Dancing on Thorns: A Novel

By Rebecca Horsfall

Book Overview

When Jonni Kendal comes to London to pursue her dream of becoming an actress she's young naive full of courage and determined to excel. Just nineteen she's desperate to escape the narrow parochial... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0345479785
• ISBN13: 9780345479785
• Release Date: August 2005
• Publisher: Ballantine Books
• Length: 800 Pages
• Weight: 2.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 6.4" x 1.9" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Unforgettable!

I don't know how the author did it, as she doesn't always stick strictly to her characters' point of view and slips out of their emotions sometimes when she shouldn't, but whatever the heck she did, she did it right. Ms. Horsfall has created an unforgettable novel. Both the story and the characters are compelling and, in fact, the book as a whole stayed with me for weeks after I'd finished reading it -- a sure sign, in my opinion, that a fantastic story has been written. By Book III, I did have to take a bit of a break, as the story took a very depressing turn (everyone just started being so mean to each other), but I came back to it shortly, and found that the novel ended very satisfactorily. Overall, I highly recommend this book.

Good read.

It all starts with Jean St. Michel when he is sixteen-years-old. Infamous Nadia Petrovna sets her choreographer's sights on young Michel. Her choreographer, Charles Crown, is considered talented, but dangerous, within the dancing art circles. But Michel can't afford Crown. At least not until a certain letter arrived. Jonni Kendal is determined to be an actress. When she and Michel get together, sparks fly. But it is not all rosy. Both, especially Michel, will be pushed to their very limits... Perhaps beyond. **** Author Rebecca Horsfall takes the glamorous life of the arts, strips it down to its harsh reality, and presents it to you, the reader. See what the world of art is really like. At the same time, you will cheer characters on as they reach for the stars. **** Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Immerse yourself in the world of ballet

Follow the life and dancing career of Jean Baptiste St. Michel. As a little boy he was determined to excel at dancing to attract his famous father's attention. His love of dancing and his talent took over his life. Michel, as he was known was the best in the world. Jonni Kendall met him at a party and fell in love with him. However, she would always come second to dance. Michel and Jonni had a wide network of friends. Their lives are shattered when the unexpected happens. So much happens throughout this extended novel. It is a unique friendship and mentoring relationship between Charles and Michel. Lisa helps him open his eyes to the rest of the world. Michel pushes himself to go back to his mother Carrie. After reading, you feel like an expert on all ballet movements. Treasure this illustrious work of fiction.

Couldn't put it down.

I really couldn't stop reading this novel once I started. Jonni and Michel and Primo and Lisa and Annette and Roly just pulled me right in. I hope lots of people will discover Rebecca Horsfall because she's a great storyteller. You don't have to love dance to enjoy the novel, either. Ballet is a big part of it, but really this is a novel about friends and lovers who survive through all the good times and bad.

terrific dance saga

He is only sixteen but his promise as a classical dancer already seems lost as his teachers at the Academie in Paris have given up on him and worse so has he. Jean-Baptiste St. Michel's dream of proving to his renowned dancer-choreographer father that he is worthy appears doomed to failure as his techniques are imperfect until the internationally once famous aging Nadia Petrovna arrives for two weeks of escape from bills to the place she first achieved acclaim. She brings him back to London and arranges for her ingenious protégé Charles Crown, head of the Islington Ballet, to tutor the teen. Over the next few years, Michel works on his craft to become a star under demanding tutlege. He also becomes the center of the troupe that includes Jonni Kendal. They are attracted to one another immediately and marry, but he is unable to provide any true emotion to their relationship as the dance is everything. In spite of success and marriage to a nice sweet person, Michel remains discontented as he still fails to achieve his objective of parental approval. This is a terrific dance saga and though Michel is the main character, the novel contains side tales of several other key players so that the prime cast seems genuine whether it is a scorning father, a cold mother, a nurturing yet demanding teacher or a sweet wannabe actress. Still the in spite of the powerful characterizations, ballet is the star of this five star production. Readers will appreciate this strong look over several years inside the life of a classical dancer and those in his sphere. Harriet Klausner