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3.45 AVERAGE
3.45 AVERAGE
Although the plot was riveting, this book contained a mixture of clichés and tropes central to movies and books about ballerinas. Very little felt particularly new, and the ending was rather forced. The writing also felt strangely effortful, like Kapelke-Dale was trying to write in a literary style that she hadn't yet mastered. Since the plot was fun enough to pick up this book at odd moments of the day, however, I give it 3 stars.
I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t love it either. The first 30% of the book felt off to me, but I can’t put my finger on why. The middle flowed well, and I didn’t expect the twist at the climax. However, I felt it went on a little long and there was some unnecessary plot after the climax of the book. I was very into all of the ballet components of the story as I have a lengthy dance background.
Delphine is returning to the Paris Opera Ballet after leaving as a company member to set her first piece as a choreographer. She left on not great terms with her two best friends, Lindsay and Margaux (who are nearing the end of their careers in the company), and is hoping to rekindle the friendship after holding in a “secret” after all of these years. Told in alternating timelines, there is a lot for Delphine to navigate and figure out in her new position in her old company with friendships that have definitely changed.
Delphine is returning to the Paris Opera Ballet after leaving as a company member to set her first piece as a choreographer. She left on not great terms with her two best friends, Lindsay and Margaux (who are nearing the end of their careers in the company), and is hoping to rekindle the friendship after holding in a “secret” after all of these years. Told in alternating timelines, there is a lot for Delphine to navigate and figure out in her new position in her old company with friendships that have definitely changed.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I found this book tough to get into. The structure of constantly flipping back and forth in the timeline within each chapter was a lot to manage. The conclusion was just so unsatisfying. Maybe it would have resonated more if I was a dancer? I found the writing over the top and characters pretty flat.
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really enjoyed this book! It was so well written, I would not be surprised at all if the author was a ballerina herself, as it was quite detailed. I really felt like I was going through everything with Delphine! I wouldn't say this was a Thriller though, it should really be classified as a dark women's fiction.
The first thing that irked me was the cover - I love the cover, but I have *never* seen any ballet dancers wear bicycle shorts under their leotards or tutus. The dancer on the left of the cover... just no.
By about halfway through I was getting really tired of the intentional vagueness of "what they did to Lindsay".
Other than that, a good read. I really felt almost a part of the ballet world of Paris!
The first thing that irked me was the cover - I love the cover, but I have *never* seen any ballet dancers wear bicycle shorts under their leotards or tutus. The dancer on the left of the cover... just no.
By about halfway through I was getting really tired of the intentional vagueness of "what they did to Lindsay".
Other than that, a good read. I really felt almost a part of the ballet world of Paris!
I think I am still waiting for the "twist I won't see coming"....
At first this book didn’t grip me like I wanted it to. In my opinion the synopsis oh the jacket cover doesn’t really capture what the book is about. Somewhere about 120ish pages in I started to see where it was going and I enjoyed it. It wasn’t a book that I couldn’t put down but it ended up being a lovely story about women, our relationship a with each other, with the world, and with ourselves.
I was about half way through and still wasn't feeling it, it was too slow for me