E-reading The ballerinas by Rachel Kapelke-Dale

 

Name of Book: The Ballerinas

Author: Rachel Kapelke-Dale

ISBN/asin: B08R2M1JFY

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Type of book: ballet, psychology, 1990s-2019, abortion, no consent, friendship, growing up, broken dreams, Russia, France, choreography, life, choices, cancer, infertility, unwanted pregnancy, relationships, 

Year it was published: 2021

Summary:

Dare Me meets Black Swan and Luckiest Girl Alive in a captivating, voice-driven debut novel about a trio of ballerinas who meet as students at the Paris Opera Ballet School.

Fourteen years ago, Delphine abandoned her prestigious soloist spot at the Paris Opera Ballet for a new life in St. Petersburg––taking with her a secret that could upend the lives of her best friends, fellow dancers Lindsay and Margaux. Now 36 years old, Delphine has returned to her former home and to the legendary Palais Garnier Opera House, to choreograph the ballet that will kickstart the next phase of her career––and, she hopes, finally make things right with her former friends. But Delphine quickly discovers that things have changed while she's been away...and some secrets can't stay buried forever.

Moving between the trio's adolescent years and the present day, The Ballerinas explores the complexities of female friendship, the dark drive towards physical perfection in the name of artistic expression, the double-edged sword of ambition and passion, and the sublimated rage that so many women hold inside––all culminating in a twist you won't see coming, with magnetic characters you won't soon forget.

Characters:

Main characters include Delphine, Lindsay, and Margaux. Delphine is a daughter of a celebrated ballerina who ran away to Russia in an attempt to become a choreographer. She only considers herself, is selfish and vain. She also has done very little growing up. She is considered as the nice one in the trio. Lindsay is an American who is also extremely talented and is very determined to become the best she can be. She is also selfish and inconsiderate but is seen as beautiful. Margaux completes the trio and often says whats on her mind and is a lesbian and seems to be opposite of Lindsay.  

Theme:

Men men everywhere, and not a drop to drink 

Plot:

The story is told in first person narrative from Delphines point of view. Almost each chapter begins with the girls history of ballet and friendship, and then it moves on to modern day when Delphine moves back towards France. There is definitely an intimacy and love that's portrayed towards ballet and what it takes to possibly be the best. However, despite the attention that the three women receive, as well as the aging from being teens to becoming women in mid 30s, I honestly feel as if I don't know them, and that they have changed very little throughout the book. There is lack of growth, lack of understanding and just plain selfishness. 

Author Information:
(From goodreads)

American author living in Paris. Obsessed with ballet, books, and dogs.

My second book, THE BALLERINAS (a novel), comes out December 7, 2021, from St. Martin's Press.

My first book, GRADUATES IN WONDERLAND, is a memoir I co-wrote with Jessica Pan about our post-graduation years. It's out now! 

Opinion:

Where do I begin? There are definitely elements that I highly enjoyed in this debut novel: the coming of age, the friendships, feminism, rivalry and psychological aspects. This is a novel that will exhaust one physically and emotionally. However, there are elements that I didn't enjoy: the ending of the story. I am sorry, but I don't condone murder, and I am saddened and appalled that Delphine and others do. Women do and should have agencies of their bodies, to do with as they will, but if a woman is in a marriage and they have different views about how life should go, then I would suggest a counselor or a neutral third party to work out the problem rather than going behind someone's back to solve it.  

This was given for review 

3 out of 5
(0: Stay away unless a masochist 1: Good for insomnia 2: Horrible but readable; 3: Readable and quickly forgettable, 4: Good, enjoyable 5: Buy it, keep it and never let it go.)