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3.45 AVERAGE
3.45 AVERAGE
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
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.