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3.45 AVERAGE
3.45 AVERAGE
I don't care what anyone thinks, thos book brought me out of a reading slump, made me fistpump and cry in the span of 20 pages, and was generally a fun read.
2.5
This book dragged on and on and on and I am a trained ballerina so I felt a lot of memories and nostalgia while reading it but it just was boring.
This book dragged on and on and on and I am a trained ballerina so I felt a lot of memories and nostalgia while reading it but it just was boring.
In contrast with the previous book I finished this is a much more truly feminist book - it's about the structures women are placed in against their own will by men and society, even if the path they're travelling down is one they've chosen themselves, and the way even other women can trap and harm each other by living within those structures. It's this theme which creates the oppressive, almost thriller-esque atmosphere of this book. Not enough to push this book into that genre, and it certainly falls flat compared to the middle-grade ballet books I read when I was younger that had much more suspense, mystery and sheer brutality of what it is to be a ballerina.
But then those books were very much about ballet and not about woman- and personhood.
It does waffle on a bit though and, despite how the three women are supposedly equal, Margaux's part is much diminished compared to Delphine and Lindsey. Perhaps this is meant as commentary how sapphic women feel less pressured to conform to men's attraction and expectations in appearance and personality but if intended in this way, it doesn't really come across.
Okay to good, 3.2 stars. (PS, while there is infidelity, nonconsensual recording of sexual acts, violence towards women, alcoholism and smoking there is really only one chapter that mentions eating disorders, though there are certainly mentions throughout the book of the strict standards of appearance ballerinas are held to (and their efforts to meet those standards).)
But then those books were very much about ballet and not about woman- and personhood.
It does waffle on a bit though and, despite how the three women are supposedly equal, Margaux's part is much diminished compared to Delphine and Lindsey. Perhaps this is meant as commentary how sapphic women feel less pressured to conform to men's attraction and expectations in appearance and personality but if intended in this way, it doesn't really come across.
Okay to good, 3.2 stars. (PS, while there is infidelity, nonconsensual recording of sexual acts, violence towards women, alcoholism and smoking there is really only one chapter that mentions eating disorders, though there are certainly mentions throughout the book of the strict standards of appearance ballerinas are held to (and their efforts to meet those standards).)
challenging
dark
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
When I first started reading, I felt like this book would be best for people who grew up taking some kind of dance lessons because it would be easier to connect to the characters. But as I read, I felt more and more that anyone could enjoy/connect with/devour this book — the complexity of the characters, female friendships, motherhood, childhood trauma, etc… My four star review is because of the ending. It was, for lack of a better word, just weird. It came out of nowhere and was not what I expected or wanted I guess? But worth the read nonetheless!
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was just too slow to start for me.
I ❤️ ballet, so my review is biased! I enjoyed the setting, competition and behind the scenes at a ballet company. I would definitely read more by this author.
I was planning to give this 2/2.5 stars but the last two chapters resonated with me. overall, this felt very disjointed and the twists were unsatisfying