sisters didn't get their happily ever after. Only two of them did.
June 14, 2009
This is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast. And by retelling I mean that the father isn't dumb, and the author replaces the stolen rose with an accidentally fallen tree branch.
I feel like this is the book you give to middle school/high school students to teach them about patterns and oppositions in writing. No subtlety.
Also, it has the classic mistake that most MODERN YA authors try to avoid- you know nothing about the prince, and you can't tell that the heroine is in love with him, or vice versa, until the author tells you. No hint, no plot build up- kind of like the way Cinderella and Prince Charming end up together in the Disney movie. She's pretty, they dance, and then there is an easily resolved footwear issue.
Well, that stupid tree branch was the footwear issue of this book.
I feel like this is the book you give to middle school/high school students to teach them about patterns and oppositions in writing. No subtlety.
Also, it has the classic mistake that most MODERN YA authors try to avoid- you know nothing about the prince, and you can't tell that the heroine is in love with him, or vice versa, until the author tells you. No hint, no plot build up- kind of like the way Cinderella and Prince Charming end up together in the Disney movie. She's pretty, they dance, and then there is an easily resolved footwear issue.
Well, that stupid tree branch was the footwear issue of this book.
June 10, 2015
Nothing like true love to make a Fairytale story magical. The book doesn't start that way but the beginning is just supposed to lead up to that.
It starts with Belle saying how beauty is not -as some people would have you believe- in the eye of the beholder. Her two older sisters are considered beauties but for different reasons. The oldest is the dark haired mysterious type and the second is blond with the sunshine just bursting out of her. It's good to see the author show that beauty isn't restricted. However I don't see why they have to have unique eye colors. Green isn't really that common though you'd think so by how much people claim they have it.
She goes on to say how she doesn't think that she had any self-pity when she was younger because she isn't as beautiful as her sisters. I think she did. She isn't her name so it feels like it's a lie and that is what she doesn't like. People expect her to look beautiful and she doesn't. Belle comes to accept her looks just as they are when she grows older. Her relationship with her sisters strengthens when things start to go wrong. And you see that Belle's sisters are more than just their pretty faces.
The magic of the story doesn't take place until the last quarter of the book. In fact I don't see where the beast will come from until half the book is through. You don't see a lot of the beast at all until near the end. These are what kept me from giving it 5 stars. That, and that it was a bit cheesy. But that doesn't bother me so much. Its stays pretty true to the tale except for the fact that Belle isn't beautiful. Belle is a straight-shooting character so I like it.
It starts with Belle saying how beauty is not -as some people would have you believe- in the eye of the beholder. Her two older sisters are considered beauties but for different reasons. The oldest is the dark haired mysterious type and the second is blond with the sunshine just bursting out of her. It's good to see the author show that beauty isn't restricted. However I don't see why they have to have unique eye colors. Green isn't really that common though you'd think so by how much people claim they have it.
She goes on to say how she doesn't think that she had any self-pity when she was younger because she isn't as beautiful as her sisters. I think she did. She isn't her name so it feels like it's a lie and that is what she doesn't like. People expect her to look beautiful and she doesn't. Belle comes to accept her looks just as they are when she grows older. Her relationship with her sisters strengthens when things start to go wrong. And you see that Belle's sisters are more than just their pretty faces.
The magic of the story doesn't take place until the last quarter of the book. In fact I don't see where the beast will come from until half the book is through. You don't see a lot of the beast at all until near the end. These are what kept me from giving it 5 stars. That, and that it was a bit cheesy. But that doesn't bother me so much. Its stays pretty true to the tale except for the fact that Belle isn't beautiful. Belle is a straight-shooting character so I like it.
October 7, 2014
This was a fun retelling of Beauty and the Beast. I really enjoyed Belle’s character, she was very likable. I also really enjoyed her family and her two older sisters. I like the side story of April and Dominic, I do wish something more would have happened with Celeste. The ending came up too quickly and I thought it was all wrapped up a too fast. I would have enjoyed more time and interaction between Belle and the Beast. It was very well written though and had a great fairytale feel throughout the whole story. I love the Once Upon a Time series! They are all a little too short, but still a fun way to revisit some of your favorite fairy tales.
Throughout the whole book I kept thinking I had read it before, as I thought more about it I realized the story is very similar to Beauty by Robin McKinley. There are some differences, but I was surprised by just how similar they really were.
Throughout the whole book I kept thinking I had read it before, as I thought more about it I realized the story is very similar to Beauty by Robin McKinley. There are some differences, but I was surprised by just how similar they really were.
January 7, 2010
I have read many re-tellings of Beauty and the Beast, this one was by far the worst. Completely following the plot/tradition of other authors, it not only doesn't stray far from the plot, but ruins even that. The characters are *all* perfect, you have the routine romance for the older sister (as always), and an attempt at Happily Ever After. The Beast's story is incredibly abrupt and he lacks a certain whimsical charm that he is often portrayed with.
There was no 'under-characters' to apreciate, everything goes completely smoothly and according to plan. In fact, like 'Belle' herself, the book is neither one thing or another. Its lukewarm.
There was no 'under-characters' to apreciate, everything goes completely smoothly and according to plan. In fact, like 'Belle' herself, the book is neither one thing or another. Its lukewarm.
January 5, 2011
M'kay... not very far into this book and already I'm super annoyed with Belle. If she mentions one more time how Beautiful her sisters are and how plain she is... I just might scream.
Update: I finished this book and then kept thinking "I should go finish reading Belle"... only to remember I was done. The first half of this book went on and on. The second half was so rushed! I could understand and feel more for the relationship between the father and daughter than I could between the girl and the beast! It was frustrating. One moment she was scared to death of him and then she was in love on the next page. There was no build. No anticipation. Just a flat, frustrating end.
Update: I finished this book and then kept thinking "I should go finish reading Belle"... only to remember I was done. The first half of this book went on and on. The second half was so rushed! I could understand and feel more for the relationship between the father and daughter than I could between the girl and the beast! It was frustrating. One moment she was scared to death of him and then she was in love on the next page. There was no build. No anticipation. Just a flat, frustrating end.
September 4, 2016
A very basic retelling of Beauty and the Beast. It felt like the Cliff Notes version, skimming over the whole falling in love thing. Could've done that part better.
September 13, 2019
I loved this book! This is the second book I have read in this series, and I am simply loving it! It is the type of book you should read on a summer saturday.
February 23, 2019
Yet another book in this series with serious timeline issues. Come on, Cameron Dokey! Get your act together.
This book is 204 pages long, and is a retelling of Beauty & the Beast. We basically know the overall plot ahead of time, and presumably the author does to........so why does it take til page 143 for Belle to meet the Beast? That leaves just 60 pages for the WHOLE rest of the story to take place. As a result, the love story is entirely rushed, so they have to explain it all away with some hogwash the heart knowing what it sees, and lots of vague lovey dovey metaphorical stuff. Entirely unsatisfying.
I don't get it. It's like the author starts out meaning to write a 400 page book, but around the 120 mark she gets a memo from her publisher that it needs to be a 200 page book, so she rushes to finally introduce the main fairy tale part of the story and then has to wrap it up immediately. No effort made to go back and trim out fluff from earlier in the book to free up space later...like a 3 page mud fight, or long passages about Belle's woodcarving skills that ultimately have nothing to do with the plot, or the whole first three chapters (and intermittently throughout there rest of the book) being dedicated to Belle's insecurities about her looks not living up to her name and how much purtier her sisters are.
This is a consistent problem with these Once Upon a Time books, specifically the ones written by this author. Does she not have an estimate going in for how long the book is going to be?
What's more confusing is that the author is a decent writer. What's there seems well written and has nice descriptions, but the plotting is way off, both in the pacing and in the overall story. All of her books rely heavily on *love* to wrap up the narrative rather than a thought out story. I'll have to research...maybe this author was a romance novel ghost writer before, hence the writing skills but not the story telling skills.
Definitely skip this version of Beauty & the Beast. Nothing new here.
This book is 204 pages long, and is a retelling of Beauty & the Beast. We basically know the overall plot ahead of time, and presumably the author does to........so why does it take til page 143 for Belle to meet the Beast? That leaves just 60 pages for the WHOLE rest of the story to take place. As a result, the love story is entirely rushed, so they have to explain it all away with some hogwash the heart knowing what it sees, and lots of vague lovey dovey metaphorical stuff. Entirely unsatisfying.
I don't get it. It's like the author starts out meaning to write a 400 page book, but around the 120 mark she gets a memo from her publisher that it needs to be a 200 page book, so she rushes to finally introduce the main fairy tale part of the story and then has to wrap it up immediately. No effort made to go back and trim out fluff from earlier in the book to free up space later...like a 3 page mud fight, or long passages about Belle's woodcarving skills that ultimately have nothing to do with the plot, or the whole first three chapters (and intermittently throughout there rest of the book) being dedicated to Belle's insecurities about her looks not living up to her name and how much purtier her sisters are.
This is a consistent problem with these Once Upon a Time books, specifically the ones written by this author. Does she not have an estimate going in for how long the book is going to be?
What's more confusing is that the author is a decent writer. What's there seems well written and has nice descriptions, but the plotting is way off, both in the pacing and in the overall story. All of her books rely heavily on *love* to wrap up the narrative rather than a thought out story. I'll have to research...maybe this author was a romance novel ghost writer before, hence the writing skills but not the story telling skills.
Definitely skip this version of Beauty & the Beast. Nothing new here.
November 29, 2008
When I started this book, I smiled at reading the back cover. I believe the Heartwood or a tree similar to its myth featured in another myth in another book of the "Once Upon a Time" series. I don't recall which one it was - a prince carved a flute from it, I believe, while his brother carved a spear or something...
Anyway, back to this book. I decided to pre-order it because I rather liked the books I've read of this series so far, and Beauty and the Beast is one of my liked stories. (Admittedly, I know it only in the Disney version.)
I liked the writing - it was clear without being too flowery. However, reading it, I got a sense of deja-vu from Robin McKinley's Beauty: A Retelling of the story of Beauty and the Beast. Maybe it's due to my ignorance of the original tale - was Beauty's/Belle's father originally a ship owner/merchant and she has two sisters? Were they doomed to financial ruin and that's why Belle's father got driven into a bargain with the Beast (indirectly as it may be)? If that's true, then I don't have much to complain of the deja-vu feel.
A friend mentioned the love part felt rushed. I agreed, as I felt it also felt rushed in another version of Beauty and the Beast in this series. I wish we were given more information of how they passed the time getting to know each other prior to the lake incident. I liked the idea of her disappearing because she was "out of the birth order" while in line for a while - I wish something had been done more about that, since it was really intriguing.
Anyway, back to this book. I decided to pre-order it because I rather liked the books I've read of this series so far, and Beauty and the Beast is one of my liked stories. (Admittedly, I know it only in the Disney version.)
I liked the writing - it was clear without being too flowery. However, reading it, I got a sense of deja-vu from Robin McKinley's Beauty: A Retelling of the story of Beauty and the Beast. Maybe it's due to my ignorance of the original tale - was Beauty's/Belle's father originally a ship owner/merchant and she has two sisters? Were they doomed to financial ruin and that's why Belle's father got driven into a bargain with the Beast (indirectly as it may be)? If that's true, then I don't have much to complain of the deja-vu feel.
A friend mentioned the love part felt rushed. I agreed, as I felt it also felt rushed in another version of Beauty and the Beast in this series. I wish we were given more information of how they passed the time getting to know each other prior to the lake incident. I liked the idea of her disappearing because she was "out of the birth order" while in line for a while - I wish something had been done more about that, since it was really intriguing.
July 21, 2009
I'm having a little fairy tale phase here. Bear with me.
Not very original, took many pages right out of "Beauty" by Robin McKinley.
Did really like the family theme. Appreciated that the mother was still alive. Loved that they came together in the country like they never had in the city (and knew it, and appreciated it).
The Heartwood tree part was sort of original, but also sort of confusing. The story just wasn't knit together very well. The ending was really pretty lame--the tale of why the beast was The Beast just wasn't really very convincing. Grand-pere Alphonse was sort of superfluous--great potential as a character, but not fleshed out or used all that well.
Not a bad book, nothing objectionable at all, just not that special either.
Not very original, took many pages right out of "Beauty" by Robin McKinley.
Did really like the family theme. Appreciated that the mother was still alive. Loved that they came together in the country like they never had in the city (and knew it, and appreciated it).
The Heartwood tree part was sort of original, but also sort of confusing. The story just wasn't knit together very well. The ending was really pretty lame--the tale of why the beast was The Beast just wasn't really very convincing. Grand-pere Alphonse was sort of superfluous--great potential as a character, but not fleshed out or used all that well.
Not a bad book, nothing objectionable at all, just not that special either.
October 18, 2009
Strongly reminiscent of Robin McKinley's retelling of the same fairy tale in Rose Daughter, only shortened and simplified for a younger readership.
January 16, 2011
Beauty is one of my favorite books by Robin Mckinnley so it was very hard not to compare. I like the other books written is this series a lot but I am a fairy tale junkie. But this one just didn't hit the spot for me.
March 2, 2015
A retelling of one of my favorite stories, with a few twists that make it more interesting and an engaging writing style that makes the pages fly by.
May 19, 2012
It would be hard for anyone who's ready "Beauty" by Robin McKinley to not compare the two books. In my opinion, "Beauty" was the far better story, though this book was not without its merits. Still, the comparisons are difficult to ignore. In both stories, the "Beauty" character is the plain (or plainer) daughter, with two older sisters who are heart-stoppingly beautiful - or Beautiful, as differentiated in this book. They are daughters of a merchant who loses his money, and so the families are forced away from the city to live in a town next to an enchanted wood. Of course, there's the inevitable debt owed the Beast, which Beauty must repay.
I actually enjoy retellings of familiar stories, and I try to rate each on its own merits. However, this story had SO much in common with "Beauty" that it was impossible for me to not mentally compare. "Belle" does bring some new elements to the table, to give credit where it is due. In "Belle" there is no rose; the story device centers around a Heartwood Tree. Belle is gifted at wood carving, and she must find the truth within the tree - and in Beast - in order to set him free.
That said, there are many other elements that fell flat, or weren't as successful. I always pay attention to supporting characters in books, because I think they help flush out a tale and turns a book into a world of its own. In "Belle" the supporting characters were hit-and-miss. I did enjoy the parents - particularly the father. I felt for Belle when she thought her mother pitied her for not being as beautiful. However, Belle has two sisters who are mentioned quite frequently but not entirely well-developed. Of the two sisters, Celeste is a bit more three-dimensional, as you learn she has a sharp tongue when she's nervous or upset. You also learn that she does genuinely care for Belle and her feelings, underneath this occasionally brash exterior. April, the middle daughter is...there on occasion. If I had to describe her personality or characteristics, I really couldn't give one. I could hardly describe her, save to say that she has hair that seems to glow in the dark. In "Beauty" there are two sisters, as well, but both have distinguishable personalities and are fully formed characters in their own right. Again, it's hard to avoid making this comparison.
Of course, the main crux of the books has to do with Beauty and the Beast. It's the purpose behind the story, after all. "A Retelling of 'Beauty and the Beast'" is written on the cover. And yet...this is where the story really falls flat for me. And, given that the whole plot of "Belle" is to retell the story of Beauty AND THE BEAST, it is a deficiency that is both glaring and unpardonable, in my opinion. I could forgive rather forgettable secondary characters. I cannot quite forgive a forgettable - or largely forgotten - Beast.
I feel like Cameron Dokey was inspired by Robin McKinley's story, but in this respect, she rather missed the point of what made "Beauty" such a wonderful retelling. "Beauty" delves quite deeply into the character of Beauty herself - her family life, what brings her to the enchanted wood, what causes her to decide to pay her father's debt to the Beast. In that way, you really get drawn into the story and so you empathize with the other characters when they grieve over having to let her go off to an uncertain fate.
However, "Beauty" then spends a significant amount of time describing Beauty's interactions with the Beast, how she comes to slowly care for him, why he lets her go even at the risk of his own life, and why she has the realization at the end that she truly loves him. And that epiphany really IS an important moment in any story of "Beauty and the Beast" as it is (in my experience with retellings of the story) rather the entire point.
"Belle" also spends a significant amount of time on Belle's life before the introduction of the Beast. My complaint is that the Beast is rather forgotten for almost all of it. Other than a brief mention of "a monster in the Wood" there is no mention of the Beast at all until page 123 (of 204). Beauty herself does not meet the Beast until page 143. That does not leave much time - only 61 pages - to explain how Belle comes to care for him, why she falls in love with him, why he falls in love with her, why he finally decides to let her go, and why she returns to him.
Of course, entire stories can be told in 61 pages, if done properly. However, in this case, Cameron Dokey drops the ball, in my opinion. How does Belle come to care for the Beast? They have a lovely scene in a boat, but that's pretty much it. Why does she fall in love with him? Well...they have a lovely scene in a boat, but that's pretty much it. Why does he fall in love with her? Not really explored. She meets him on page 143 and leaves him again on page 185. From the moment Belle meets the Beast, the story HURTLES towards its inevitable - and well-known - conclusion, rather than taking the time to let the ending develop naturally. They fall in love because the story says they fall in love. Period, end of story, nothing else to see here, folks!
It is a disappointing let-down. If I read a story of Beauty and the Beast, it's because I'm interested primarily in THEIR story - the story of Beauty and the Beast. If the central message is that beauty can be found below the surface, even in the most unlikely of places, then I want to be able to believe that message. I want to know why Beauty falls in love with such a Beast, and I want to know how the Beast is changed by Beauty, and not just in form and figure. Cameron Dokey completely dropped the ball in this respect. It is almost as if the Beast, and the story of Beauty and the Beast, is a secondary story, an afterthought to the story Cameron Dokey REALLY wanted to tell, about the nature of beauty versus Beauty. I don't mind an exploration of the merits (or lack thereof) of shiny new buckles on shoes, as long as the CENTRAL story is told, and in this case, it was not.
It is never even really explained why Belle cannot look the Beast in the eyes - this tale's re-imagining of the typical nightly proposal. I was intrigued that this would be what it would take to break the spell, but Belle simply cannot do it. Sadly, it is never explained why. (It is explained why her father cannot look the Beast in the eyes to the count of five, but not Belle.) Although she is shown as strong and brave, she cannot look him in the eye and flatly refuses to try. However, it is never explained why, and this makes her unwillingness to do so frustrating and annoying, rather than sympathetic - a demonstration of the growth she must take in the book.
"Belle" is not a bad story, but it is only half the story it could have been. If page count was an issue, Cameron Dokey should have been more prudent with the first 120-so-odd pages. Of course, I want background. I want to know who the character of Belle is...but I also want to know the character of the Beast, and I don't think you get that chance, in this book.
If Belle is the only character who really interests you in the story of Beauty and the Beast, then "Belle" is a good story for you. It is even aptly titled, as Belle is really the only character the author develops in this book. If you want an imaginative re-telling of Beauty and the Beast that gives you a good sense of who the two charactes are separately and together, why they fall in love, and why their love story MATTERS, then I recommend reading "Beauty" by Robin McKinley. It is a fantastic story, of which this is only a pale imitation.
I actually enjoy retellings of familiar stories, and I try to rate each on its own merits. However, this story had SO much in common with "Beauty" that it was impossible for me to not mentally compare. "Belle" does bring some new elements to the table, to give credit where it is due. In "Belle" there is no rose; the story device centers around a Heartwood Tree. Belle is gifted at wood carving, and she must find the truth within the tree - and in Beast - in order to set him free.
That said, there are many other elements that fell flat, or weren't as successful. I always pay attention to supporting characters in books, because I think they help flush out a tale and turns a book into a world of its own. In "Belle" the supporting characters were hit-and-miss. I did enjoy the parents - particularly the father. I felt for Belle when she thought her mother pitied her for not being as beautiful. However, Belle has two sisters who are mentioned quite frequently but not entirely well-developed. Of the two sisters, Celeste is a bit more three-dimensional, as you learn she has a sharp tongue when she's nervous or upset. You also learn that she does genuinely care for Belle and her feelings, underneath this occasionally brash exterior. April, the middle daughter is...there on occasion. If I had to describe her personality or characteristics, I really couldn't give one. I could hardly describe her, save to say that she has hair that seems to glow in the dark. In "Beauty" there are two sisters, as well, but both have distinguishable personalities and are fully formed characters in their own right. Again, it's hard to avoid making this comparison.
Of course, the main crux of the books has to do with Beauty and the Beast. It's the purpose behind the story, after all. "A Retelling of 'Beauty and the Beast'" is written on the cover. And yet...this is where the story really falls flat for me. And, given that the whole plot of "Belle" is to retell the story of Beauty AND THE BEAST, it is a deficiency that is both glaring and unpardonable, in my opinion. I could forgive rather forgettable secondary characters. I cannot quite forgive a forgettable - or largely forgotten - Beast.
I feel like Cameron Dokey was inspired by Robin McKinley's story, but in this respect, she rather missed the point of what made "Beauty" such a wonderful retelling. "Beauty" delves quite deeply into the character of Beauty herself - her family life, what brings her to the enchanted wood, what causes her to decide to pay her father's debt to the Beast. In that way, you really get drawn into the story and so you empathize with the other characters when they grieve over having to let her go off to an uncertain fate.
However, "Beauty" then spends a significant amount of time describing Beauty's interactions with the Beast, how she comes to slowly care for him, why he lets her go even at the risk of his own life, and why she has the realization at the end that she truly loves him. And that epiphany really IS an important moment in any story of "Beauty and the Beast" as it is (in my experience with retellings of the story) rather the entire point.
"Belle" also spends a significant amount of time on Belle's life before the introduction of the Beast. My complaint is that the Beast is rather forgotten for almost all of it. Other than a brief mention of "a monster in the Wood" there is no mention of the Beast at all until page 123 (of 204). Beauty herself does not meet the Beast until page 143. That does not leave much time - only 61 pages - to explain how Belle comes to care for him, why she falls in love with him, why he falls in love with her, why he finally decides to let her go, and why she returns to him.
Of course, entire stories can be told in 61 pages, if done properly. However, in this case, Cameron Dokey drops the ball, in my opinion. How does Belle come to care for the Beast? They have a lovely scene in a boat, but that's pretty much it. Why does she fall in love with him? Well...they have a lovely scene in a boat, but that's pretty much it. Why does he fall in love with her? Not really explored. She meets him on page 143 and leaves him again on page 185. From the moment Belle meets the Beast, the story HURTLES towards its inevitable - and well-known - conclusion, rather than taking the time to let the ending develop naturally. They fall in love because the story says they fall in love. Period, end of story, nothing else to see here, folks!
It is a disappointing let-down. If I read a story of Beauty and the Beast, it's because I'm interested primarily in THEIR story - the story of Beauty and the Beast. If the central message is that beauty can be found below the surface, even in the most unlikely of places, then I want to be able to believe that message. I want to know why Beauty falls in love with such a Beast, and I want to know how the Beast is changed by Beauty, and not just in form and figure. Cameron Dokey completely dropped the ball in this respect. It is almost as if the Beast, and the story of Beauty and the Beast, is a secondary story, an afterthought to the story Cameron Dokey REALLY wanted to tell, about the nature of beauty versus Beauty. I don't mind an exploration of the merits (or lack thereof) of shiny new buckles on shoes, as long as the CENTRAL story is told, and in this case, it was not.
It is never even really explained why Belle cannot look the Beast in the eyes - this tale's re-imagining of the typical nightly proposal. I was intrigued that this would be what it would take to break the spell, but Belle simply cannot do it. Sadly, it is never explained why. (It is explained why her father cannot look the Beast in the eyes to the count of five, but not Belle.) Although she is shown as strong and brave, she cannot look him in the eye and flatly refuses to try. However, it is never explained why, and this makes her unwillingness to do so frustrating and annoying, rather than sympathetic - a demonstration of the growth she must take in the book.
"Belle" is not a bad story, but it is only half the story it could have been. If page count was an issue, Cameron Dokey should have been more prudent with the first 120-so-odd pages. Of course, I want background. I want to know who the character of Belle is...but I also want to know the character of the Beast, and I don't think you get that chance, in this book.
If Belle is the only character who really interests you in the story of Beauty and the Beast, then "Belle" is a good story for you. It is even aptly titled, as Belle is really the only character the author develops in this book. If you want an imaginative re-telling of Beauty and the Beast that gives you a good sense of who the two charactes are separately and together, why they fall in love, and why their love story MATTERS, then I recommend reading "Beauty" by Robin McKinley. It is a fantastic story, of which this is only a pale imitation.
September 9, 2018
There is nothing I like more than an intriguing fairy tale retelling that is fresh and original… even though the story holds more similarities to the original story than the most frequently told story these days.
One of the best parts about a retelling is how much more involved you get with the main characters. In the original fairy tales, the story focused on the middle and the end. With a retelling, you can explore the beginning.
Belle does that and it’s wonderful. We have a chance to become very attached to Belle and her family, get a look into who she really is and what makes her tick. It makes the middle of the story that much more exciting and intense.
I’m looking forward to checking out the rest of the books in this series, and I’m glad to discover that I’ve not started in the middle since most of the books seem to be stand-alones.
If you haven’t read them, you should check them out!
One of the best parts about a retelling is how much more involved you get with the main characters. In the original fairy tales, the story focused on the middle and the end. With a retelling, you can explore the beginning.
Belle does that and it’s wonderful. We have a chance to become very attached to Belle and her family, get a look into who she really is and what makes her tick. It makes the middle of the story that much more exciting and intense.
I’m looking forward to checking out the rest of the books in this series, and I’m glad to discover that I’ve not started in the middle since most of the books seem to be stand-alones.
If you haven’t read them, you should check them out!
June 23, 2017
2,5 stars!
An average, but okayish read
An average, but okayish read
April 6, 2017
* Reviewed by Frog for North of Normal Book Reviews
More like a dissertation on beauty than a love story
As I continue my Beauty and the Beast mission to read every adaptation I can find, I chose BELLE next owing to its beautiful cover and placement on the Barnes and Noble Beauty and the Beast table.
BELLE by Cameron Dokey is a smartly written study of Belle in a short, predictable, and not very heartfelt adaptation of the Beauty and the Beast tale. This is a historical teen novel set in a mythical walled city outside a dark wood.
Annabelle is obsessed with beauty and has been ever since she was twelve and stood unseen next to her two beautiful sisters. The first 50 pages of this book is a study of the word beauty and what it means to Belle as she ages into her teen years. Belle believes she's too ugly to stand beside her sisters in public, and so she shuns events in favor of carving wood. When her father's shipping business suffers a huge loss, her family must move from the expensive city and into a quaint house in the countryside, next to a dark wood, where legend holds lives a Beast who protects a magical flowering tree. At about the 70% mark in the book, Beauty finally meets Beast for a very short, very shallow courtship that progresses in the most predictable way, holding true to the classic beauty and the beast story.
This was a slow-paced, predictable story steeped in atmosphere. There is no deep point of view here, and no opportunity to really invest in any love story, though Belle is likeable enough. I honestly couldn't tell if the beast liked beauty or not. He didn't seem terrible taken with her. The Beast remained mysterious and showed no real character change in this story. In a way, this is more of a lyrical tale than it is focused on plot.
To date, this has been my least favorite retelling of the classic Beauty and the Beast story. I skimmed most of it, but I did want to finish the book, which ended with a nice, though predictable epilogue. The writing gets an A+ but the love story earns an F for forgettable.
Beauty and the Beast fans may enjoy this enchanting short, which hold fairly true to the original fairy tale. I'll definitely hang on to this book and not only for its beautiful cover--there were some beautiful sentences I highlighted as well. The is no real romance here. It's more of a meeting of two minds.
The language is tame, and the violence is nil. This book is appropriate for ages 10 and up.
More like a dissertation on beauty than a love story
As I continue my Beauty and the Beast mission to read every adaptation I can find, I chose BELLE next owing to its beautiful cover and placement on the Barnes and Noble Beauty and the Beast table.
BELLE by Cameron Dokey is a smartly written study of Belle in a short, predictable, and not very heartfelt adaptation of the Beauty and the Beast tale. This is a historical teen novel set in a mythical walled city outside a dark wood.
Annabelle is obsessed with beauty and has been ever since she was twelve and stood unseen next to her two beautiful sisters. The first 50 pages of this book is a study of the word beauty and what it means to Belle as she ages into her teen years. Belle believes she's too ugly to stand beside her sisters in public, and so she shuns events in favor of carving wood. When her father's shipping business suffers a huge loss, her family must move from the expensive city and into a quaint house in the countryside, next to a dark wood, where legend holds lives a Beast who protects a magical flowering tree. At about the 70% mark in the book, Beauty finally meets Beast for a very short, very shallow courtship that progresses in the most predictable way, holding true to the classic beauty and the beast story.
This was a slow-paced, predictable story steeped in atmosphere. There is no deep point of view here, and no opportunity to really invest in any love story, though Belle is likeable enough. I honestly couldn't tell if the beast liked beauty or not. He didn't seem terrible taken with her. The Beast remained mysterious and showed no real character change in this story. In a way, this is more of a lyrical tale than it is focused on plot.
To date, this has been my least favorite retelling of the classic Beauty and the Beast story. I skimmed most of it, but I did want to finish the book, which ended with a nice, though predictable epilogue. The writing gets an A+ but the love story earns an F for forgettable.
Beauty and the Beast fans may enjoy this enchanting short, which hold fairly true to the original fairy tale. I'll definitely hang on to this book and not only for its beautiful cover--there were some beautiful sentences I highlighted as well. The is no real romance here. It's more of a meeting of two minds.
The language is tame, and the violence is nil. This book is appropriate for ages 10 and up.
August 26, 2018
Honestly would have liked this beauty and the beast retelling better if there was less of the beginning and more of the ending. Let me explain that. The first half of the book was a lot of detail about Belle and how she received her name and how she didn't think she deserved her name. Like literally rolled my eyes every time she brought up how there's Beauty and beauty and she is only beautiful while here sisters are Beautiful. I understand the book is called Belle not Beauty and the beast so it makes sense it would follow her life more. But come on 75% of the way and the beast is mentioned. Then she lives with him and his horse for apparently awhile though it's talked about in like.... 5 pages. Then she finally realizes that she loves him, almost out of nowhere considering she can't stand to look at his face until he's apparently dying? And returns to him. Where he goes through his magical transformation to a human (which by the way the way he looks is barely talked about, he has copper fur and sharp nails and is really tall.) It's like the beast is a minor character and who cares. I love Beauty and the Beast. This retelling is.... Lack luster? Not what I was expecting. It's like the author had a budget of pages, got swept up in Belle and repeating stuff, got almost done with the book, went on shit I haven't gotten to her Beast yet.... Crap. And then threw some stuff together to make an ending. If the last part of the book was as drawn out as the rest it would have been better. The fact there was a tree instead of just a Rose was interesting and a nice twist, and the interactions between Belle and the beast (when he finally showed up!) were cute.
June 11, 2009
I liked this book a lot. It wasn't great but it was enjoyable.
Good:
The characters were lovable and original. I loved the beginning, I thought it was a lovely start and had just enough background information. It was thoroughly engaging. I like Cameron Dokey's style, I find it humorous and endearing.
Bad:
It was a bit too much like Robin McKinley's Beauty. There were some parts that I wished were changed up a bit. Dokey has the talent, she has written some very inventive stories. I just wished she had used some of that creativity with this story. As with every hopeless romantic book-lover, I just wanted Belle and the Beast's love-finding to grow, to last longer. I was disappointed at how the story progressed. It was as if they wrote this beautiful long beginning, describing everything, setting up this lovely story, then: oops, ran out of space, 'they fall in love and live happily ever after the end.' The characters were a lovely match, both just stubborn enough to keep things interesting. I really wish there had been more development between the two.
This is by far, my favorite fairy tale ever. I love nearly every retelling of it. (The exception being Robin McKinley's Rose Daughter, which I strongly disliked). I adore this fairy tale so much! I can't get enough of it.
I enjoyed reading it despite all the 'bad'.
Good:
The characters were lovable and original. I loved the beginning, I thought it was a lovely start and had just enough background information. It was thoroughly engaging. I like Cameron Dokey's style, I find it humorous and endearing.
Bad:
It was a bit too much like Robin McKinley's Beauty. There were some parts that I wished were changed up a bit. Dokey has the talent, she has written some very inventive stories. I just wished she had used some of that creativity with this story. As with every hopeless romantic book-lover, I just wanted Belle and the Beast's love-finding to grow, to last longer. I was disappointed at how the story progressed. It was as if they wrote this beautiful long beginning, describing everything, setting up this lovely story, then: oops, ran out of space, 'they fall in love and live happily ever after the end.' The characters were a lovely match, both just stubborn enough to keep things interesting. I really wish there had been more development between the two.
This is by far, my favorite fairy tale ever. I love nearly every retelling of it. (The exception being Robin McKinley's Rose Daughter, which I strongly disliked). I adore this fairy tale so much! I can't get enough of it.
I enjoyed reading it despite all the 'bad'.
December 16, 2010
I am finding that there are some things that I really like about Dokey's writing and some things I don't like much at all. This book seems to follow her usual pattern. She takes a long time to set up her main charachter and the majority of the book is more about Belle and her family than anything else. The tradition points of the Beauty and the Beast story don't happen until half way through the book. While this is somewhat annoying I actually enjoy the interesting domestic storyline. I like that Dokey seems to feel that the family is important. It reminds of an older time in storytelling and the classics that I love to read. I thought her emphasis on the heart was sweet and I really enjoyed the twists that she added. I really liked the Beast character and I was dissappointed that he wasn't in it more. He doesn't really appear until the last quarter of the book and there aren't enough scenes between him and Belle. That being said, what was there was sweet. I wished there was just a little more to the ending but beyond that I really enjoyed this book. I celebrated the almost ending of my semester by guiltlessly reading this book front to back in one sitting.
Sexuality: none beyond a single kiss
Language: none that I recall
Violence: none
Age: 11+
Sexuality: none beyond a single kiss
Language: none that I recall
Violence: none
Age: 11+
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