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3.42 AVERAGE
3.42 AVERAGE
CW: disordered eating, body dysmorphia, self harm, parental abandonment, drug use, drinking, suicide/suicide attempt, abortion.
This book isn't for the faint of heart. This is a very intense but beautiful book for the right type of reader. Bright Burning Stars gives a realistic portrait of the complexity of dance schools. The drama, the body dysmorphia, the physical pressure that dancers put on themselves and how they achieve the big roles is all very real. While this portrayal of a dissolving friendship is an accurate part of dance schools too, you also have the ones that can survive the test of time.
As for most dance books, the plot is quite predictable in their own way. In that they follow one full dance year and you see the trials and successes of the characters throughout. I didn't prefer one character over another, just as I didn't favour any of the love interests. I will say that this book is very heavy on dance techniques and talked a lot about the steps and routines throughout.
As a lover of dance, I appreciated the realness of this book. That being said, this book is not for everyone based on the content involved and how heavy the dancing itself is throughout.
This book isn't for the faint of heart. This is a very intense but beautiful book for the right type of reader. Bright Burning Stars gives a realistic portrait of the complexity of dance schools. The drama, the body dysmorphia, the physical pressure that dancers put on themselves and how they achieve the big roles is all very real. While this portrayal of a dissolving friendship is an accurate part of dance schools too, you also have the ones that can survive the test of time.
As for most dance books, the plot is quite predictable in their own way. In that they follow one full dance year and you see the trials and successes of the characters throughout. I didn't prefer one character over another, just as I didn't favour any of the love interests. I will say that this book is very heavy on dance techniques and talked a lot about the steps and routines throughout.
As a lover of dance, I appreciated the realness of this book. That being said, this book is not for everyone based on the content involved and how heavy the dancing itself is throughout.
Inside Nanterre School for Dance reside two best friends, Marine and Kate, who–among the other girls in their class–are competing for the one top spot dancing with the top male. Bright Burning Stars did an excellent job of capturing the cattiness and petty atmosphere that can reign in a competitive atmosphere like this. I don’t have experience with dance, but I went to school for opera where people are vying for lead roles in a show and believe me, when you have spent your life training for something and you know that you are prepared and that you have nailed your performance but then the next person goes on stage and has an advantage only because of a ‘favor’ she did or a judge? If it could mean the difference between performing on stage at sold out shows every night versus performing four times per month and teaching voice/dance lessons just to make ends meet….how far would you be willing to go to ensure you hit the top?
So that was all that was on my mind through most of the book. Everything hit close to home for me because I could really draw paralells to where I had been in the fine arts world, but really, it could work for any positions one is competing for. We all need drive (though, maybe not quite this much) to get to top. This book is told in dual perspectives so we do get to see both Marine’s and Kate’s thoughts as they go through all of this craziness. And I do mean crazy, but that’s what makes this book truly a page-turner I thought. I really feel this book was beautifully written. It has some beautiful descriptions of dancing, it can be brutal at times (trigger warnings: eating disorders, suicidal thoughts, abortion grief, self-harm, intentional drug use, body dysmorphia) but I was here for the big picture.
So that was all that was on my mind through most of the book. Everything hit close to home for me because I could really draw paralells to where I had been in the fine arts world, but really, it could work for any positions one is competing for. We all need drive (though, maybe not quite this much) to get to top. This book is told in dual perspectives so we do get to see both Marine’s and Kate’s thoughts as they go through all of this craziness. And I do mean crazy, but that’s what makes this book truly a page-turner I thought. I really feel this book was beautifully written. It has some beautiful descriptions of dancing, it can be brutal at times (trigger warnings: eating disorders, suicidal thoughts, abortion grief, self-harm, intentional drug use, body dysmorphia) but I was here for the big picture.
This unbiased review is based on an ARC from Netgalley.
***
Ever have one of those books that didn't quite match up with what you'd hoped it would be? "Bright Burning Stars" was that for me. From the cover art (gorgeous) and the mysterious plot summary, I had hopes of something magical and fanciful as well as ballet-themed--a ballet version of "The Night Circus," if you will. Unfortunately, that was not to be. "Bright Burning Stars" is the story of dancers in an elite program that will ultimately send two dancers to the corps of the Paris Opera. Our story follows two best friends through the program. What's problematic: The book seems to cover every cliche of other dance books/television programs. So, here we have eating disorders, issues of sexuality/identity, backstabbing, unhealthy levels of commitment, and of course, romance with the male lead. All things that I have read before (for example, "Tiny Pretty Things," another YA dance novel.) Even the setting, Paris and the amazing beast that is its Opera Garnier, is barely present. (I will give the author credit, because I am definitely seeing Paris in my head when I think of this book, but I feel like a lot more could have been done with it and particularly, the Opera. Using French words alone isn't enough.) In short, the book was okay if you're looking for some dance fluff, but aughhh, that very evocative cover made me hope for a lot more.
***
Ever have one of those books that didn't quite match up with what you'd hoped it would be? "Bright Burning Stars" was that for me. From the cover art (gorgeous) and the mysterious plot summary, I had hopes of something magical and fanciful as well as ballet-themed--a ballet version of "The Night Circus," if you will. Unfortunately, that was not to be. "Bright Burning Stars" is the story of dancers in an elite program that will ultimately send two dancers to the corps of the Paris Opera. Our story follows two best friends through the program. What's problematic: The book seems to cover every cliche of other dance books/television programs. So, here we have eating disorders, issues of sexuality/identity, backstabbing, unhealthy levels of commitment, and of course, romance with the male lead. All things that I have read before (for example, "Tiny Pretty Things," another YA dance novel.) Even the setting, Paris and the amazing beast that is its Opera Garnier, is barely present. (I will give the author credit, because I am definitely seeing Paris in my head when I think of this book, but I feel like a lot more could have been done with it and particularly, the Opera. Using French words alone isn't enough.) In short, the book was okay if you're looking for some dance fluff, but aughhh, that very evocative cover made me hope for a lot more.
A thoroughly haunting read about passion, sacrifice, friendship and competition.
Disclaimer: I received a copy free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Marine Duval and Kate Sanders have been inseparable since they started training together at the Paris Opera Ballet School. They forged a strong bond by their own family tragedies and their love for ballet. At the beginning of their final year, the body of a student is found. During their game of ‘Would You?’, they ask each other, ‘Would you die for the prize?’. As selection day draws closer and closer, the competition between Marine and Kate become fiercer.
Bright Burning Stars was a brilliant read about friendship and the toxicity of striving for perfection. It’s set in Paris and is about the dark underbelly of the Ballet world. Bright Burning Stars is an excellent book about the toxicity that can be found in the ballet world.
trigger warnings: sexual exploitation, teenage pregnancy, abortion, drug and alcohol abuse, anorexia, body image, self harm, suicide
Bright Burning Stars is a very character driven book. It focuses on the friendship between Marine and Kate, who are best friends but they are also rivals and they are having to compete against each other for The Prize, an prestigious opportunity to be dance for the Opera’s corps de ballet. I really enjoyed this exploration of friendship where one opportunity causes this fracture in what was a strong friendship.
Bright Burning Stars delves deeply into the toxicity of ballet and striving for perfection in such a high pressured environment, and it highlighted the unhealthy amount of sacrifice that these girls and boys make in order to be on top.
One of my favourite things about this was also the fact that we had some really great characters and character development, plus I really do love an ‘unlikeable female character’. Kate was not a character that you easily root for, or even particularly like – she was naive, insecure, codependent, and had an unhealthy level of commitment, which often turned to obsession in both ballet and her love life. She could be cruel and jealous, lashing out at those she didn’t think deserved their spot, especially when it came to her friend Marine. She tried to find solace in her substance abuse in order to try and find meaning to her life. Not a likeable character in any way, but I found her narrative riveting, especially when contrasted with Marine. Marine was softer and kinder than Kate, but she is wrapped up in her own grief that she consistently strives for perfection because it wasn’t herself she was doing it for – it was for her twin brother whose dream was to be where she is now. She wants to constantly improve her technique, improve her body to how she thinks it should look like. Both girls, I felt, had some really great development throughout the book.
Overall, Bright Burning Stars is a captivating book about friendship, passion, and sacrifice, and one I highly recommend.
Marine Duval and Kate Sanders have been inseparable since they started training together at the Paris Opera Ballet School. They forged a strong bond by their own family tragedies and their love for ballet. At the beginning of their final year, the body of a student is found. During their game of ‘Would You?’, they ask each other, ‘Would you die for the prize?’. As selection day draws closer and closer, the competition between Marine and Kate become fiercer.
Bright Burning Stars was a brilliant read about friendship and the toxicity of striving for perfection. It’s set in Paris and is about the dark underbelly of the Ballet world. Bright Burning Stars is an excellent book about the toxicity that can be found in the ballet world.
trigger warnings: sexual exploitation, teenage pregnancy, abortion, drug and alcohol abuse, anorexia, body image, self harm, suicide
Bright Burning Stars is a very character driven book. It focuses on the friendship between Marine and Kate, who are best friends but they are also rivals and they are having to compete against each other for The Prize, an prestigious opportunity to be dance for the Opera’s corps de ballet. I really enjoyed this exploration of friendship where one opportunity causes this fracture in what was a strong friendship.
Bright Burning Stars delves deeply into the toxicity of ballet and striving for perfection in such a high pressured environment, and it highlighted the unhealthy amount of sacrifice that these girls and boys make in order to be on top.
One of my favourite things about this was also the fact that we had some really great characters and character development, plus I really do love an ‘unlikeable female character’. Kate was not a character that you easily root for, or even particularly like – she was naive, insecure, codependent, and had an unhealthy level of commitment, which often turned to obsession in both ballet and her love life. She could be cruel and jealous, lashing out at those she didn’t think deserved their spot, especially when it came to her friend Marine. She tried to find solace in her substance abuse in order to try and find meaning to her life. Not a likeable character in any way, but I found her narrative riveting, especially when contrasted with Marine. Marine was softer and kinder than Kate, but she is wrapped up in her own grief that she consistently strives for perfection because it wasn’t herself she was doing it for – it was for her twin brother whose dream was to be where she is now. She wants to constantly improve her technique, improve her body to how she thinks it should look like. Both girls, I felt, had some really great development throughout the book.
Overall, Bright Burning Stars is a captivating book about friendship, passion, and sacrifice, and one I highly recommend.
I loved how dark this book was! It's not for the faint of heart for sure. It really captures the darkly competitive side of the dance world in a way that gets your attention in the beginning and holds it the entire time.
I really struggled to get into this one, but I'm so glad I stuck with it -- as the world "clicks" by the middle, the pace picks up and the characters' arcs really strengthen. An insightful peek into ballet and adolescence and the complexities of friendship.
And the acknowledgments are well worth a read.
And the acknowledgments are well worth a read.
CW: disordered eating, body dysmorphia, self harm, parental abandonment, drug use, drinking, suicide/suicide attempt, abortion & complex emotions afterwards
The world that Marine and Kate inhabit along with the other students at their ballet academy, Nanterre, is a juxtaposition of beauty and ugliness, darkness and light. With intense devotion to their craft, it will take everything they have to become peak performers, but does everyone have it or will the friendship that Marine and Kate have shared since their earliest student days fracture under the pressure?
Bright Burning Stars was a gripping story that engulfed my weekend. From watching Marine & Kate's friendship undergo trials to their experience at a hyper competitive ballet academy, it was a whirlwind to read.
Kate felt overwhelmingly naive at times. Her flaw was that she was too easily influenced by others. She was continually being swayed by people (their standings if they were fellow girls), their whims (Cyrille/Benjamin) so very easily. This was at odds with her intense passion & drive for her craft, which leads to some particularly intense plots moments for her.
Marine also had a conflicting time. Her personality was different from Kate's and it affected their experiences in the school (the pressures, the tests, etc.). There was a heavier feeling for much of her point of view. I enjoyed the moments she found with Luc and Little Alice because it seemed that they were moments of peace in the otherwise fraught environment of the school.
The precedent set for how the students treated one another was saddening & a bit frightening because of the pressure within themselves & the rules instituted by the school. Something as simple as a kiss on the cheek for the youngest students, eleven years of age, according to the rules would show favoritism and undue emotion. I understand that of course there would be pressure from only so many being able to rise, but at the expense of showing empathy? compassion? What does this make the dancers into?
Some of the darker moments concern body dysmorphia, eating disorder descriptions, and grieving scenes post-abortion. While the portrayal of an abortion (access, consent, etc) was good as far as I could tell, the person in question does have some intense emotions thereafter. Those moments, as well as the aforementioned darker moments, may be triggering to some readers, hence the CWs at the beginning of the review. Having said that, I think that for me, the instances the author chose to talk about regarding one character's E.D., specifically food restricting, highlighting one's body, etc., were a little more explicit than I was comfortable with.
A.K. Small demonstrated an elegance in the motions of her characters through the use of technical ballet terms and beautiful scenes that encapsulate them. Some of the terms were more familiar than others & looking the others up rounded out these scenes beautifully in my mind. Bright Burning Stars pulls threads from many emotional parts of the brain & heart to weave a story that is beautiful & terrible & written in a manner that will pull you along to the music of the tale because you will want to know what happens to the entire company before the final curtain call.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Quotes included are from an advanced reader copy and may not reflect the finalized copy.
The world that Marine and Kate inhabit along with the other students at their ballet academy, Nanterre, is a juxtaposition of beauty and ugliness, darkness and light. With intense devotion to their craft, it will take everything they have to become peak performers, but does everyone have it or will the friendship that Marine and Kate have shared since their earliest student days fracture under the pressure?
Bright Burning Stars was a gripping story that engulfed my weekend. From watching Marine & Kate's friendship undergo trials to their experience at a hyper competitive ballet academy, it was a whirlwind to read.
Kate felt overwhelmingly naive at times. Her flaw was that she was too easily influenced by others. She was continually being swayed by people (their standings if they were fellow girls), their whims (Cyrille/Benjamin) so very easily. This was at odds with her intense passion & drive for her craft, which leads to some particularly intense plots moments for her.
Marine also had a conflicting time. Her personality was different from Kate's and it affected their experiences in the school (the pressures, the tests, etc.). There was a heavier feeling for much of her point of view. I enjoyed the moments she found with Luc and Little Alice because it seemed that they were moments of peace in the otherwise fraught environment of the school.
The precedent set for how the students treated one another was saddening & a bit frightening because of the pressure within themselves & the rules instituted by the school. Something as simple as a kiss on the cheek for the youngest students, eleven years of age, according to the rules would show favoritism and undue emotion. I understand that of course there would be pressure from only so many being able to rise, but at the expense of showing empathy? compassion? What does this make the dancers into?
Some of the darker moments concern body dysmorphia, eating disorder descriptions, and grieving scenes post-abortion. While the portrayal of an abortion (access, consent, etc) was good as far as I could tell, the person in question does have some intense emotions thereafter. Those moments, as well as the aforementioned darker moments, may be triggering to some readers, hence the CWs at the beginning of the review. Having said that, I think that for me, the instances the author chose to talk about regarding one character's E.D., specifically food restricting, highlighting one's body, etc., were a little more explicit than I was comfortable with.
A.K. Small demonstrated an elegance in the motions of her characters through the use of technical ballet terms and beautiful scenes that encapsulate them. Some of the terms were more familiar than others & looking the others up rounded out these scenes beautifully in my mind. Bright Burning Stars pulls threads from many emotional parts of the brain & heart to weave a story that is beautiful & terrible & written in a manner that will pull you along to the music of the tale because you will want to know what happens to the entire company before the final curtain call.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Quotes included are from an advanced reader copy and may not reflect the finalized copy.