lovelybookshelf's Review of Astonish Me

by Maggie Shipstead

From the New York Times bestselling author of Great Circle

‘Brilliantly written; the first ballet novel for grown-ups’ THE TIMES

‘A bravura display of high-performance art’ GUARDIAN

‘Brims with emotion … an accomplished novel embracing both domestic drama and the competitive quest for perfection’ SUNDAY TIMES

Astonish Me is the irresistible story of Joan, a young American dancer who helps a Soviet ballet star, the great Arslan Rusakov, defect in 1975. A flash of fame and a passionate love affair follow, but Joan knows that, onstage and off, she is destined to remain in the shadows.

After her relationship with Arslan sours, Joan decides to quit ballet and make a new life for herself. But as the years pass, Joan comes to understand that ballet isn’t finished with her yet…

From the prize-winning author of Seating Arrangements comes an exquisitely written, fiercely compelling glimpse into the demanding world of professional ballet and its magnetic hold over two generations.

‘Cleverly constructed with some elegant pirouettes of its own’ DAILY MAIL

‘A gripping mix of family drama and insight into the world of ballet’ GOOD HOUSEKEEPING

‘Shipstead is a gifted writer who examines families and relationships in a poignant, insightful way’ STYLIST

‘A dazzling story rooted in the competitive world of dance’ WOMAN & HOME

‘So graceful, so dazzling, so sure-handed and fearless, that at times I had to remind myself to breathe’ Maria Semple, author of Where’d You Go, Bernadette

‘I will be paying close attention to Shipstead’s career from here on in’ Jeffrey Eugenides

Originally posted on my blog, A Lovely Bookshelf on the Wall:

This was my first encounter with Maggie Shipstead's writing, and I was captivated from the very first page. Her writing is simply stunning. I savored every word, and I didn't want to put the book down. These characters are flawed, their lives complicated, and the connections between them confusing and messy. Yet Shipstead created characters I loved and became fully invested in.

There was a "twist" near the end - more of a cliché, really - that I saw coming for most of the book. I was so disappointed when it finally turned up... I'd held out hope that I'd be wrong. But my disappointment was short lived: I wasn't at the end of the book yet! Shipstead took that cliché and put her own spin on it. The tension and my conflicting emotions had my stomach in knots and took my breath away. From that moment until the last page, I simultaneously wanted to throw the book across the room and hug it.

What a phenomenal reading experience. I can't wait to read more by Maggie Shipstead.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Astonish Me

by Maggie Shipstead

Reviewed by lovelybookshelf on Apr 19, 2014

Reading updates