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BOOK REVIEW: House of Dance by Beth Kephart
In the comments on my review of Marisa de los Santos's Belong To Me, Jade said, "Even though they don't actually contain it, I just feel like somehow her books have a sense of magical realism about them...". I feel exactly the same way about Beth Kephart's books. Every time I picked up House of Dance, it struck me that I felt like I was entering a dream ... the real world just faded away.
It's the story of Rosie, whose friends are away for the summer and whose mother is distant, spending all her time with her business partner, with whom she's also having an affair. Rosie's grandfather is dying and, though she doesn't know him all that well, her mother tells her he needs her now and so she starts visiting every day.
On the way to her grandfather's house, Rosie passes the House of Dance. At first it just seems incongruously glamorous, but soon Rosie finds herself climbing the stairs and signing up for dance lessons.
Rosie's grandfather wants to get his affairs in order and, in helping him sort through his stuff, Rosie gets to know him better: his dreams, his regrets and exactly what she can do to give him the perfect goodbye.
This book is so beautiful, I almost felt bereft when I finished reading.
Rating: 5/5
Like this? Try Undercover by Beth Kephart
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Posted by Keris Stainton on June 27, 2008 in American Authors, Rating: 5/5, Recent Release, Young Adult | Permalink
Comments
keris,
oh my goodness.
a million thanks to you.
you so understand.
xo,
Beth
Posted by: beth Kephart | Jun 28, 2008 11:06:02 AM
oooh, I loved this book too. And it's so interesting that you compare it to magical realism. I'd never thought of it that way but you're so right. The real world does just fade away when I'm reading one of Beth Kephart's books. :)
Posted by: Em | Jun 29, 2008 2:16:45 AM
Huge Beth fan here, too. I'm in the middle of this book and missing my dance instructor grandfather so profoundly that I don't want to finish and have to leave this loving world....
Posted by: Melissa Walker | Jul 2, 2008 4:16:56 AM
I love this book too. I felt the same way you did when I'd finished reading it. Beautiful. I also loved "Undercover", another Beth book.
Posted by: Kris Cahill | Jul 2, 2008 10:46:36 PM
