Customer Reviews

Belle: A Retelling of Beauty and the Beast (Once Upon a Time)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The "Once Upon a Time" books are a series of relatively slim volumes that retell traditional fairytales, usually in an updated setting (Water Song: A Retelling of "The Frog Prince" (Once Upon a Time) for example is set during WWII), and with the magical elements removed. "Belle" is an exception to this rule, as it is set in your typical 19th century time-period and with plenty of emphasis on enchantment and mystery in its second half.

Glancing at some of the other reviews, one can see that many have compared "Belle" with Robin McKinley's Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast. This is inevitable really since her version is probably the most famous rendition of the Beauty and the Beast fairytale (save for the Disney movie, of course). It is a *little* unfair though to compare the two considering both authors have based their stories on the French fairytale "Le Belle et le Bette" by Charles Perrault, and any similarities are the result of their fidelity to this source material, and not an attempt at plagiarism (and Dokey manages to get in a few of her own original ideas).

However, as fate would have it, I recently read and reviewed McKinley's version, and so inevitably comparisons *do* arise when reading the two of them back-to-back. And yet for various reasons "Beauty" did not rank very highly with me (often it felt a bit padded in all the wrong places), and so I was interested to see what a new author could do with the same story with a lower page-count.

Like McKinley's "Beauty," the title character is not as beautiful as her name would suggest, and she's constantly compared to her stunning elder sisters who (unlike their counterparts in Perrault's tale) are not spoilt and selfish at all, but loving and affectionate toward Belle. However, whereas McKinley's Hope and Grace were virtually indistinguishable, Dokey's Celeste and April both have distinct personalities and relationships with their sister. In fact, Dokey puts a huge amount of emphasis on Belle's family; including her mother (possibly the first version in which she's still alive), her father, and her foster grandfather "Grand-Pere LeGrand."

Belle is constantly overshadowed by her sisters, but finds solace in her wood-working skills. Since she was a child, Belle has been able to "feel" what a piece of wood desires to be carved into, and whittles away at it accordingly. But when her father's merchant ships are lost and her sister's love goes missing at sea (the only echo of "Beauty" that feels uncomfortable, as I'm fairly certain that this lost-at-sea fiancée plot was McKinley's original invention) the family must relocate to a country house near a mysterious woods. When her father returns home after a business trip, he takes a detour in the woods and finds a castle...and yet foolishly takes something from its garden that does not belong to him, resulting in his youngest daughter being the price for his freedom.

This "something" is not the traditional red-rose, but the bough of a vaguely-magical tree called the Heartwood Tree, which has its own sad history concerning a pair of lovers who were separated by death. Another interesting variation is that the Beast does not propose to Belle every night, but rather challenges her to look into his eyes for five seconds, for "that is how quickly a life may change, for better or for ill. The time it takes to make up, or change your mind."

There are also some lovely images here, such as the Heartwood Tree that blooms red and white flowers, which mingle into a pink tapestry of petals on the ground, or the various gates and doorways of the castle that are decorated with the images of a man and a woman: when they are closed, their outstretched hands are joined; when they are opened, they are parted.

However, there are just as many concepts that feel messy or convoluted. Apparently Belle is so eclipsed by her sisters' extraordinary beauty that no one can see her when she stands between them. That's...a bit weird. Furthermore, the heart of any "Beauty and the Beast" retelling should always be the relationship between the two title characters (I mean, duh, right?) Unfortunately, we are well over halfway through the book (chapter eighteen out of twenty-three) before we finally get to meet the Beast, and the impending romance feels rushed as a result. There is some rather shaky commentary on concepts like "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" and "the face of true love", but these are ideas that are *mentioned* rather than explored, resulting in messages like this: "to find true love, you must look with love's eyes." Er...thanks book. That's real helpful.

If you're going to retell a fairytale, there should be something new to say, something that makes you look at the story in a different way. I'm just not sure that's achieved here, though naturally that will differ for different readers. These books have never pretended to be anything but quick and breezy reads. Two stars may seem like a low grade, but in my book it ranks as "fair." While it lasted, I enjoyed "Belle", though it's certainly not the best Dokey retelling in the "Once Upon a Time" collection.

It is hard for me not to enjoy this book simply because this is one of my favorite fairy tales. On top of that, Cameron Dokey is the best out of all the authors writing for the Once Upon a Time series. Although Belle may have similarities to McKinley's book, it should not be dismissed. While McKinley is a master when it comes to re-telling Beauty and the Beast, Dokey adds her own elements to the story. While the author does not fully describe certain aspects of the original fairy tale, such as the magical element, I do feel she has added her own twist upon the tale in the form of the heartwood tree. There is just something that rings true about wanting to see your true love's face. The book deals with the idea of true beauty in a unique way. By not being able to see what the heartwood branch holds, Belle starts to question herself and the world around her. She learns that she has to have patience and see the people around her in a different light than she is used to. Of course, this transformation does not start when she joins the Beast in his castle. All the members in her family (except perhaps her father) start to change as soon as they move into the country. Still, the symbolism found throughout the castle serve to further her realization. I suppose what I like best about this book is how deftly the author has interwoven the theme of true beauty. She doesn't waste any words, she doesn't have any unnecessary side plots. And it's a tale that needs to be heard. After all, don't we all need to learn how to see true beauty in both ourselves and others?

Having been a fan of this series, especially Snow and both Dokey's and Wryn's tales, I eagerly anticipated this novel. I bought it the day it came out and read it before going to bed. It was a quick and easy read, holding my attention.

Dokey does an excellent job at creating lovable and realistic characters complete with human nuances and flaws. I adored Belle's oldest sister, the realness about her, and the relationship between her and Belle seemed tangible. Belle's family unit was fun to watch and learn about.

The stories of the Wood, incorporating the Beast, and creating a visually delicious setting also added to the retelling of the story. I liked the unusual "rose" of the story, and enjoyed the tales behind the tale. Dokey's unique twist on the story did not take away any of the essence of Beauty and the Beast.

The one complaint I had for the story was it was more a story of Belle and less of Beauty and the Beast. I know the title of the story is called Belle, but the interaction with the Beast did not come into play until halfway through the novel. While I feel this is not necessarily a flaw, I found myself impatiently waiting for the conversations and interaction of Belle and the beast. When they did meet, I felt it was slightly rushed. While I believed the relationship between the two characters, it was not as potent as Beauty Sleep, Story-teller's Daughter, and other romances in her other novels.

Still, I thoroughly enjoyed the novel, and enjoyed seeing more of Belle's life and how she became who she was. I just wanted a bit more of her time with the beast, too. The story is well worth the read if you are a fan of the fairytale and series, and definitely a good rainy day read.

Belle lives a comfortable life with her merchant father, loving mother, and two elder, beautiful sisters. Since she was very young, she has always felt invisible in the shadow cast by her sisters who are much more beautiful and elegant than she. Because of this, she chooses to pour all of her energy into her woodcarving while her sisters attend parties and balls and make a place for themselves in Society.

Then all of their lives are shattered when Belle's father's ships are lost at sea, and with them all of their wealth. Belle and her family are forced to sell everything and retreat through the mysterious woods into the country to a much simpler life. But one stormy night drives Belle's father to a mysterious manor in the heart of the woods, home to a magnificent beast and Heartwood tree, which, if carved, will show the heart's desire. Now Belle must journey to the Heartwood, to face the beast, her insecurities, and her destiny.

Once again Cameron Dokey dazzles readers into the realm of magic with her ability to fashion more descriptive and palpable tales out of beloved fairy tale classics. Belle's lyrical and starkly honest voice is mesmerizing, especially as she divulges all of her insecurities and describes her sisters without loathing or outright jealousy, but depicts them as they truly are. Though Dokey takes her time setting the scene of the story, her vivid characters and imagery make the wait worthwhile until Belle faces the Beast. The romance is quick and sweet in classic fairy tale fashion, and the conclusion is wonderfully light and romantic. Belle is more than a romance and tale of first impressions inner beauty, but one about finding self confidence in who you are, making it another wonderful addition to the Once Upon a Time... series.

I love fairy tales, and when done right, I love fairy tale retellings. I was first introduced to the Once Upon a Time series through Before Midnight: A Retelling of "Cinderella" (Once Upon a Time) by Cameron Dokey. I found it enchanting and a delight to read. I liked the characters, the embellished plot, and the romance was sweet. With that in mind, Belle was a complete let down.

As many reviewers mention, this book has a great deal in common with Robin McKinley's Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast. Beauty had been one of my favorite books since I was about 12 years old. I have read it many times over the years, though not recently. So it was hard not to compare this story to it. Belle had much that was original to it; Belle's mother gets to live, Belle's hobby is wood carving, the Beast ask Belle to look into his eyes instead of asking her to marry him. The similarities between Belle and Beauty are primarily because they draw from the same source material (save for the romance between Belle's sister and the sailor, which was obviously taken from Beauty). So the problem I had wasn't with similarity, it was with quality.

The things that Dokey chose to add to the story to make it original, were the things I found boring. Belle was an annoying, whiny character. She obsesses over her sister's Beauty and her own lack of it, and that is what drives the first half of the book. The wood carving seems like an interesting take, but doesn't add anything to the story. The story of the Heartwood was kind of boring. When Belle finally ends up with the Beast, their time together felt rushed and unbelievable. I knew that they were supposed to fall in love, yet when Belle says "How is it that I love him?" I was surprised! I hadn't noticed her falling in love with him at all. And the Beast! He seemed to just be a lonely person who wants to be free and have a friend. Even when it was obvious he was supposed to be falling in love with Belle, I just couldn't believe it.

***SPOLIER*** The thing that really cinched my dislike of this book was when the Beast tells of the way he came to be cursed. He shot a doe with a fawn (he didn't notice the fawn). Wow. He shoots a doe, and ends up with an elaborate curse in an elaborate prison. Some fairy/goddess/what-ever-she-was had waaaayyy to much time on her hands. ***END SPOLIER***

I was really looking forward to this book, since Beauty and the Beast is one of my favorite fairy tales. I finished this book feeling I had wasted two hours of my life and read one of the most unromantic romances ever. Do yourself a favor and just read Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast instead.

This is a retelling of the Beauty and the Beast fairy tale and one of the books in the Once Upon a Time series. This retelling takes place in a fictional "medieval-like past" and follows Belle, the youngest daughter and future love of the mysterious Beast. While enjoyable, more than half the book has nothing to do with the Beauty and Beast part of the fairy tale and instead follows Belle, her two sisters, and their parents. They are a loving family and all enjoyable characters, but not much happens during this part of the story. We hear over and over that Belle is not gorgeous like her sisters, but she is pretty. By the time anything resembling the famous parts of the fairy tale comes around, the book is over half finished and consequently the Beauty and the Beast part of the story is rushed and largely undeveloped.

My biggest gripe is that there is nothing beastly about the Beast except his appearance, which isn't described in much detail. He's polite, kind, accommodating, and the famed temper is pretty much absent (he gets angry once or twice, but it's pretty justified and short lived). This makes Belle's dislike of the Beast seem petty and irrational, and her eventual developed love equally strange and out of left field. So far, Dokey is my favorite author from this series, but this book just didn't cut it. Instead of adding depth to the fairy tale, she rushed through the core of the tale as quickly as the original story and created a lovely family for Belle that, while nice, ultimately did very little for the story overall. I do recommend reading this one, but only after the better OUaT installations have been devoured and the reader is still looking for more.

I have adored all of the "Once upon a time" series so far, but I couldn't help feeling cheated by reading this one. It feels like it's echoing Robin McKinley's Beauty almost word for word. In my opinion I'd skip this one and just read McKinley's.

this book was extremely similar to the book beauty by robin mckinley. so if you've read beauty, then you'll know what to expect from this book.

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.

I love fairy tales, I love fairy tale retellings, and to date I haven't been disappointed (too much) by the various offerings in the "Once Upon a Time" series. Cameron Dokey has been a strong contributor to the series, and I've looked forward to her entries. "Belle" is a good read... but after having said that, I'm not sure how I feel about this book.

We all know the story of "Beauty and the Beast," right? Beautiful girl saves a mysterious beast from himself as she learns to love the potential good man she sees inside him. There's not much you can do to improve upon that basic storyline.

But as I was reading this book, I kept thinking, "This book reminds me of another favorite..." That would be "Beauty" by Robin McKinley, published in 1985. Part of it was the dreamy tone of "Belle" - but there were also way too many similarities for me to ignore.

In both books, there are three sisters, with Beauty (or Belle) being the youngest. Both times the elder sisters have names that suit them (in "Beauty" they have names of virtues like Hope, in "Belle" they have lofty visual names like April Dawn). But the youngest, whose name means Beauty, feels she doesn't live up to her nickname, and this is a prevailing theme in both books. The father, a merchant, pins the family fortune on his ships, and they get lost at sea. Oh, and one of the elder sisters is in love with a captain on one of these ships and is distraught when her love goes missing along with the ships. When the family loses all their money, moves to the country are found in both books, with the mysterious forest nearby that has all these local legends attached to it. When Beauty/Belle arrives at the Beast's castle, doors swing open but no one is around; food magically appears and all the servants are invisible. There is a horse around who is Beauty/Belle's only friend. And then of course there's the Beast's persistent question every night.

In fact, the only differences I found were: the mother is still alive in "Belle;" instead of roses (as in "Beauty") Belle must discover the secret found in a magical tree; and Belle's Beast asks her to look into his eyes for five seconds instead of for marriage ("Beauty"). Also, because "Belle" is shorter, there's less characterization and more unanswered questions (like who are the invisible servants, something addressed in McKinley's book).

If you're unfamiliar with McKinley's work, then this book probably won't bother you. And by itself, it's still a good read in a overall strong series. But if you're familiar with other fairy tale retellings, the similarities between this book and a well-loved work might disturb you.