A review by lamotdite
Don't Think, Dear: On Loving and Leaving Ballet by Alice Robb

4.0

I'm not particularly knowledgeable about ballet - as a child, I enrolled in a ballet class but lost interest and dropped out shortly afterwards - but I would lie if I wasn't captivated by this world and its trappings. I enjoyed the blend of memoir and history, and the exploration of gender politics, racism, body image, and how these various elements affect dancers' mental and physical health.

(As an aspiring writer, though, oh boy did all those 20- and 30-something former ballerinas-turned-writers lamenting their careers make me feel old and unaccomplished. I guess that's one side effect of having a completely skewed perception of success and achievement.)