"Beauty and the Beast: Lost in a Book" by Jennifer Donnelly

Beauty and the Beast: Lost in a Book (Jan. 31, 2017) by Jennifer Donnelly.

No matter how smart or bookish one is, being a captive in Beast’s castle is taking a toll on Belle. While she has befriended its inhabitants (Lumiere, Cogsworth, Mrs. Potts, Chip, Plumette, Froufrou, Cuisinier, Chapeau and Madame de Garderobe) and has accepted her captivity, she greatly misses her father and the rare villagers that she appreciated in Villeneuve such as Pere Robert, the village’s curé and librarian, and Agathe, a brave beggar woman who knows that “love is not for cowards.” Beast shows the rare unguarded, joyful moment, but ultimately remains wary, reclusive and downright difficult. When Belle discovers an enchanted book called Nevermore, she is enamored by the world’s glamour and the beautiful people who readily befriend her. There’s the lovely and generous Countess (or Comtesse des Terre des Morts, i.e. Countess of the Land of the Dead) and the handsome and charismatic Henri, Duc des Choses-Passées (i.e. Duke of Things Past). The countess appeals to all of Belle’s desires: the opportunity to see the world, attend university, escape the Beast’s castle and perhaps even reunite with her father. Nevermore is the best story come to life, but what is the cost? Is it really too good to be true? Belle doesn’t think so, but doubts sweep in when Nevermore’s inhabitants are quick to discredit friends like Chip and Mrs. Potts as nothing more than dangerous, living objects. It doesn’t help when a fearsome, talking stag beetle (named Lucanos) and a large brown spider (named Aranae; she doesn’t talk, she chitters) give dire warnings about things eaten and things lost. What is the truth? Belle had better find out before she becomes nothing more than words in a book.

            All of the beloved characters from the familiar Disney movies are in this book, as are many of the story’s recognizable bits (Belle taking her dad’s place, fleeing the castle and getting saved from wolves by the Beast, etc.), but then Donnelly sweeps in with this original story that greets us like a companion. I rejoiced in the familiarity, while appreciating this new plot. As a reader who loves the idea of visiting fantasy worlds and fantastical places, Belle’s adventurous spirit and opportunity to walk into a book appealed to me. Like Belle, sometimes we don’t have the best judgment, as she finds in repeatedly visiting Nevermore, creating an imperfect character to reflect our imperfect selves. This story may have readers thinking that real life is preferred, despite the trials and chaos it brings, but with current events being what they are, readers may wish themselves lost in a book. Where do you stand?