B = Black Woods, Blue Sky by Eowyn Ivey

Birdie is a flighty, free spirited single mother who drinks too much and despite her love for her daughter, harbors a secret desire for freedom from responsibility. One morning she meets Arthur, a recluse who lives in the mountains. He's a bit odd, talking only in present tense and the townspeople mostly eschew his company with the exception of his father Warren, Birdie and her daughter, Emaleen. As their relationship deepens, Arthur invites Birdie and Emaleen to come live with him in his derelict cabin... But Arthur harbors a dark secret that he keeps from his new family.

The setting of the book takes place in rural Alaska and the descriptions of the scenery, flora, and fauna are positively decadent. I've never been to Alaska (although I'd love to visit) but Eowyn Ivey's writing makes me feel right at home there.

The characters are flawed in a kind of sad way, and beautiful in their own right. There's Birdie whose desire for freedom makes her somewhat selfish, going so far as to accidentally endanger her own child. Emaleen at 6 years old is bright and precocious and recognizes her mother's need to be free; she lives in fear of being left alone. Arthur whose love for Birdie and Emaleen doesn't outweigh his need to be alone, and he's frequently missing for days at a time. And of course there's Warren, who understands why Arthur wanders, and fears for the safety of Birdie and Emaleen even as he's filled with regret for what he views as his own shortcomings as a father.

Birdie, Emaleen and Warren narrate the story, but the plot circles around the mostly absentee Arthur. His secrets keep him from ever truly committing to Birdie and Emaleen and keep him estranged from the rest of the world, leaving the reader wanting to know more. When Birdie and Emaleen discover why Arthur is so distant, Birdie is desperate to bring him home, even as Emaleen wants him to stay away.

I read somewhere (perhaps the book blurb?) that this is a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, but I barely see a resemblance. This book may be about the connections that separate man from beast, but the comparison is otherwise ill-made by someone wanting to see a fairytale through the tragedy.

One thing remains certain at the end of this book: every bit as enchanting as The Snow Child, Eowyn Ivey's writing remains impeccable. You won't be disappointed by this read.