book review: Dance Lessons by Aine Greaney

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The backstory: Dance Lessons was shortlisted for the 2012 Indie Lit Awards. It was our runner-up.

The basics: After her husband Fintan dies in a sailing accident on Martha's Vineyard, Boston prep school teacher Ellen travels to the village in Ireland where Fintan was raised to uncover why he claimed to be an orphan.

My thoughts: Based on the cover and title, I expected this novel to be about Irish escapism. I assumed a woman would go on holiday and meet a Viking-esque man who gave dance lessons. The reality of this novel is quite different, and I hope its second place finish in the Indie Lit Awards will compel more readers to take a look at what this novel really is. Ultimately, it's a novel about love, family, and the what it means to be home.

While I would stop short of describing this novel as a mystery, it is a knowledge journey as Ellen yearns to understand her husband better and examine the state of their marriage at the time of his death. Much of this novel's joy is seeing its events unravel slowly. I was grateful to know nothing about its plot when I began to read. I will say, while Ellen's journey was not unexpected, her discoveries did surprise me. This story had a depth of emotion, painful and joyful, and Ellen's journey is far from a romantic vacation.  As the novel progresses, other characters begin to narrate as well, and this change provided more insight into Fintan's history, but I was always most engaged when Ellen was front and center in this novel.

The verdict: Dance Lessons is a beautiful exploration of the ties that bind us together, be it legally, emotionally, or by blood. Ellen's journey was a fascinating one, and I enjoyed experiencing the village of Gowna through her eyes as she encounters intriguing characters and uncovers Fintan's history.

Rating: 4 out of 5
Length: 261 pages
Publication date: March 30, 2011 
Source: publisher via NetGalley

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Comments

  1. (Diane) Bibliophile By the SeaApril 11, 2012 at 6:32 AM

    I do like the sound of this one missed it as a NG pick.

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    Replies
    1. nomadreaderApril 11, 2012 at 12:02 PM

      Diane--I picked it up on NG far too long ago because I tend to trust fiction from university presses, but I didn't actually read it until the Indie Lit Awards. It's worth a read.

      Delete
  2. JennyApril 11, 2012 at 8:02 AM

    I think this was a surprising addition to the short list for a lot of people. I know I'd only heard little about it, but it definitely sounds worth it. I will keep this one in mind.

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    1. nomadreaderApril 11, 2012 at 12:04 PM

      Jenny--it was a surprising addition, and that's what I love about award lists (and the Indie Lit Awards in particular). It warms my heart to see this novel beat The Night Circus--one everyone expected and knows!

      Delete
  3. AnnaApril 11, 2012 at 8:43 AM

    I read this book last year and loved it! I was surprised by how complex the characters were. Even when you hated them, you could see where they were coming from.

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    1. nomadreaderApril 11, 2012 at 12:04 PM

      Anna--you articulate exactly what I love about great fiction: love or hate, you understand where characters (and by extent people) are coming from. I'm glad you enjoyed this one too!

      Delete
  4. AnonymousApril 11, 2012 at 10:39 AM

    I am not familiar with this book at all. It sounds touching though.

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    1. nomadreaderApril 11, 2012 at 12:05 PM

      Lola--I would agree it's touching, but it's certainly not gentle. It was a surprising read in many ways, but I'm so glad I experienced it!

      Delete
  5. TiApril 11, 2012 at 11:05 AM

    I remember when the nominations came in for this one and no one had ever heard of it before. To be honest, it didn't sound all that great to me but a few trusted bloggers said really good things about it so it doesn't surprise me that it was the runner-up for Fiction. I don't know how far and wide the awards go but maybe this book will get a bit more recognition from them.

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    Replies
    1. nomadreaderApril 11, 2012 at 12:12 PM

      Ti--if I hadn't stumbled on it in NetGalley, I wouldn't have heard of it either. I do hope more discover it through the awards!

      Delete
  6. ZibileeApril 11, 2012 at 1:19 PM

    I read another review of this book in the last couple of days, and it sounds like it would be one that I would enjoy. The premise does make it seem a lot lighter than it actually was, and this also intrigues me. I will be on the lookout for this book. Thanks for the great review!

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    Replies
    1. nomadreaderApril 11, 2012 at 2:29 PM

      Zibilee--I do think you'd like it. There's a gentleness to it, but it is also somewhat dark. It's an intriguing combination!

      Delete
  7. AthiraApril 14, 2012 at 10:29 PM

    I was so glad that this book turned out to be nothing like an escapism book! I greatly enjoyed our discussions on this title.

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    1. nomadreaderApril 16, 2012 at 9:40 AM

      Me too! It was such a surprising read in many ways.

      Delete
  8. BooksnycApril 25, 2012 at 4:24 PM

    I read this last year and LOVED it - it is nice to see it getting some attention now via ILA. I hope Aine writes another novel soon.

    ReplyDelete

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