MAY 2024 READING LIST
Louis Legrand. Four Dancers at the Bar, 1906. The Minneapolis Institute of Art
THE STILL POINT BY TAMMY GREENWOOD
The competitive world of pre-professional ballet comes to life as each chapter focuses on three mothers and their daughters vying for a prestigious scholarship to the Ballet de Paris Academie. A rebel of the French ballet Etienne Bernay has not arrived alone. He has brought a film crew and cameras to capture in real time his selection for the scholarship. Fierce rivalries ensue while friendships hang in the balance, and sacrifices must be made. With the cameras rolling, secrets will be exposed, and parental pressures will be illuminated.
I visited a local library to hear Greenwood speak about her book and ask questions about her writing process. It was wonderful to hear from a local author, someone who has been writing and publishing many books. The book was inspired by Greenwood’s world as a ballet mom, though it is not based on a true story.
The story takes place in Southern California and follows teenage ballet dancers who are competing for a premier scholarship at none other than the most famous studio in Paris. The competition is heated, and the lengths the dancers (and the moms) take to win are fervent. Each chapter was in the voice and point of view of a different main character. In this way, it was easy to follow the shifts in perspective, and the use of multiple characters added depth to the story.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book as it showed depth of character and provided a peek into the world of ballerinas. Some things came across as predictable—the studio's competitiveness, the attention to physique, and the potential for a role of a lifetime. There was great character development with thrilling cliffhangers. I also like the Southern California backdrop as the book's setting. Living in the area myself made the setting more relatable and believable. I highly recommend this book and suggest it as a wonderful summer read.
4.5/5 Stars
William Glackens. Street Cleaners, Washington Square, c. 1910. The Barnes Foundation Collection
MURDER ON WASHINGTON SQUARE VICTORIA THOMPSON
Midwife Sarah Brandt and Detective Sergeant Frank Molloy become involved in a mysterious murder case when a seductress becomes the victim of her own deception. Set in late 19th-century New York City.
I listened to this book through Libby. Book four in the Gaslight Mystery series. Sarah Brandt inserts herself into a situation that leads to another dead body. Frank Malloy is upset that Sarah is, again, showing up at his crime scene. What follows is seduction, disguises, and a new love interest.
This was my favorite book of the series so far! Besides the mystery behind the death of the seductress, there was excellent pacing, character tension, and a good cliffhanger. The ebb and flow of the story worked well, and I felt a sense of satisfaction as it came to a close, while also wanting to know what happened next. I tend to enjoy books (and movies) that have a good balance of tension-filled struggles and satisfying conclusions. This book had both.
5/5 Stars
Unknown artist/maker. [Castle Ruins], late 19th century. J. Paul Getty Museum
A KING’S RANSOM BY SHARON KAY PENMAN
This compelling and emotional account details the final eventful years in Richard, Coeur de Lion's life. After being captured by the Holy Roman Emperor, Duke Leopold V of Austria, while returning home from the Third Crusade, contradicting the papal decree that safeguarded crusaders. He endured fifteen months in a dungeon, chained, as his mother, Eleanor of Aquitaine, tirelessly worked to secure his high ransom.
Penman’s books are dense historical fiction. They are not for the casual or summer reader. She weaves together fiction and non-fiction history in a most satisfying way. Similar to Peter K. Massie with is biographical books on the royalty of Russia, Penman brings Henry II, Eleanor of Aquitaine, and all their vibrant children to life. In this final book of the series, the world is explored during Richard the Lionheart's imprisonment in Austria and the consequences of his capture for those in England and Aquitaine.
After struggling with the fourth book in the series, I was prepared for another grueling pace. The release of the king and his work to regain his throne from his scheming younger brother and greedy lords lent itself to better reading than the battles in the fourth installment. I greatly enjoyed the narration of history and how Penman makes me feel like I am in the scene, watching everything happen. I find the balance of fiction writing that reads like real life or non-fiction that reads like a novel, hitting the right balance. Having an author who blends history and her own inclusions that round out the story is wonderfully satisfying.
4.25/5 Stars