Date Finished: 1/18/15
As a youngish pre-teen I took some ballet - as part of my gymnastics training. Supposed to make us more flexible and graceful. In any case, I think because of this training I have a particular interest in books that deal with ballet. This one in particular sounded interesting...a ballet professional who has a son who becomes an even bigger ballet star. Here we go - spoilers ahead!
There are really four characters at the heart of this story - Joan, an average American dancer who helps the Russian star Arslan Rusakov defect in 1975, Joan's husband, Jacob, and their son, Harry. Ok, to start off, did anyone read this and NOT know that Harry is Arslan's son? I mean, I don't think the author was trying to make it a mystery or anything - I'm just curious if it was actually a surprise to anyone. Knowing that Harry is Arslan's son frames the entire book. It frames how we think of Joan, who essentially tricked Jacob into marrying her. It frames what we think of their love (Jacob's being true and Joan's being kind of twisted, though she does eventually grow to love him). It frames what we think of Harry - we know he's not weird when Jacob thinks he is.
I thought it was interesting how we come to find out later that Arslan really wanted a family and that his Russian wife of all those years was unable to bear him children, part of the reason they broke up. And of course, how fascinating that that the girl Harry has known all of his life, who he sleeps with (Chloe) - ends up marrying his father and having a child with him (talk about an awkward Thanskgiving!). I like that we are left hoping for a reconciliation between Joan and Jacob - there might just be enough love there to save the relationship in the end, even after a year of living apart. And how interesting that the book closes with the answer that Joan had wanted her entire life and which Arslan never gave her - why he chose her. He thought she was a prodigal dancer, like him. And thinking so made him realize there might be people like him in America - and he would seek them out. What misunderstandings give rise to the choices people make in life, right? It's like the ultimate irony (and slap in the face if Joan had ever found out - thankfully Arslan never told her).
Fun ballet read. An interest in ballet is definitely a help, but not required, to enjoy the book.
Side note - there is an interesting article on the different cover designs pictured above. You can find that Washington Post article here.
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