Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.45 AVERAGE
3.45 AVERAGE
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
I was confused by the constant time shifts in the beginning, but the characters and plot really kept me engaged and wanting to finish this book as soon as possible.
The first half of the book I felt pretty luke warm about the storyline. I just missed any real build up and it was a slow read. Once I got halfway through however I couldn't put the book down. I loved how the book ended and the 2nd half of the book.
Happy Pub Day to The Ballerinas!
“If you don’t risk anything, you risk everything”
Dancers Delphine, Margaux, and Lindsay have spent their entire lives training and performing at the Paris Opera Ballet. Their friendship with one another and a shared passion for perfection binds them and propels them through the downright brutal world of the POB, in-spite of the unavoidable fact that they are each other’s direct competition.
Fourteen years ago, something happened which drove Delphine to abandon her coveted spot with the company. Now, returning to Paris to choreograph a new ballet, Delphine hopes she can pick things up right where she left them. But perhaps too much has changed, perhaps some secrets are too heavy to carry forever…
Alternating between the trio's adolescent years and the present day, The Ballerinas, while perhaps slow at the beginning, is an enjoyable read, rife with drama. And it’s especially perfect for anyone who grew up dreaming of being a Ballerina, has spent their life performing, or just wants to spend a little time in Paris
“If you don’t risk anything, you risk everything”
Dancers Delphine, Margaux, and Lindsay have spent their entire lives training and performing at the Paris Opera Ballet. Their friendship with one another and a shared passion for perfection binds them and propels them through the downright brutal world of the POB, in-spite of the unavoidable fact that they are each other’s direct competition.
Fourteen years ago, something happened which drove Delphine to abandon her coveted spot with the company. Now, returning to Paris to choreograph a new ballet, Delphine hopes she can pick things up right where she left them. But perhaps too much has changed, perhaps some secrets are too heavy to carry forever…
Alternating between the trio's adolescent years and the present day, The Ballerinas, while perhaps slow at the beginning, is an enjoyable read, rife with drama. And it’s especially perfect for anyone who grew up dreaming of being a Ballerina, has spent their life performing, or just wants to spend a little time in Paris