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andrew61's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
It is Olivia's 17th birthday and she and her older sister Kate are anticipating their going to her first dance at another local home.
The first half of the book narrates her special day from Kate noisily waking her up and the presents from family including her distant father and strange uncle. With the gift of some red material she goes off to the local dressmaker in a wonderful scene of the bizarre residents in the house, before encountering the local ne'er do well children, and being conned out of her 10 bob note by a girl at the door selling a lace collar. A strange day which the presages part 2 which is the dance itself. The description of the events at the dance is brilliant as Olivia in her innocence and wonder encounters a strange miscellany of the rich and entitled from cousins and local hunting youth as well as dancing with a disabled veteran and an older man with wandering hands.
I picked this up after ;listening to the Backlisted episode about the sequel and cannot wait to find out what becomes of Olivia and her family.
The first half of the book narrates her special day from Kate noisily waking her up and the presents from family including her distant father and strange uncle. With the gift of some red material she goes off to the local dressmaker in a wonderful scene of the bizarre residents in the house, before encountering the local ne'er do well children, and being conned out of her 10 bob note by a girl at the door selling a lace collar. A strange day which the presages part 2 which is the dance itself. The description of the events at the dance is brilliant as Olivia in her innocence and wonder encounters a strange miscellany of the rich and entitled from cousins and local hunting youth as well as dancing with a disabled veteran and an older man with wandering hands.
I picked this up after ;listening to the Backlisted episode about the sequel and cannot wait to find out what becomes of Olivia and her family.
bakerk139's review against another edition
Lost book while travelling in Australia
rohina_sharma's review against another edition
2.0
Invitation to the Waltz is a short novel that was first published in 1932. The narrative takes place over two days: the day of Olivia Curtis' seventeenth birthday and the day when she goes to her first dance.
While I appreciate how upbeat this novel is and the transition between girlhood and adulthood, I honestly cannot say that I was engaged by the story or the characters. Had I picked this up a few years later, as an adult who was pursuing Literature, I might have had a more appreciation for the story and the idea behind it.
2.5 stars.
While I appreciate how upbeat this novel is and the transition between girlhood and adulthood, I honestly cannot say that I was engaged by the story or the characters. Had I picked this up a few years later, as an adult who was pursuing Literature, I might have had a more appreciation for the story and the idea behind it.
2.5 stars.
kansass's review against another edition
5.0
El baile en si mismo, es el mundo que espera a Olivia, a punto de dejar la adolescencia. La inmersión de Olivia en este su primer baile, las ansiedades, la anticipación y la excitación, y la gente que irá conociendo en esta noche, realmente la ayudará a conocerse mejor a sí misma y a desenvolverse en ese tan cercano mundo adulto al que está a punto de adentrarse esta chica de 17 años. Olivia es consciente por primera vez de la artificiosidad de ciertas reuniones sociales donde se hacen más relevantes que nunca las diferencias de clases, los defectos y las virtudes, y las presiones, y al mismo tiempo, sabe reconocer el momento y/o instante auténtico que se puede producir entre tanta "postureo". El baile es el simbolo de esa nueva vida, la primera mirada que tiene de ese mundo todavia desconocido, no tan comódo ni tan protegido, pero esperanzador para una mente curiosa como la de ella. Una novela de iniciación fantástica, Rosamond Lehmann es otra escritora invisible que ya está en mi punto de mira.
nocto's review against another edition
3.0
This kept reminding me of a girls school story. It was written in 1932 and even now I've probably read more school stories from that era than I have adult literature; and the central character is seventeen year old Olivia who is more-or-less the kind of upper middle class nice girl who might have turned up at the Chalet School or its ilk.
It was just the same turns of phrase and atmosphere that linked this book to my childhood reading though, this is a more honest look at a young woman. The story revolves around the first dance Olivia attends as an adult - covering the short time frame between sorting out the dress and worrying about being in her elder sister Kate's shadow and a long look at the strange (to both Olivia and I) manners of the dance.
I enjoyed this book in itself, but I'm looking forward to reading the sequel to it, where I believe Olivia is somewhat older and more worldly wise, more.
eheslosz's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
A fun, exciting, fast paced but also beautifully written and funny book. Exactly what I needed to read these past 24 hours. Not as deep or complex as the other Lehmann books I've read (Dusty Answer and The Weather in the Streets) but very good in its own way.
grcllnn's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.0
towardinfinitybooks's review against another edition
4.0
This is my first (conscious) Virago read. I started paying attention to the Virago Press titles and authors after discovering that many of the bloggers who enjoyed Persephone Books were into this publisher as well. Virago Press publishes works by women writers.
The novel takes place in 1920 and follows seventeen-year-old Olivia Curtis's preparation for and attendance at her first dance. Beyond that, there's not much of a plot. The novel is divided into three parts. The first part, about 86 pages, details Olivia's birthday, about a week prior to the dance. The second part, 28 pages, describes the evening before the dance, and the remaining 117 pages describe the dance itself.
At first, I thought this was kind of ridiculous. Just a few hours get so many pages? But surprisingly, it works. Olivia has many of the experiences a young girl (or possibly, any self-conscious or socially awkward person) tend to have at parties. She stands nervously at the wall when she realizes she doesn't know anyone. She gets locked into a conversation with a pseudo-intellectual and becomes increasingly confused by his snide remarks about everyone else in the room. She has an embarrassing moment when she leans against a statue and gets soot all over her cheek. She is trapped into dancing and conversing with a slightly sinister older man, and has to be rescued by a friend. Her most satisfactory experience of the night is a conversation about books.
This last section of the book on the dance sparkles with wit and insight. The first two sections contain a glimmer of humor as well but they tend to drag. I found myself counting down the pages in the first half of the book, but reading the third section, I didn't want the book (or the dance) to end. Lehmann is a solid writer, though. I love how she infuses even simple acts with meaning. It will be a pleasure to return to her writing with the sequel, [b:The Weather in the Streets|1768393|The Weather in the Streets (Virago Modern Classics)|Rosamond Lehmann|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/414zY6XR4kL._SL75_.jpg|1766523] and her other well-loved works.
The novel takes place in 1920 and follows seventeen-year-old Olivia Curtis's preparation for and attendance at her first dance. Beyond that, there's not much of a plot. The novel is divided into three parts. The first part, about 86 pages, details Olivia's birthday, about a week prior to the dance. The second part, 28 pages, describes the evening before the dance, and the remaining 117 pages describe the dance itself.
At first, I thought this was kind of ridiculous. Just a few hours get so many pages? But surprisingly, it works. Olivia has many of the experiences a young girl (or possibly, any self-conscious or socially awkward person) tend to have at parties. She stands nervously at the wall when she realizes she doesn't know anyone. She gets locked into a conversation with a pseudo-intellectual and becomes increasingly confused by his snide remarks about everyone else in the room. She has an embarrassing moment when she leans against a statue and gets soot all over her cheek. She is trapped into dancing and conversing with a slightly sinister older man, and has to be rescued by a friend. Her most satisfactory experience of the night is a conversation about books.
This last section of the book on the dance sparkles with wit and insight. The first two sections contain a glimmer of humor as well but they tend to drag. I found myself counting down the pages in the first half of the book, but reading the third section, I didn't want the book (or the dance) to end. Lehmann is a solid writer, though. I love how she infuses even simple acts with meaning. It will be a pleasure to return to her writing with the sequel, [b:The Weather in the Streets|1768393|The Weather in the Streets (Virago Modern Classics)|Rosamond Lehmann|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/414zY6XR4kL._SL75_.jpg|1766523] and her other well-loved works.
alice_r_turner's review against another edition
4.0
I picked up this book after reading a brilliant review in slightly foxed magazine.
I really enjoyed some of the witty dialogue and some of olivia’s comic thoughts, and found myself sharing them with whoever was around me at the time of reading (although I am not sure that they enjoyed it quite as much). It felt very much like stepping back into the mind of my younger self, with insecurities and comparisons to siblings.
The characters also fleshed the story out. The details of the characters made up for the lack of plot.
I really enjoyed some of the witty dialogue and some of olivia’s comic thoughts, and found myself sharing them with whoever was around me at the time of reading (although I am not sure that they enjoyed it quite as much). It felt very much like stepping back into the mind of my younger self, with insecurities and comparisons to siblings.
The characters also fleshed the story out. The details of the characters made up for the lack of plot.
maccymacd's review against another edition
“Still, now and then they seemed to be holding behind them the surprising, the magic vistas of childhood - the sudden snow at night, whirling and furring without sound against the window; the full moon and all its shadows on the lawn; the Christmas sleigh and reindeer in the sky.”
Once I started 'Invitation to the Waltz' I realised what all the fuss was about, and why Lehmann's books are praised so highly.
For Olivia Curtis's 17th birthday in rural England she is given among other things a roll of flame-coloured silk for her very first evening dress. She is about to be presented into the world of waltzes, society and suitors, and she has mixed feelings of trepidation and excitement., tottering on the cusp of becoming a real woman, mixed with wanting to stay safe and warm in her bedroom away from anything that can hurt her. Her brighter, more enthusiastic sister Kate believes the waltz will be a triumph. But who will fail and who will proposer?
I luckily have the sequel to this already in my TBR pile ('The Weather in the Streets') so I am most excited to start it. It is regarded by her grandson as her best work.
Once I started 'Invitation to the Waltz' I realised what all the fuss was about, and why Lehmann's books are praised so highly.
For Olivia Curtis's 17th birthday in rural England she is given among other things a roll of flame-coloured silk for her very first evening dress. She is about to be presented into the world of waltzes, society and suitors, and she has mixed feelings of trepidation and excitement., tottering on the cusp of becoming a real woman, mixed with wanting to stay safe and warm in her bedroom away from anything that can hurt her. Her brighter, more enthusiastic sister Kate believes the waltz will be a triumph. But who will fail and who will proposer?
I luckily have the sequel to this already in my TBR pile ('The Weather in the Streets') so I am most excited to start it. It is regarded by her grandson as her best work.