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A review by mbkarapcik
The Ballerinas by Rachel Kapelke-Dale
3.0
Three friends reunite after a 13-year hiatus in The Ballerinas by Rachel Kapelke-Dale. Their lives have changed since they all last met and danced for the Paris Opera Ballet after years of being together in this tightknit community. Dark secrets permeate each of their lives and one secret has the potential to pull them apart after years under wraps.
After reading the author's newest book, The Ingenue, I couldn't wait to read this one. It's even darker and more disturbing than that book in my opinion. At first, you'll read about the girls' past, mostly the past of main character Delphine who has spent the last few years choreographing ballets in St. Petersburg, Russia. It flips between the past and the present and can be slow at times, but I think the author was laying the groundwork for their present.
Many times, I realized that I didn't really like the characters. Delphine I like to a point, but they're vaguely unhappy people. Her friends Lindsay and Margaux were not endearing and sometimes annoyed me. I agree with another reviewer about Stella, Delphine's surrogate mother--she really adds nothing to the story. This reviewer mentioned Hallmark movie character, and I guffawed because that is spot-on.
And every man in the story comes off as totally despicable even when they're not. Their choices are thought to be selfish and awful while the questionable choices the women make seem to be thought of as empowering somehow. I mean, give me some redeeming characters among the lost and troubled. Despite the dark subjects in the author's current novel, not every man is horrible or the cause of female suffering. I felt it was an unfair characterization of every male in this particular book. My only thought is that it's written that way to emphasize the strength of these female friendships, but it doesn't come off that way.
Even though I'm not a fan of ballet, it was interesting to hear of the proposed shows, the life of a professional dancer, and the politics of a legendary ballet company. And I loved reading about France and Russia--I've never been to either one but felt they were vividly depicted.
The comparisons to Dare Me by Megan Abbott resonate with me. It's definitely in line with that novel, but it's nothing like Luckiest Girl Alive except for loosely connected subject matter. As for Black Swan, I never watched it. I've been a fan of Mila Kunis since That '70s Show (ironically, she's in the latter two), but I skipped that movie. I'm interested now to see it and form my own opinion about any similarities.
Most of the action occurs in the present day except for the one big secret of the past. So many disturbing, disheartening events happen. It's enough to make me want to go to the library and find a frothy beach book. If you're depressed or need a pick-me-up after the holidays, you may want to wait until spring when it's nice out again. Although this book kept me reading, and I do think I liked it, it will not lift you out of your winter doldrums.
After reading the author's newest book, The Ingenue, I couldn't wait to read this one. It's even darker and more disturbing than that book in my opinion. At first, you'll read about the girls' past, mostly the past of main character Delphine who has spent the last few years choreographing ballets in St. Petersburg, Russia. It flips between the past and the present and can be slow at times, but I think the author was laying the groundwork for their present.
Many times, I realized that I didn't really like the characters. Delphine I like to a point, but they're vaguely unhappy people. Her friends Lindsay and Margaux were not endearing and sometimes annoyed me. I agree with another reviewer about Stella, Delphine's surrogate mother--she really adds nothing to the story. This reviewer mentioned Hallmark movie character, and I guffawed because that is spot-on.
And every man in the story comes off as totally despicable even when they're not. Their choices are thought to be selfish and awful while the questionable choices the women make seem to be thought of as empowering somehow. I mean, give me some redeeming characters among the lost and troubled. Despite the dark subjects in the author's current novel, not every man is horrible or the cause of female suffering. I felt it was an unfair characterization of every male in this particular book. My only thought is that it's written that way to emphasize the strength of these female friendships, but it doesn't come off that way.
Even though I'm not a fan of ballet, it was interesting to hear of the proposed shows, the life of a professional dancer, and the politics of a legendary ballet company. And I loved reading about France and Russia--I've never been to either one but felt they were vividly depicted.
The comparisons to Dare Me by Megan Abbott resonate with me. It's definitely in line with that novel, but it's nothing like Luckiest Girl Alive except for loosely connected subject matter. As for Black Swan, I never watched it. I've been a fan of Mila Kunis since That '70s Show (ironically, she's in the latter two), but I skipped that movie. I'm interested now to see it and form my own opinion about any similarities.
Most of the action occurs in the present day except for the one big secret of the past. So many disturbing, disheartening events happen. It's enough to make me want to go to the library and find a frothy beach book. If you're depressed or need a pick-me-up after the holidays, you may want to wait until spring when it's nice out again. Although this book kept me reading, and I do think I liked it, it will not lift you out of your winter doldrums.