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3.45 AVERAGE
3.45 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Rachel Kapelke-Dale's "The Ballerinas" is a vivid and engrossing story of friendship, ambition, passion, and betrayal, set in the mesmerizing world of professional ballet. The narrative is riveting, moving seamlessly between past and present, drawing the reader into the glittering, high-stakes world of the Paris Opera Ballet.
Kapelke-Dale's talent shines in her character development, particularly with the protagonist, Delphine Léger. Delphine is a deeply flawed yet relatable character, and her journey from a young, ambitious ballerina to a woman trying to rectify her past mistakes makes for a fascinating character arc. The relationships she shares with Lindsay and Margaux, her two best friends, are exquisitely drawn, steeped in shared history, secrets, and complex emotions.
The book's ballet scenes are a tour de force, pulsating with the raw energy and excitement of live performances. Kapelke-Dale, herself a former ballet dancer, paints a visceral picture of the physicality and emotional demands of the art form. This, coupled with the intricate detail with which she describes the Palais Garnier Opera House, immerses the reader in a world few get to see up close.
However, while "The Ballerinas" is a captivating read, it is not without its flaws. Some readers might find the narrative's pacing uneven, particularly in the second half of the book where the focus shifts more heavily onto the unraveling of secrets. Moreover, while the twist at the end is certainly surprising, its execution might seem abrupt to some, leaving a sense of wanting more buildup or foreshadowing.
The dialogue can occasionally feel strained, and Delphine's introspection sometimes verges on the overly dramatic, which might distance some readers from her character. Nevertheless, these are minor blemishes in an otherwise compelling narrative.
"The Ballerinas" is a thought-provoking exploration of the intense pressures that come with the pursuit of artistic perfection and the emotional toll they can take. It lays bare the unspoken competitiveness that can strain even the closest of friendships and shines a light on the sublimated anger many women hold within themselves.
Despite its flaws, "The Ballerinas" is a worthy read for those who enjoy emotionally rich stories of friendship and ambition set against a backdrop of passion and art. The world of ballet is brought to life with striking detail, the characters are complex and compelling, and the narrative is infused with a sense of tension and intrigue that keeps the pages turning. This is a book that is likely to linger with you long after the final page has been turned.
All in all, Rachel Kapelke-Dale's "The Ballerinas" is a dance worth joining.
Kapelke-Dale's talent shines in her character development, particularly with the protagonist, Delphine Léger. Delphine is a deeply flawed yet relatable character, and her journey from a young, ambitious ballerina to a woman trying to rectify her past mistakes makes for a fascinating character arc. The relationships she shares with Lindsay and Margaux, her two best friends, are exquisitely drawn, steeped in shared history, secrets, and complex emotions.
The book's ballet scenes are a tour de force, pulsating with the raw energy and excitement of live performances. Kapelke-Dale, herself a former ballet dancer, paints a visceral picture of the physicality and emotional demands of the art form. This, coupled with the intricate detail with which she describes the Palais Garnier Opera House, immerses the reader in a world few get to see up close.
However, while "The Ballerinas" is a captivating read, it is not without its flaws. Some readers might find the narrative's pacing uneven, particularly in the second half of the book where the focus shifts more heavily onto the unraveling of secrets. Moreover, while the twist at the end is certainly surprising, its execution might seem abrupt to some, leaving a sense of wanting more buildup or foreshadowing.
The dialogue can occasionally feel strained, and Delphine's introspection sometimes verges on the overly dramatic, which might distance some readers from her character. Nevertheless, these are minor blemishes in an otherwise compelling narrative.
"The Ballerinas" is a thought-provoking exploration of the intense pressures that come with the pursuit of artistic perfection and the emotional toll they can take. It lays bare the unspoken competitiveness that can strain even the closest of friendships and shines a light on the sublimated anger many women hold within themselves.
Despite its flaws, "The Ballerinas" is a worthy read for those who enjoy emotionally rich stories of friendship and ambition set against a backdrop of passion and art. The world of ballet is brought to life with striking detail, the characters are complex and compelling, and the narrative is infused with a sense of tension and intrigue that keeps the pages turning. This is a book that is likely to linger with you long after the final page has been turned.
All in all, Rachel Kapelke-Dale's "The Ballerinas" is a dance worth joining.
Between 3-4 stars | The Ballerinas was an impulse buy last year. I was very intrigued by the cover, the premise, and the relatively good reviews it got. Although a bit slow in the beginning, this book really surprised me! There were elements of dark academia in the Paris Opera, the intense world of ballet, and a very interesting take on friendship. While I enjoyed the twist, the back and forth chapters, and the descriptions, there were a few things I wasn’t a fan of. The book is set from the perspective of a 36 year old woman. In a previous review of Whereabouts by Jhumpa Lahiri, I pointed out that my least favourite narrators are the self-identified “old” women (although I really don’t believe 36 is old) who shit on women who are younger than them and blame others for the way their lives turned out. The narrator was at times insufferable, alongside her other two friends. Aside from this, I liked the overarching theme of love, but it wasn’t a love story, it was a story about how love disappoints us.
I'm not sure what exactly I was expecting with this book but I was definitely a bit disappointed. Overall good story and I love dance books but as the crux of this was what it was
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Some parts of this story I liked. I loved the theme of the ballet and Paris as a setting. However, I think the themes and messages were all over the place.
Towards the end it was very preachy and not even in a good way. I don't know what the author was trying to say, or maybe I do, but I don't agree with the 'happy' ending everyone got. It started off hinting at being darker and sinister and then switched and being wholesome with the evolution of the friendship of the main girls. But then switched again at the very end for the "twist" if you could call it that. I don't know if the main character really grew..
Towards the end it was very preachy and not even in a good way. I don't know what the author was trying to say, or maybe I do, but I don't agree with the 'happy' ending everyone got. It started off hinting at being darker and sinister and then switched and being wholesome with the evolution of the friendship of the main girls. But then switched again at the very end for the "twist" if you could call it that. I don't know if the main character really grew..
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes