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stevienlcf's review against another edition
4.0
Spanning three decades and a handful of cities, including New York and Paris, Shipstead grounds "Astonish Me" in the rarified world of professional ballet. It is 1977, and Joan Joyce, a member of the company, recognizes that despite her rigorous discipline, her ballet career has run its course. Pregnant, she reunites with her best friend from home, Jacob, a "reasonably handsome, affable" man who has pined for Joan since high school. They move to Southern California, where Joan gives birth to their son, Harry, and opens a dance studio. Jacob wants to satisfy Joan and be a good father to Harry, but he realizes that the "unobtainable" Joan cannot love him the way he wanted her to.
Before their marriage, Joan had a one-night stand with the dazzling Soviet dancer, Arslan Rusakov, a stand-in for Mikhail Baryshnikov. Joan helped Arslan defect and "for two months, maybe three, [she] was the main woman, the lead -- the one on his arm at parties and events, famous as his accomplice, the brave girl in the news story -- but she slipped bit by bit down into the ensemble cast." Tormented by her own inadequacies, Joan leaves Arslan and the company, but the repercussions of their affair form the book's twist, although even the most inattentive reader could surely see the twist coming.
Although the novel is weak on plot, Shipstead does a masterful job of presenting the inner-lives of her rich characters, particularly Joan's former roommate, Elaine Costas, who had a long affair with the company's artistic director, one of the most famous choreographers of the 20th century, and Chloe Wheelock, a neighbor and ballet protege whose relationship with Harry mirrors Joan's relationship with Arslan. "Astonish Me" is not just an expose of the punishing world of ballet where even the most dedicated dancer may be enagged in a constant battle with her own limbs, but is also a rumination on universal themes, such as insecurity, friendship and love.
Before their marriage, Joan had a one-night stand with the dazzling Soviet dancer, Arslan Rusakov, a stand-in for Mikhail Baryshnikov. Joan helped Arslan defect and "for two months, maybe three, [she] was the main woman, the lead -- the one on his arm at parties and events, famous as his accomplice, the brave girl in the news story -- but she slipped bit by bit down into the ensemble cast." Tormented by her own inadequacies, Joan leaves Arslan and the company, but the repercussions of their affair form the book's twist, although even the most inattentive reader could surely see the twist coming.
Although the novel is weak on plot, Shipstead does a masterful job of presenting the inner-lives of her rich characters, particularly Joan's former roommate, Elaine Costas, who had a long affair with the company's artistic director, one of the most famous choreographers of the 20th century, and Chloe Wheelock, a neighbor and ballet protege whose relationship with Harry mirrors Joan's relationship with Arslan. "Astonish Me" is not just an expose of the punishing world of ballet where even the most dedicated dancer may be enagged in a constant battle with her own limbs, but is also a rumination on universal themes, such as insecurity, friendship and love.
hmonkeyreads's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this story about professional ballet and the intricate relationships between principal dancers, their co-workers and their non-ballet friends and family. The story sets its focus on Joan, a dancer in the corps with no hope for advancement, and her unlikely relationship with a Russian star who defects from Russia to dance in New York. Over decades we learn what happens to Joan, her family, and the Russian dancer.
Had I not recently watched a few seasons of reality TV that showed the backstage of a professional ballet company I don't know that I would have really appreciated this story. Knowing what I know about how difficult the life of a ballet dancer is added a great deal of depth to the story for me. I also did some quick googling to determine that the defector and the mysterious Mr. K seem to be representations of Baryshnikov and Balanchine.
The story tended to be dark but I found it all quite enjoyable.
Had I not recently watched a few seasons of reality TV that showed the backstage of a professional ballet company I don't know that I would have really appreciated this story. Knowing what I know about how difficult the life of a ballet dancer is added a great deal of depth to the story for me. I also did some quick googling to determine that the defector and the mysterious Mr. K seem to be representations of Baryshnikov and Balanchine.
The story tended to be dark but I found it all quite enjoyable.
kumipaul's review against another edition
3.0
My wife and I started ballet lessons together 10 years ago in our 50's. I lasted one year, and she's still dancing. With all the sports and activities I've done in my life, ballet was the most difficult. However, I learned enough to understand all the technical ballet language in this book, and also to understand that ballet life for professionals is miserable. You're always in competition, never good enough, constantly fighting aging and injury, and surrounded by arrogance. This story reflects all of that very well. My very limited beginner ballet experience was enough for me to closely relate to the story, and for that reason, I waver between rating this 3 stars or 4, so I'll settle on 3 1/2. I really enjoyed Shipstead's storytelling, and I look forward to reading Great Circle as well.
jenleah's review against another edition
3.0
3.5/5
This writing in this book was astounding, I loved the way the story was told, the way the timeline was set up and the author's subtle yet easily readable style.
The story itself was mostly enjoyable, though there were long stretches where it could be dull. Also several events in the story were predictable, and I just really like surprises.
This writing in this book was astounding, I loved the way the story was told, the way the timeline was set up and the author's subtle yet easily readable style.
The story itself was mostly enjoyable, though there were long stretches where it could be dull. Also several events in the story were predictable, and I just really like surprises.
booksnek0922's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this so much, which is interesting because I thought "Seating Arrangements" was trite and boring. This does seem to be heavily inspired by "Turning Point" which is a favorite film of mine. Even so, the characters and themes are well-developed throughout and I never really felt bored by what was happening. Also, not that I would know, the descriptions of dance and dance vocabulary throughout seemed realistic.
dcmr's review against another edition
4.0
A stayed-up-to-finish-it book — and I don't even like ballet.
slampie's review
emotional
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a great read, especially the insights into the world of professional ballet. I found the ending a little pat, but really enjoyed the characters, who were complex and simultaneously sympathetic without being too likeable.
debbiemanning's review against another edition
4.0
I was a lucky Goodreads winner. I really enjoyed Maggie's first book, Seating Arrangements", so I thought I would read Astonish Me. I enjoyed the story, and found some of her characters quite unique. Ultimately, it is about people and the choices they make,and how they affect those around them. I was drown into the story; the more I read, the more difficult it was to put down.
readingwithhippos's review against another edition
4.0
As a child, I dreamed of being a ballerina, in the sense that I admired their lovely feminine outfits and the idea of wearing such finery while an auditorium full of people gave me their undivided attention held great appeal. I was (am? Would that be a more honest word?) an attention-seeker, and the world of ballet thrillingly combined aesthetic beauty and performance for a crowd.
The whole body-moving part I found less exciting. I think I did one year of ballet and tap, if whatever gyrating and flapping I and the other four-year-olds in the class did can rightly be classified as such. I do not remember the teachers, I do not remember holding my feet a certain way or raising and lowering my arms, I do not remember the practice room or the names of anyone I met, but I recall with clarity and delight the purple satin outfit I wore, shaped like a one-piece bathing suit and adorned with gold and silver sequins in a looping pattern on the front. It was the most beautiful garment I had ever seen, and I wore it around the house with a certain panache long after I'd hung up my dancing shoes for good.
I wasn't interested in dance for the actual dancing, is what I'm saying. I was just an awkward, tangly-haired gal with a penchant for spangly costumes. Maggie Shipstead's second novel is about dancers a little more committed than I turned out to be. It's also fabulously well-written. I was enthralled.
Joan has been training nearly her whole life, with the goal of becoming a professional ballerina. She has succeeded up to a point, and as the book opens is a member of the corps in 1977 New York City. She's also newly pregnant. She knows having a baby will change everything, and that her days of dancing onstage are numbered.
She settles into married life with her childhood friend Jacob and their son Harry, but Joan hasn't ever gotten over an intense affair she had with Arslan Rusakov, a famous dancer whom she helped defect from Russia. Shipstead jumps back and forth through time, chapter by chapter revealing more of Joan's history as well as Harry's emerging promise as a dancer in his own right. Not a single relationship in the novel is simple or straightforward; Shipstead has drawn each character as if with a sharp pencil, shaded with complexity and burgeoning with life.
Even if you've never been to the ballet, even if you have no idea what all those French words mean, even if your idea of a barre is a place to order drinks, you will like this book anyway. The characters may be dancers, but that's not what makes them interesting. They're flawed, talented, arrogant, bewitching, jealous, graceful, insecure, recognizable people, and that's why this is a book worth reading.
More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com
The whole body-moving part I found less exciting. I think I did one year of ballet and tap, if whatever gyrating and flapping I and the other four-year-olds in the class did can rightly be classified as such. I do not remember the teachers, I do not remember holding my feet a certain way or raising and lowering my arms, I do not remember the practice room or the names of anyone I met, but I recall with clarity and delight the purple satin outfit I wore, shaped like a one-piece bathing suit and adorned with gold and silver sequins in a looping pattern on the front. It was the most beautiful garment I had ever seen, and I wore it around the house with a certain panache long after I'd hung up my dancing shoes for good.
I wasn't interested in dance for the actual dancing, is what I'm saying. I was just an awkward, tangly-haired gal with a penchant for spangly costumes. Maggie Shipstead's second novel is about dancers a little more committed than I turned out to be. It's also fabulously well-written. I was enthralled.
Joan has been training nearly her whole life, with the goal of becoming a professional ballerina. She has succeeded up to a point, and as the book opens is a member of the corps in 1977 New York City. She's also newly pregnant. She knows having a baby will change everything, and that her days of dancing onstage are numbered.
She settles into married life with her childhood friend Jacob and their son Harry, but Joan hasn't ever gotten over an intense affair she had with Arslan Rusakov, a famous dancer whom she helped defect from Russia. Shipstead jumps back and forth through time, chapter by chapter revealing more of Joan's history as well as Harry's emerging promise as a dancer in his own right. Not a single relationship in the novel is simple or straightforward; Shipstead has drawn each character as if with a sharp pencil, shaded with complexity and burgeoning with life.
Even if you've never been to the ballet, even if you have no idea what all those French words mean, even if your idea of a barre is a place to order drinks, you will like this book anyway. The characters may be dancers, but that's not what makes them interesting. They're flawed, talented, arrogant, bewitching, jealous, graceful, insecure, recognizable people, and that's why this is a book worth reading.
More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com