The Dancer from the Dance: A Novel (Plume Contemporary Fiction)
3 journalers for this copy...
Picked this up at the Book Thing of Baltimore, MD. Turns out I already have a copy of this book and don't need two. So out this copy goes into the world to find a reader who doesn't already have it!
Journal Entry 2 by KateKintail at -- Bookbox, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA on Sunday, July 16, 2017
Released 6 yrs ago (7/16/2017 UTC) at -- Bookbox, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Adding to emmejo's LGBTQ+ Bookbox. Hope it finds a new reader who will enjoy it!
I've read this before, so I'm leaving it in the box for someone else, but did want to add my comments.
I rather like the tale-within-a-tale format, with the story proper wrapped in letters between two friends. And the pre-AIDS-era party-lifestyle scenes were familiar to me from other novels, though the tone of this one is more bittersweet and muted. [One bit from the letters: "Your novel might serve a historical purpose - if only because the young queens nowadays are utterly indistinguishable from straight boys."] The mystery of Malone, beautiful and charismatic and (in the words of the narrator) doomed - is never resolved, which leaves it open for us to guess, a nice touch...
Other nice touches: Sutherland attending to an injured Malone in the uniform of a nurse in the Crimean War, "bearing a poppy and a volume of The Jungle Book." The Fire Island scenes, which reminded me of the time I visited Cherry Grove with friends and got to see the setting for myself. Another line from Sutherland (who got most of the best ones), while apologizing for his Vuitton luggage: "I know it's pretentious... but it wasn't when my grandmother bought it, in 1926."
I rather like the tale-within-a-tale format, with the story proper wrapped in letters between two friends. And the pre-AIDS-era party-lifestyle scenes were familiar to me from other novels, though the tone of this one is more bittersweet and muted. [One bit from the letters: "Your novel might serve a historical purpose - if only because the young queens nowadays are utterly indistinguishable from straight boys."] The mystery of Malone, beautiful and charismatic and (in the words of the narrator) doomed - is never resolved, which leaves it open for us to guess, a nice touch...
Other nice touches: Sutherland attending to an injured Malone in the uniform of a nurse in the Crimean War, "bearing a poppy and a volume of The Jungle Book." The Fire Island scenes, which reminded me of the time I visited Cherry Grove with friends and got to see the setting for myself. Another line from Sutherland (who got most of the best ones), while apologizing for his Vuitton luggage: "I know it's pretentious... but it wasn't when my grandmother bought it, in 1926."
This book rode to the end of the bookbox.
I went back and forth on this book, and have being snow-bound to thank for keeping me reading until I felt committed to finish it. I didn't really care for the author's writing style at most times, and the objectification that many characters treated others with bothered me. But, there were some things that kept me engaged; mostly some creative characters, snappy one-liners, and the unique general tone of the piece, which I think I would describe as wistfully regretful. Ultimately, I was glad I finished it, although I don't think I'd re-read it in the future.
Journal Entry 6 by emmejo at Little Free Library #2086 in Ithaca, New York USA on Monday, February 11, 2019
Released 5 yrs ago (2/10/2019 UTC) at Little Free Library #2086 in Ithaca, New York USA
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
Added to the LFL