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jnebaston's review against another edition
5.0
I have wanted to read this book ever since Meg Ryan's character in "You've Got Mail" the remake of "The Shop Around the Corner". I loved the myriad of characters because they had a purpose and were interwoven. It was adorable!
zarco_j's review against another edition
3.0
A childhood favourite that I didn't enjoy as much as when I was 10.
Unless you have knowledge of old-fashioned money some of this won't make sense.
Pauline, Petronas and Posy aren't as nice girls as I remembered but that is just my opinion.
All in all I wish I'd relied on my memory regarding this.
Unless you have knowledge of old-fashioned money some of this won't make sense.
Pauline, Petronas and Posy aren't as nice girls as I remembered but that is just my opinion.
All in all I wish I'd relied on my memory regarding this.
lunaseassecondaccount's review against another edition
3.0
Another ballet book for me, yay! This is also the second [a:Noel Streatfeild|2951738|Noel Streatfeild|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1291700168p2/2951738.jpg] book I've read, the first being [b:Ballet shoes for Anna|3780|Ballet Shoes for Anna|Noel Streatfeild|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1165360855s/3780.jpg|2451926]. This one I enjoyed much more, being as the characters were just a touch more realistic.
As I was reading it, I realised this book was written much like [b:Anne of Green Gables|8127|Anne of Green Gables (Anne of Green Gables, #1)|L.M. Montgomery|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1309203168s/8127.jpg|3464264], in that each chapter was a bit of a mini-story of its own. Very much a bed time type of reading.
Anyway, a sweet book, if a little cliched in parts, but certainly palatable.
As I was reading it, I realised this book was written much like [b:Anne of Green Gables|8127|Anne of Green Gables (Anne of Green Gables, #1)|L.M. Montgomery|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1309203168s/8127.jpg|3464264], in that each chapter was a bit of a mini-story of its own. Very much a bed time type of reading.
Anyway, a sweet book, if a little cliched in parts, but certainly palatable.
saidtheraina's review against another edition
5.0
This book is how I learned to imitate the english dialect. We got a two-cassette TB of this (probably not this edition) when my family visited the country in 1990 and I listened to it nonstop for years. My perceptions of A Midsummer Night's Dream, early cinema, and Alice in Wonderland are forever shaped by their depictions in this story. As well as adopted families, dance instruction, and the way to say "citroen cars" in british. My brain is partially wired by this story.
ether3al_elle's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
tenisonpurple's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
librariandest's review against another edition
4.0
What a lovely audio book! Set in 1930s England, Ballet Shoes is the story of three girls adopted by Great Uncle Matthew, known as GUM for short. They choose the surname Fossil because GUM collects fossils and he collected them. Pauline is destined to become an actress, Posey a ballerina, Petrova an airplane pilot. They grow up in a big house filled with boarders because the family needs the rent money for income. They all learn to act and dance so that they can work in the theater and earn extra money to get by.
So this is a story about surviving hard times (there are lots of scenes where they work out how to afford the things they need) and thriving in a non-traditional family setting (the three adopted girls are raised by a nanny, their guardian Sylvia, called "Garney," and the very kind boarders). I especially loved the brusque but always loving Nanny, who was wonderfully performed by the audio book reader.
So this is a story about surviving hard times (there are lots of scenes where they work out how to afford the things they need) and thriving in a non-traditional family setting (the three adopted girls are raised by a nanny, their guardian Sylvia, called "Garney," and the very kind boarders). I especially loved the brusque but always loving Nanny, who was wonderfully performed by the audio book reader.
drish231's review against another edition
medium-paced
3.75
The book was fun, I liked getting into the world and the little family. I did find Pauline and Posy to be annoying at times, especially Posy. I wish Posy would've gotten a better character arc but she was barely shown.
evaseyler's review against another edition
2.0
Having thoroughly enjoyed "Skating Shoes" a few months back, I decided to try another pair of shoes. I didn't enjoy this one quite as much, but I did like it. I found Posy to be completely annoying; Petrova was my favourite. I also was amused at the idea that the girls didn't want to be film stars because that wasn't how one became famous. Fascinating that the film profession back in the day was looked upon so lightly.