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Ballroom
Told in interconnecting stories, Ballroom is a beautifully crafted debut novel—reminiscent of the works of Elizabeth Strout and Jennifer Haigh—about a group of strangers united by a desire to escape their complicated lives, if only for a few hours each week, in a faded New York City dance hall
Time has eroded the glamour of the Ballroom, but at the end of the 1990s, a small crowd of loyal patrons still makes its way past the floor-to-ceiling columns which frame the once grand hall each Sunday evening. Sweeping across the worn parquet floor under a peeling indigo ceiling, these men and women succumb to the magic of the music, looking for love and connection, eager to erase the drab reality of their complicated lives.
Nearly forty and still single, Sarah Dreyfus is desperate for love and sure she’ll find it with debonair Gabriel Katz, a dazzling peacock who dances to distract himself from his crumbling marriage. Tired of the bachelor life, Joseph believes that his yearning for a wife and family will be fulfilled—if only he can get Sarah to notice him. Besotted with beautiful young Maria Rodriguez, elderly dance instructor Harry Korn knows they can find happiness together. Maria, one of the Ballroom’s stars, has a dream of her own, a passion her broken-hearted father refuses to accept or understand.
As the rhythms of the Ballroom ebb and flow through these characters’ hearts, their fates come together in touching, unexpected ways.
Time has eroded the glamour of the Ballroom, but at the end of the 1990s, a small crowd of loyal patrons still makes its way past the floor-to-ceiling columns which frame the once grand hall each Sunday evening. Sweeping across the worn parquet floor under a peeling indigo ceiling, these men and women succumb to the magic of the music, looking for love and connection, eager to erase the drab reality of their complicated lives.
Nearly forty and still single, Sarah Dreyfus is desperate for love and sure she’ll find it with debonair Gabriel Katz, a dazzling peacock who dances to distract himself from his crumbling marriage. Tired of the bachelor life, Joseph believes that his yearning for a wife and family will be fulfilled—if only he can get Sarah to notice him. Besotted with beautiful young Maria Rodriguez, elderly dance instructor Harry Korn knows they can find happiness together. Maria, one of the Ballroom’s stars, has a dream of her own, a passion her broken-hearted father refuses to accept or understand.
As the rhythms of the Ballroom ebb and flow through these characters’ hearts, their fates come together in touching, unexpected ways.
291 pages, Hardcover
First published September 9, 2014
29 people are currently reading
758 people want to read
About the author
Alice Sherman Simpson
2 books77 followers#1 AMAZON BEST SELLER: GILDED AGE HISTORICAL ROMANCE—with a wicked twist of Gothic.
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“STEEPED IN VIVID DESCRIPTION OF NEW YORK CITY'S GILDED AGE, Simpson’s fascinating novel creates a richly layered tapestry of the heartbreaking plight of immigrants juxtaposed with the opulent lifestyles of the elite. Mimi’s exciting and mysterious journey is enhanced by a cast of unique, well-developed characters and lively dialogue. Seamlessly threading significant political, social, and historical events into this captivating story, Simpson’s plot is filled with tender, emotional scenes and psychologically twisted moments. A memorable and intriguing read.” -writes HISTORICAL NOVEL SOCIETY
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READ WHAT WRITERS DIGEST HAS TO SAY: https://www.writersdigest.com/write-b...
• • • • •
“A great historical fiction novel set over many years, in New York City. Fans of character driven stories, will really like this one. It’s one of those books you don’t want to put down.” — writes RED CARPET CRASH
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“RICH IN CHARACTER and awash in period details of Gilded Age New York as well as the sumptuous fashions of the time, this book is a treat for historical-fiction fans.” --writes BOOKLIST
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"This is not a love story, but it's a look into the various strata of New York City society, the many nationalities, the social tiers, the prejudices and peculiarities, even the different foods. What shines through the narrative is Mimi's story, her effervescent personality, her enthusiasm for life and making friends, her devotion to her son, and her talent for conceiving beautiful, unique creations. This engaging novel could just as well have been set in the present day in terms of the immigrant experience and class divisions. It's not only a pleasure to read; it's thoughtful and filled with likable characters." - writes PAMELA KRAMER, BookReporter.com
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“THE AUTHOR SPINS A WONDERFUL STORY of hope, determination, and achievement. It is an exciting story that is well written. Each of the characters are superbly developed. The narrative is such that the reader can picture themselves there watching things as they transpire. Things are not always what they seem. The author has done a masterful job of creating a story that is exciting, mysterious, and entertaining. “ - writes THE NEW YORK JOURNAL OF BOOKS
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"THIS COMPELLING TALE will appeal to fans of Julian Fellowes' The Gilded Age series on cable channel Max. Highly recommended for histfic fans and readers drawn to strong female characters faced with incredible obstacles on the road to success." writes CHAR JONES,
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NOVEMBER 21, 2023 - THE WINTHROP AGREEMENT (Harper)
THE WINTHROP AGREEMENT is a historical novel set in Gilded Age New York City about a determined immigrant daughter's ascent from a miserable tenement to the heights of haute couture—driven by an insatiable hunger for a place in society and secrets she must not betray. Part history, part romance—with a twist of gothic!
* * * * *
READ: "ELDRIDGE STREET, 1902" an early chapter from THE WINTHROP AGREEMENT, selected for publication in Persimmon Tree Magazine’s - Fall Issue – 2021:
https://persimmontree.org/fall-2021/e...
*****
READ: "GUY RYAN" - May Issue - 2023
Short-listed for 62nd Short Fiction Award
https://jerryjazzmusician.com/guy-rya...
*****
BIO:
ALICE SHERMAN SIMPSON is the daughter of a legendary eccentric vaudeville dancer, and a family that was born and raised in a Lower East Side tenement much like her protagonist, with the same determination to integrate into the American landscape.
ALICE SHERMAN SIMPSON is an accomplished visual artist who taught drawing and design at F.I.T, NY, The School of Visual Arts, The New School and Otis College of Art & Design. Her unique, handmade arti
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 82 reviews
January 25, 2015
I received this book through Goodreads: First Reads giveaways. (it is a paperback, uncorrected proof version of the book)
I was left unimpressed by the final page of this novel, as I felt that the characters barely interacted and it lacked the "interwoven" story arc that the back cover claimed.
There were no connections as almost all of the characters were deeply flawed and extremely unlikable.
Harry: A sick, mean old bastard with his heads in the clouds.
Sarah: A pathetic loser with no self-esteem that reeks of desperation.
Maria: A sheltered, naive child trapped in an adult body that is unaware of what needs to be a secret and what she just hides in shame are two different things. (dancing?! With an old man?! It's sooooo wrong!)
Gabriel: An arrogant, P.O.S kind of guy with anger issues who thinks because he is handsome as well as rich that he can do as he please.
Angel: The only decent person in the book, a guy that just wants to dance and do his own thing as he lives his life.
Joseph:Yet anther sick old man who acts as if he has some huge secret but is just odd and possibly more in love with fantasy than reality (Oh, I love her! ewww.... make her stop talking, don't let her touch me, but OH! how I wanna spend my life with her.... or rather at 60, the REST of my life.
This people rarely cross paths other than Maria and Angel dance with each other and some take lessons from another. I don't see standing across a room, staring at someone as interlocking story-lines.Sharing a few dances barely made the connections to keep novel from feeling as if 3 or 4 different books had been shoved together to make one.
The plot lacked a point, a direction. We were dropped into these people's lives as they are all getting ready for their Sunday night at the Ballroom and then as the story is told from different points of views, we learn unnecessary and boring back history on them. (Surprise! Surprise!
Harry was a ass before he got to be 65)
There are loose ends that needed to be tied up or perhaps left out. What was the deal with Joseph being so secretive? What was the point of all these other characters that flitted pass the spotlight, there but unimportant? Why was Maria so ashamed of her "secret" which was not disturbing, disgusting or even shocking? Why was it made into this big deal and then ended up being NOTHING?
In my personal opinion, this book needs some serious polishing and editing before it hits shelves as an actual book. I am so relieved that it was free because I would have taken it back as fast as I could to get my money back, had I bought it. The writing itself was pretty decent, the conversations flowed and the details were there, but her characters are trash. They aren't flat but they are so terrible as people that you honestly don't care what happens to them and in fact, I was kinda hoping the old Ballroom caught fire with them all in it and that that would be THE END.
Even if perhaps Angel was the actual main character and this was a story of his life and what he wanted to do, I think it would have been better, as some of these "main characters" didn't deserve a back story or so much space in the over-all arc. He was a likable guy with a good back story and a dream that was relate-able. The one good thing about the book, overshadowed by nonsensical drama and useless characters.
I was left unimpressed by the final page of this novel, as I felt that the characters barely interacted and it lacked the "interwoven" story arc that the back cover claimed.
There were no connections as almost all of the characters were deeply flawed and extremely unlikable.
Harry: A sick, mean old bastard with his heads in the clouds.
Sarah: A pathetic loser with no self-esteem that reeks of desperation.
Maria: A sheltered, naive child trapped in an adult body that is unaware of what needs to be a secret and what she just hides in shame are two different things. (dancing?! With an old man?! It's sooooo wrong!)
Gabriel: An arrogant, P.O.S kind of guy with anger issues who thinks because he is handsome as well as rich that he can do as he please.
Angel: The only decent person in the book, a guy that just wants to dance and do his own thing as he lives his life.
Joseph:Yet anther sick old man who acts as if he has some huge secret but is just odd and possibly more in love with fantasy than reality (Oh, I love her! ewww.... make her stop talking, don't let her touch me, but OH! how I wanna spend my life with her.... or rather at 60, the REST of my life.
This people rarely cross paths other than Maria and Angel dance with each other and some take lessons from another. I don't see standing across a room, staring at someone as interlocking story-lines.Sharing a few dances barely made the connections to keep novel from feeling as if 3 or 4 different books had been shoved together to make one.
The plot lacked a point, a direction. We were dropped into these people's lives as they are all getting ready for their Sunday night at the Ballroom and then as the story is told from different points of views, we learn unnecessary and boring back history on them. (Surprise! Surprise!
Harry was a ass before he got to be 65)
There are loose ends that needed to be tied up or perhaps left out. What was the deal with Joseph being so secretive? What was the point of all these other characters that flitted pass the spotlight, there but unimportant? Why was Maria so ashamed of her "secret" which was not disturbing, disgusting or even shocking? Why was it made into this big deal and then ended up being NOTHING?
In my personal opinion, this book needs some serious polishing and editing before it hits shelves as an actual book. I am so relieved that it was free because I would have taken it back as fast as I could to get my money back, had I bought it. The writing itself was pretty decent, the conversations flowed and the details were there, but her characters are trash. They aren't flat but they are so terrible as people that you honestly don't care what happens to them and in fact, I was kinda hoping the old Ballroom caught fire with them all in it and that that would be THE END.
Even if perhaps Angel was the actual main character and this was a story of his life and what he wanted to do, I think it would have been better, as some of these "main characters" didn't deserve a back story or so much space in the over-all arc. He was a likable guy with a good back story and a dream that was relate-able. The one good thing about the book, overshadowed by nonsensical drama and useless characters.
September 24, 2014
In Ballroom, Alice Simpson has drawn real characters. People with whom we can relate, who we know, maybe even who we are. And then they are not. Or they are even more so. The strength of Simpson’s story is that her people are not one-dimensional. Though they may appear so initially, angles and complexities quickly emerge, for good and bad. The characters eventually exhibit, almost against their will, how truly dimensional, and sometimes dark, they and their private lives are. The intimate moments behind closed doors are the most powerful segments of the book.
The occasions when the characters are in the ballroom, any ballroom, ready to dance, is when they are most expectant, buoyant, lighthearted, and resolute. Once the evening ends, missed opportunities become glaringly obvious and high hopes are revealed to be nothing more than pipe dreams.
The reality of the real world beyond the ballroom doors, beyond the costume of hair, makeup, exact shoes, dress, and suit and tie; beyond a look, a touch, the inclusion, the exclusion; and beyond the music, the rhythm and the steps is more than some of the characters can handle. The hours and days in between evenings in the ballroom are merciless; the characters feel the feverish ache to be back in the ballroom, where moments may be true or false, but the possibility of realized dreams fends off despair and renews their hope.
For me, Simpson succeeded in drawing me into a world of which I have no knowledge. Though, for this reader, the dialogue could read more naturally and we’re not one who likes to be bombarded with exclamation marks, Simpson’s prose is simple and direct, allowing the story and the characters to stand front and center.
None of the characters’ homes are a haven for them, though they wish for them to be. As for most of us, the difficulty lies in manifesting our dreams into a reality. Often blind confidence, arrogant assuredness, paralytic insecurity, ambivalent anxiety, and general ineptness confound our efforts. The fates of Ballroom’s characters are as expected and unexpected, happy and shadowed, simplistic and layered as we experience in our own private world.
The occasions when the characters are in the ballroom, any ballroom, ready to dance, is when they are most expectant, buoyant, lighthearted, and resolute. Once the evening ends, missed opportunities become glaringly obvious and high hopes are revealed to be nothing more than pipe dreams.
The reality of the real world beyond the ballroom doors, beyond the costume of hair, makeup, exact shoes, dress, and suit and tie; beyond a look, a touch, the inclusion, the exclusion; and beyond the music, the rhythm and the steps is more than some of the characters can handle. The hours and days in between evenings in the ballroom are merciless; the characters feel the feverish ache to be back in the ballroom, where moments may be true or false, but the possibility of realized dreams fends off despair and renews their hope.
For me, Simpson succeeded in drawing me into a world of which I have no knowledge. Though, for this reader, the dialogue could read more naturally and we’re not one who likes to be bombarded with exclamation marks, Simpson’s prose is simple and direct, allowing the story and the characters to stand front and center.
None of the characters’ homes are a haven for them, though they wish for them to be. As for most of us, the difficulty lies in manifesting our dreams into a reality. Often blind confidence, arrogant assuredness, paralytic insecurity, ambivalent anxiety, and general ineptness confound our efforts. The fates of Ballroom’s characters are as expected and unexpected, happy and shadowed, simplistic and layered as we experience in our own private world.
October 13, 2014
BALLROOM:
I loved this book and thought it was beautifully written. Adjectives are especially descriptive and there is a rhythm to the writing that reflects dance couples gliding across a ballroom floor. Both my husband and I grew up in an era when all our contemporaries knew how to dance; it was a social necessity. I did have a little trouble keeping track of the characters and would have found dramatis personae helpful, but I am really old (many years past 65!) so my memory frequently fails me, nor did I have a chance to read the book within a short period of time. I am surprised at the harsh criticism over the shallowness of the characters. Wasn't it the author's intent to create light sketches in order to reflect the life of the ballroom along with a reminder of ballroom etiquette? Everybody who goes regularly to the ballroom does so to leave their problems and challenges at home and lose themselves in the joy of dancing. Although it is natural to wonder about the people that they meet, they don't really want to get involved in their lives, and when they do the result can be disastrous, as in the case of Sarah going home with the handsome Gabriel, the perfect dancer but impotent lover. We do get to know Harry Korn quite well but we learn more about him after his death as in real life we learn more about a person at their funeral. Eventually the book focuses on Angel and Maria, a story with a happy ending. I highly recommend this book, especially for book groups.
I loved this book and thought it was beautifully written. Adjectives are especially descriptive and there is a rhythm to the writing that reflects dance couples gliding across a ballroom floor. Both my husband and I grew up in an era when all our contemporaries knew how to dance; it was a social necessity. I did have a little trouble keeping track of the characters and would have found dramatis personae helpful, but I am really old (many years past 65!) so my memory frequently fails me, nor did I have a chance to read the book within a short period of time. I am surprised at the harsh criticism over the shallowness of the characters. Wasn't it the author's intent to create light sketches in order to reflect the life of the ballroom along with a reminder of ballroom etiquette? Everybody who goes regularly to the ballroom does so to leave their problems and challenges at home and lose themselves in the joy of dancing. Although it is natural to wonder about the people that they meet, they don't really want to get involved in their lives, and when they do the result can be disastrous, as in the case of Sarah going home with the handsome Gabriel, the perfect dancer but impotent lover. We do get to know Harry Korn quite well but we learn more about him after his death as in real life we learn more about a person at their funeral. Eventually the book focuses on Angel and Maria, a story with a happy ending. I highly recommend this book, especially for book groups.
October 21, 2014
If you enjoy character-driven novels, and I call this a novel for the same reason I would call 'The Joy Luck Club' a novel, Ballroom is a fine example. Some readers may be turned off by flawed characters; perhaps they should read romance or fantasy. These characters are realistic, and they span all ages and ilks. You will have to be a careful reader, an empathetic reader, to appreciate and understand their stories and their actions.
Alice Simpson is excellent at describing the visual -- both stationary and moving -- to draw us into a time and place of transition, both for a city and for a style of life. Don't expect pat answers or clear messages. This is a story that requires immersion and openness. It requires trust, on the part of the author and the reader, in one another's capacity to comprehend unidealized individuals. Like a dance.
I highly recommend this for book groups. A range of topics are available, but my favorite would be mother-son, father-daughter relationships, both nurturing and toxic.
Alice Simpson is excellent at describing the visual -- both stationary and moving -- to draw us into a time and place of transition, both for a city and for a style of life. Don't expect pat answers or clear messages. This is a story that requires immersion and openness. It requires trust, on the part of the author and the reader, in one another's capacity to comprehend unidealized individuals. Like a dance.
I highly recommend this for book groups. A range of topics are available, but my favorite would be mother-son, father-daughter relationships, both nurturing and toxic.
October 19, 2014
The author's passion for dance and the six characters' stories stay with you long after the book is finished. Although these people are stuck in their everyday lives, once they enter the ballroom they come to life. It's fascinating to read about each one. As lonely and forlorn as each character is you care about them and feel such empathy for them. It's to the author's credit that these feelings emerge. And all throughout this wonderful book is Ms. Simpson's vast knowledge and her obvious love of dance. This was a very good book!
December 17, 2014
BALLROOM is the best book I've ever written-- until the next.
.
.
September 2, 2014
Alice Simpson's "Ballroom" evokes the tired sadness at the end of 20th century New York. It was a time of transition, from the cesspool it was 20 years prior and nearly 20 years before it became the shiny, generic moneyed play land that it is now. But New York is not a main character here, just a vivid backdrop for a collection of lonely people trying to connect - or not - at the once sparkling and now shabby Ballroom.
This carefully choreographed novel uses dance as a metaphor for how the characters connect or hold each other at a distance. Each one, save Angel and Maria, hoped for bright futures, to see them dissolve as they waltzed into middle age. Romance becomes a gilded cage and passion takes on explosive connotations. If I have any complaints about Ballroom is that some of the characters slide into the background as the central story hits its climax. I wanted more of them as well.
Alice knows New York and not just Manhattan. I loved the trips to the Queens Museum to see the Panorama, once a favorite destination for me, as well as Brooklyn and Village neighborhoods in the pre Sex and the City and hipster era. That New York, so vividly evoked, is gone now.
I was pleased to win a free copy of Ballroom from Goodreads. The novel comes out this month. Buy it.
This carefully choreographed novel uses dance as a metaphor for how the characters connect or hold each other at a distance. Each one, save Angel and Maria, hoped for bright futures, to see them dissolve as they waltzed into middle age. Romance becomes a gilded cage and passion takes on explosive connotations. If I have any complaints about Ballroom is that some of the characters slide into the background as the central story hits its climax. I wanted more of them as well.
Alice knows New York and not just Manhattan. I loved the trips to the Queens Museum to see the Panorama, once a favorite destination for me, as well as Brooklyn and Village neighborhoods in the pre Sex and the City and hipster era. That New York, so vividly evoked, is gone now.
I was pleased to win a free copy of Ballroom from Goodreads. The novel comes out this month. Buy it.
December 25, 2014
I was disappointed in this novel. I read three novels that build stories around ballroom dancing and one fell flat due to unlikeable characters. Sarah is desperate, Gabriel is mean and messed up, Harry and Joseph are weird old me with issues. All n all, not a recommended read.
September 19, 2014
Disclaimers: I received a copy of this book from the publisher as part of a giveaway. I am also a competitive ballroom dancer, so the subject matter is of interest to me, and I tend to scrutinize it pretty closely from a technical background.
I wanted to like it. I really did.
The idea of Simpson's book, of individuals from varying backgrounds intersecting at this rundown ballroom and connecting over the magic and beauty of dance, sounded fantastic to me. But somewhere between the topic idea and the book itself, there was a major disconnect. I could hardly bring myself to care about any of the characters, because there were all these breadcrumbs about their pasts that never materialized, or we get clunky and unappealing instances of telling and not showing.
The book shifts perspective between the major characters of Gabe, Maria, Angel, Sarah, Joseph, and Harry. I was particularly bothered by Joseph. Joseph was given this drab and obsessive personality and a very antisocial way of dealing with people, but we never find out why. There's no major revelation about why he is the way he is, or why he dances at the Ballroom at all if he finds it a struggle to be around people. Joseph's story seems to culminate with some love-hate relationship with Sarah that's all in his head; readers are left hanging with a scene about his sexual kinks and some self-flagellation.
Sarah is also quite static, because she looks for Gabe's attentions and never really gets them - she hates her inadequacies, changes her appearance and life outlook drastically in the hopes of getting Gabe, and then seems to shrug and give up when Gabe isn't all he seems to be (Gabe is pretty deplorable as a character, but that's another story). I didn't feel as though Sarah grew as a person, and I was bored reading from her perspective.
The author seems to hint at some kind of relationship between the characters of Harry and Maria, and apparently it's supposed to be an older man lusting after a young woman; I assume she was going for a sense of Maria feeling like a prisoner in her obligations to Harry and these uncomfortable encounters. The tension the author wanted and the secret nature of it was really lost in the narration.
Angel and his character development was really the only thing that managed to save the book for me; Angel was passionate about dancing and doing his own thing. He came up upon a crisis moment with Maria and Harry, and while the crisis itself wasn't written with great strength, Angel at least seemed to deal with it and grow as a person. He finds a way to grow in a way that is meaningful to him while also satisfying the expectations of others.
Finally, the book really didn't describe dancing all that much. The chapters were headed by excerpts from guide books to ballroom dancing, but the descriptions within the chapters of dancing were vague. I felt that if I couldn't follow them as a dancer with some knowledge of the steps, there's no way a casual reader would be able to get a sense of the scene. The details that the author did mention about technique were on average inaccurate, and in a few places flat out incorrect. It broke my focus on a scene.
Unfortunately, I would not recommend this book to any reader.
I wanted to like it. I really did.
The idea of Simpson's book, of individuals from varying backgrounds intersecting at this rundown ballroom and connecting over the magic and beauty of dance, sounded fantastic to me. But somewhere between the topic idea and the book itself, there was a major disconnect. I could hardly bring myself to care about any of the characters, because there were all these breadcrumbs about their pasts that never materialized, or we get clunky and unappealing instances of telling and not showing.
The book shifts perspective between the major characters of Gabe, Maria, Angel, Sarah, Joseph, and Harry. I was particularly bothered by Joseph. Joseph was given this drab and obsessive personality and a very antisocial way of dealing with people, but we never find out why. There's no major revelation about why he is the way he is, or why he dances at the Ballroom at all if he finds it a struggle to be around people. Joseph's story seems to culminate with some love-hate relationship with Sarah that's all in his head; readers are left hanging with a scene about his sexual kinks and some self-flagellation.
Sarah is also quite static, because she looks for Gabe's attentions and never really gets them - she hates her inadequacies, changes her appearance and life outlook drastically in the hopes of getting Gabe, and then seems to shrug and give up when Gabe isn't all he seems to be (Gabe is pretty deplorable as a character, but that's another story). I didn't feel as though Sarah grew as a person, and I was bored reading from her perspective.
The author seems to hint at some kind of relationship between the characters of Harry and Maria, and apparently it's supposed to be an older man lusting after a young woman; I assume she was going for a sense of Maria feeling like a prisoner in her obligations to Harry and these uncomfortable encounters. The tension the author wanted and the secret nature of it was really lost in the narration.
Angel and his character development was really the only thing that managed to save the book for me; Angel was passionate about dancing and doing his own thing. He came up upon a crisis moment with Maria and Harry, and while the crisis itself wasn't written with great strength, Angel at least seemed to deal with it and grow as a person. He finds a way to grow in a way that is meaningful to him while also satisfying the expectations of others.
Finally, the book really didn't describe dancing all that much. The chapters were headed by excerpts from guide books to ballroom dancing, but the descriptions within the chapters of dancing were vague. I felt that if I couldn't follow them as a dancer with some knowledge of the steps, there's no way a casual reader would be able to get a sense of the scene. The details that the author did mention about technique were on average inaccurate, and in a few places flat out incorrect. It broke my focus on a scene.
Unfortunately, I would not recommend this book to any reader.
October 8, 2014
I received this book in exchange for an honest review and would like to thank both TLC Book Tours and Alice Simpson for the chance to read and review this book!
When I initially read the synopsis and viewed the cover for Ballroom I was instantly intrigued. I fell in love with the cover and was interested in reading a book with interconnected narratives. I really enjoyed that the story is delivered to us through the interconnected stories. I think this made the narrative feel like a dance, with each character waltzing to the beat of their own music – the different perspectives pushing and pulling, sliding and spinning and coming together at the end in pretty surprising ways.
I really liked this book. I do wish there was a little more description of the ballroom itself, but I thought that the exploration of the character’s lives and their perceptions of each other was great. Some of the characters backgrounds and stories were so sad to me like that of Harry Korn, one of my favorite characters. I also really liked Maria and Sarah although I felt really bad for Sarah throughout the story as love and life in general have not been very kind to her. I do feel though that she is able to find happiness with her life, with herself towards the end of the story.
Dancing was my first love so I seemed to connect with the yearning that a lot of the characters had for dance. I feel like some of the characters danced for the pure joy of getting lost in the dance while others just fell into the habit of using it as a vehicle for making connections with people that wouldn’t be possible in another arena.
I loved it when the characters described their feelings about dancing in the ballroom and dancing with each other, it was all very real to me and reminded me that although we may see someone every day at work or the gym, sometimes we don’t really know their full story and what they are escaping in their home life by spending a few hours at their hobby. I just loved the feel of this book which Simpson accomplished to make feel both soft and gritty at the same time. I felt like the writing was graceful and seemed to enhance the special feel that I have come to expect from novels surrounding the topic of dance.
While Ballroom is not perfect, I did enjoy reading it and spending time with these characters. I enjoyed the delivery of the story and the way it was written so I gave it four out of five stars. General adult fiction readers or fans of books involving dance may enjoy this book.
When I initially read the synopsis and viewed the cover for Ballroom I was instantly intrigued. I fell in love with the cover and was interested in reading a book with interconnected narratives. I really enjoyed that the story is delivered to us through the interconnected stories. I think this made the narrative feel like a dance, with each character waltzing to the beat of their own music – the different perspectives pushing and pulling, sliding and spinning and coming together at the end in pretty surprising ways.
I really liked this book. I do wish there was a little more description of the ballroom itself, but I thought that the exploration of the character’s lives and their perceptions of each other was great. Some of the characters backgrounds and stories were so sad to me like that of Harry Korn, one of my favorite characters. I also really liked Maria and Sarah although I felt really bad for Sarah throughout the story as love and life in general have not been very kind to her. I do feel though that she is able to find happiness with her life, with herself towards the end of the story.
Dancing was my first love so I seemed to connect with the yearning that a lot of the characters had for dance. I feel like some of the characters danced for the pure joy of getting lost in the dance while others just fell into the habit of using it as a vehicle for making connections with people that wouldn’t be possible in another arena.
I loved it when the characters described their feelings about dancing in the ballroom and dancing with each other, it was all very real to me and reminded me that although we may see someone every day at work or the gym, sometimes we don’t really know their full story and what they are escaping in their home life by spending a few hours at their hobby. I just loved the feel of this book which Simpson accomplished to make feel both soft and gritty at the same time. I felt like the writing was graceful and seemed to enhance the special feel that I have come to expect from novels surrounding the topic of dance.
While Ballroom is not perfect, I did enjoy reading it and spending time with these characters. I enjoyed the delivery of the story and the way it was written so I gave it four out of five stars. General adult fiction readers or fans of books involving dance may enjoy this book.
October 14, 2014
This is a lovely character novel, where we see flashes and fragments of people who love to dance. It reminded me of the tango -- you see a bit of the battle of life, then you see the grace and the beauty of connection. Ballroom is about the strange tempo of love, a feeling that's never quite satisfied. One dance leads to another. Simpson's writing transported me into the lives, apartments, and minds of a disparate group. They come together with their dreams of elegance, romance, and grace. These longings are rarely filled, but the dance creates the illusion that life is about to take flight. Even when relationships seem lurid, another aspect is revealed and the dancers flit away, their story changed. Some stories end with more questions than answers, but that's like life. I admire Simpson for keeping that mystery in her characters. Her writing is graceful and smooth. It's detailed enough to create vivid characters and scenes. I loved reading about the wardrobes and dressing rituals of each dancer -- the ones who could afford new clothes and the ones who are dressing to hide frayed material. If you read it before bed as I did, prepare for vivid dreams.
November 19, 2014
A plot-less novel about, horrible, empty people, who all seemed to have the weight of the world on their shoulders despite having petty problems and guilt for doing absolutely nothing. I usually give a book one star if its nouns and verbs match and nothing else. If I could have bumped it down to .5 star, I would have. Manuel was a jerk, Angel was irrelevant, Maria took herself much too seriously, J name had some serious sexual repression and guilt problems, Sarah was desperate for no good reason, and Harry was lost in a guilty fantasy that was never really explained. Did he molest Maria? Is that why he felt guilty? Or was he just an old man who was enamored with a woman much too young for him, who he never touched except to teach to dance which enabled her to escape her father's stern and terrified roof, meet an okay-I-guess guy and start her own business? Oh, that last storyline? Yeah, that's weak.
December 18, 2019
I have always been curious about the kinds of people who frequented New York’s fabled dance halls of the recent past – who they were, where were they from and if they were really there just to dance. Thanks to Alice Simpson and the richly drawn characters who inhabit her Ballroom, I now have my answer...and in vivid, accessible portraits of the people and complex relationships one might find in such a storied place.
Simpson’s command of the language is evident in every phrase and sentence and Ballroom is an absorbing read. Her writing is rich, often lyrical and a pleasure to read, and in her characters I found so many levels of desire, so many dreams remaining to be fulfilled, so many dancers looking for answers. And there was always dance. She clearly knows and loves the dance and knows and cares about her characters. I highly recommend this absorbing read.
Simpson’s command of the language is evident in every phrase and sentence and Ballroom is an absorbing read. Her writing is rich, often lyrical and a pleasure to read, and in her characters I found so many levels of desire, so many dreams remaining to be fulfilled, so many dancers looking for answers. And there was always dance. She clearly knows and loves the dance and knows and cares about her characters. I highly recommend this absorbing read.
March 17, 2015
I really enjoyed this book. Alice Simpson vividly captures the dance world and 1990s New York City in this intricate tale about dreams and illusions. Interesting characters, an engaging world, and lovely prose that matches its graceful subject. On a separate note, I wish I could waltz into the novel and experience the faded glamour of the Ballroom.
October 21, 2014
I couldn't put the book down. Loved the way the various characters interacted, and learned about the culture of ballroom dancing. I highly recommend it and can already envision it on the silver screen.
It would be a good choice for book clubs.
It would be a good choice for book clubs.
October 29, 2014
Just finished reading Ballroom...it's a wonderful book! I loved every word describing each character as I was taken through their very human experiences. Simpson's descriptive phrases just captivated me. I truly didn't want the book to end.
October 27, 2014
I read this fascinating book in three "goes". Most important to me in any book is if I care about the characters and if it is a good story. I found myself inserted in their lives - rooting for the underdog - feeling the pain of loneliness and the absence of friends. We've all known a Gabriel, yes that one who seems to run over people and always comes out on top. Yet, our heart goes out to the others, each with their own history, problems and uniqueness. I love that this book moves the story involving each character and how they relate to the others, how the chapters are short and keep my interest between chapters, always pushing me forward. Simpson's style and use of words to portray the personalities as well as the action, made this one of the quickest reads I've had in a long time. Just writing this makes me want to go back and savor some of her descriptions, both in scenes and in character.
September 8, 2014
To be fair, I am not a dancer, so maybe I just don't get it. However, I usually enjoy a wide range of books, I enjoy reading about things that I am unfamiliar with, and I always finish a book. If I had not received a free advance copy of this book, I would not have finished it. To me, this story was boring, most of the characters were pathetic, and it was depressing. I usually get caught up in a character's story and can't wait to see how it ends, but truthfully, in this case, I just didn't care. Maybe there were too many characters and not enough focus on any one person, maybe the chapters were too short, with the story switching back and forth among the characters, but I just could not get into it. I would not recommend this book.
September 15, 2014
In the hands of a more skillful writer who specializes in character studies (think Margaret Atwood, Jhumpa Lahiri), Ballroom would be an excellent book. However, the author simply isn't quite there yet. The author tries to depict the colorful and chaotic world of dancing in the 1990's, and although I caught glimpses of it here and there, it largely failed due to a simplistic writing style, a host of unlikable characters who don't interact enough with each other, and a lack of anything really interesting happening. This book has potential, but in my opinion, it's just not quite there yet; this is the kind of manuscript you toss into a drawer, pull out in five years, and rewrite.
Note: I received this book through Goodreads' First Reads Program.
Note: I received this book through Goodreads' First Reads Program.
September 5, 2014
I wanted to enjoy this book more than I did. Usually I like the interconnecting stories format, but it didn't really gel for me this time. The author chose the late 1990s specifically since it represents time before 9/11, and the main characters, looking for something to make their lives meaningful, gravitate towards a rundown ballroom every Sunday night, the epitome of delusion and fantasy. What I look for in novels are characters that intrigue me so much that I wonder where life takes them after the last page, but not so with this one. For some reason, none of them was original enough to grab my interest and make me curious about their futures.
October 29, 2014
I started this a few days ago and can't put it down!
September 10, 2014
Ballroom by Alice Simpson is a recommended novel only for those who enjoy character studies of the disagreeable and ballroom dancing.
In Ballroom, a debut novel, we meet a cast of characters who gather to dance at The Ballroom. All of them are loyal patrons who love to dance, even if for most of them it is simple a way to escape their sad, dreary lives and create superficial connection with others. We also meet 65 year old Harry Korn who has been teaching 20 year old Maria how to dance since she was a child. Harry is under the illusion that he and Maria will run off together when she turns 21. Maria has a dance partner, Angel, and they are winning trophies together even as Maria finishes college and heads off to grad school. Sarah is a lonely woman searching for love with a dance partner, while Joseph is a lonely man who thinks his dream of a family will be realized through a dance partner at the Ballroom. Gabriel is a man who is seducing women he meets to escape from his real life.
While Simpson does a good job at characterization, I couldn't relate to or sympathize with even one of these characters. They are all so sad and unlikeable, even young Maria, and desperately wanting to change their lives but totally ineffectual and impotent to do anything concrete. Frankly, I found the whole Harry and Maria plot line repulsive, disgusting, and creepy, which might have worked had Simpson used that feeling in the plot, but, alas, she doesn't.
This is one of those novels where the quality of the writing is good, the characters are there, but then nothing is really done with them. We learn about their past, and their dreams, but then nothing is brought to a satisfactory conclusion. There is no big dramatic ending or plot twist.
The opening of each chapter is prefaced by quotes from old school books on ballroom dancing etiquette and the whole story is infused with dance. Those who enjoy ballroom dancing and can see how the steps in each dance can mirror life might find Ballroom a more satisfying novel than I did.
If you visit Alice Simpson's website you will see that Ballroom began as an Artist Book and you can see a picture of the cover and one of the exquisite watercolors: www.alicesimpson.com/artist-books/dir... In fact, I am much more impressed and in awe of her art work than this novel.
Disclosure: I received an advanced reading copy of this book from the publisher and TLC for review purposes.
http://tlcbooktours.com
In Ballroom, a debut novel, we meet a cast of characters who gather to dance at The Ballroom. All of them are loyal patrons who love to dance, even if for most of them it is simple a way to escape their sad, dreary lives and create superficial connection with others. We also meet 65 year old Harry Korn who has been teaching 20 year old Maria how to dance since she was a child. Harry is under the illusion that he and Maria will run off together when she turns 21. Maria has a dance partner, Angel, and they are winning trophies together even as Maria finishes college and heads off to grad school. Sarah is a lonely woman searching for love with a dance partner, while Joseph is a lonely man who thinks his dream of a family will be realized through a dance partner at the Ballroom. Gabriel is a man who is seducing women he meets to escape from his real life.
While Simpson does a good job at characterization, I couldn't relate to or sympathize with even one of these characters. They are all so sad and unlikeable, even young Maria, and desperately wanting to change their lives but totally ineffectual and impotent to do anything concrete. Frankly, I found the whole Harry and Maria plot line repulsive, disgusting, and creepy, which might have worked had Simpson used that feeling in the plot, but, alas, she doesn't.
This is one of those novels where the quality of the writing is good, the characters are there, but then nothing is really done with them. We learn about their past, and their dreams, but then nothing is brought to a satisfactory conclusion. There is no big dramatic ending or plot twist.
The opening of each chapter is prefaced by quotes from old school books on ballroom dancing etiquette and the whole story is infused with dance. Those who enjoy ballroom dancing and can see how the steps in each dance can mirror life might find Ballroom a more satisfying novel than I did.
If you visit Alice Simpson's website you will see that Ballroom began as an Artist Book and you can see a picture of the cover and one of the exquisite watercolors: www.alicesimpson.com/artist-books/dir... In fact, I am much more impressed and in awe of her art work than this novel.
Disclosure: I received an advanced reading copy of this book from the publisher and TLC for review purposes.
http://tlcbooktours.com
October 9, 2014
It has been 80 years since the Roseland Ballroom opened in 1919 and in her old age the famous dance hall has become a metaphor for the rhythm of life at its various stages. While some of it's patrons are active participants in their own lives others are mere observers and still others resemble the ballroom itself - old and tired with peeling facades that show they are definitely past their prime.
The cast of characters range in age from very young to very old and although you get a glimpse into their lives and what drives them, the author never really give you a true in depth look at what it is that lies beneath the surface. There appear to be only two constant themes running through the narrative and they are - the effect of their mothers on their lives and the sense of satisfaction and temporary fulfillment that dance brings into each of their lives.
Despite its developmental shortcomings, this book is a nostalgic trip down memory lane for all those of a certain age who remember going out on a Saturday night to socialize with friends and dance at a local ballroom. (I personally remember the Aragon and Trianon ballrooms in Chicago and the weekly radio broadcasts where one could vicariously enjoy the "big band" music even if you couldn't get to the actual venue in person).
This book gets five stars in the areas of dance and nostalgia, but unfortunately only a three in story and character development. 3 1/2 stars
The cast of characters range in age from very young to very old and although you get a glimpse into their lives and what drives them, the author never really give you a true in depth look at what it is that lies beneath the surface. There appear to be only two constant themes running through the narrative and they are - the effect of their mothers on their lives and the sense of satisfaction and temporary fulfillment that dance brings into each of their lives.
Despite its developmental shortcomings, this book is a nostalgic trip down memory lane for all those of a certain age who remember going out on a Saturday night to socialize with friends and dance at a local ballroom. (I personally remember the Aragon and Trianon ballrooms in Chicago and the weekly radio broadcasts where one could vicariously enjoy the "big band" music even if you couldn't get to the actual venue in person).
This book gets five stars in the areas of dance and nostalgia, but unfortunately only a three in story and character development. 3 1/2 stars
May 29, 2015
A poignant character study, "Ballroom", pulses with the underlying rhythm of the Tango dance. Author Alice Simpson's debut work centers around a New York dance hall of the late 1990's--long past its glamorous heyday, but still offering an essence of grandeur and the hope of grand dreams. Connecting its devotees with a fleeting reprieve from the realities of daily life, the Ballroom is an escape route set to a rhythmic beat. Among those linked together in interconnected storylines are: Harry Korn, the aging dance master; Sarah Dreyfus, single and approaching forty with a loudly ticking clock; Gabriel Katz, resplendent in his self-styled presentations; Joseph, who longs for Sarah to notice him as more than a dance partner; Maria Rodriguez,a star in her own right, and the apple of dance master's eye; and Angel Morez, Maria's partner, and a man with many plans of his own. Caught up in the atmosphere and ambiance of the grand old Ballroom, each of them seeks their own version of time in the spotlight--time to dance, to dream, to dare to engage in something more than the routine of their everyday lives. Each of them will experience unimagined highs and lows as they are propelled ever forward by the driving force of the dance.
Review Copy Gratis Amazon Vine
Review Copy Gratis Amazon Vine
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December 13, 2014Time and place have equal importance to character in Ballroom. The 20th century is drawing to a close and the style in which people are dancing has changed dramatically. Yet, there are still young people who dream about dancing like or with a Fred Astaire or a Gene Kelly. The beauty of the dance, however, requires rules and patterns and frequently heartbreak. The need to look one's best is a necessity and one's posture and body awareness is demanded.
The characters who dance through the novel run the gamut of talent, ambition and age. Their back stories as to why they're dancing are as fascinating as the reasons they're in the ballroom in the time frame of the novel.
The author, a visual artist, includes a wonderful character in "Ballroom" who takes the reader through the steps of creating a work of art, fairly similar to creating the steps of a dance.
I think "Ballroom" is a terrific read.
November 30, 2015
Good premise. I've often wondered what those people at the ballroom (or the milonga) are like the rest of the week when they're not dancing. But Simpson didn't convince me. There was no real story, no plot - and not much character development - only character revelation - which wasn't that intriguing. It was mostly sad. That's not the energy I feel in the 'ballroom' when I go dancing.
A meringue is a confection made of egg whites and sugar - not a dance. If the writer doesn't know this - then an editor or some proof or beta reader along the line should have picked up on it.
And, I don't know about New York in the 90s but in my experience and where I live, there was rarely traditional Argentine tango music played at a ballroom - that was/is a whole genre unto itself. Any DJ worth his salt would not have played La Cumparsita in the middle of the evening.
Anyway, good try for a first book. Loved the cover drawing.
A meringue is a confection made of egg whites and sugar - not a dance. If the writer doesn't know this - then an editor or some proof or beta reader along the line should have picked up on it.
And, I don't know about New York in the 90s but in my experience and where I live, there was rarely traditional Argentine tango music played at a ballroom - that was/is a whole genre unto itself. Any DJ worth his salt would not have played La Cumparsita in the middle of the evening.
Anyway, good try for a first book. Loved the cover drawing.
September 29, 2014
The characters in this book are varied in age, from the young to the not so young. Each of them are connected because they each spend Sunday evening dancing at the ballroom. Each have their own desires and problems, and they want to find someone that will fulfill a void in their lives.
I thought the stories in this book were interesting, but some were a little to “descriptive” for my taste if you know what I mean. I was interested in the characters and wanted to see how the story ended for each of them, but I never really felt a bond with them like I wanted to feel. The writing is good so that kept me wanting to keep reading.
Each chapter is titled by one of the characters names, the first one being Harry Korn. Is that a great name or what? Also, at the beginning of each chapter is a ballroom or dance quote. Chapter 1 like I said is Harry Korn (just wanted to say his name again)
I thought the stories in this book were interesting, but some were a little to “descriptive” for my taste if you know what I mean. I was interested in the characters and wanted to see how the story ended for each of them, but I never really felt a bond with them like I wanted to feel. The writing is good so that kept me wanting to keep reading.
Each chapter is titled by one of the characters names, the first one being Harry Korn. Is that a great name or what? Also, at the beginning of each chapter is a ballroom or dance quote. Chapter 1 like I said is Harry Korn (just wanted to say his name again)
February 6, 2015
This book kept me engaged and I enjoyed reading a book with an entirely different setting. The faded glory of the ballroom contradicted by the love of dance compelling the younger characters to pursue their dream was a wonderful overall theme to the book.
Think my difficulty in LOVING this book arises from my general dislike of several of the characters. Those characters reflected the worn out grandeur of the ballroom dancing and their personalities and lives were so faded as to be uninteresting and at points quite unattractive. I would have like a character from the prior generations of ballroom glory who had succeeded while aged but imparted joy and wisdom. I enjoyed those characters who were redeemed and thrived and perhaps just wanted a little more excitement as the book progressed.
Think my difficulty in LOVING this book arises from my general dislike of several of the characters. Those characters reflected the worn out grandeur of the ballroom dancing and their personalities and lives were so faded as to be uninteresting and at points quite unattractive. I would have like a character from the prior generations of ballroom glory who had succeeded while aged but imparted joy and wisdom. I enjoyed those characters who were redeemed and thrived and perhaps just wanted a little more excitement as the book progressed.
October 17, 2014
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
Told in short chapters from each person's perspective, this book was different. Each character comes to the Ballroom every Sunday evening and participates in the dancing that evening, but their friendships and relationships are just on the surface and they each have things that they are hiding and easy to hide as they don't even know each other's last names.
I enjoyed this book, but didn't love it as much as I thought it would. I grew up as a dancer, so I thought this book would be right up my alley, but the only reason this was a like and not a love was kind of petty - I wish that there were a few more characters that were younger, most of them were of the older variety and I wish there were a few dancers that were younger.
Told in short chapters from each person's perspective, this book was different. Each character comes to the Ballroom every Sunday evening and participates in the dancing that evening, but their friendships and relationships are just on the surface and they each have things that they are hiding and easy to hide as they don't even know each other's last names.
I enjoyed this book, but didn't love it as much as I thought it would. I grew up as a dancer, so I thought this book would be right up my alley, but the only reason this was a like and not a love was kind of petty - I wish that there were a few more characters that were younger, most of them were of the older variety and I wish there were a few dancers that were younger.
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November 6, 2014Following Amazon's purchase of GoodReads, I no longer post my reviews here.
If you would like to read my thoughts on this book, you can view them in the following places:
LeafMarks
BookLikes
LibraryThing
BuriedInPrint
Posting these links does not constitute permission to duplicate these thoughts anywhere, including corporate-owned sites.
If you read/liked/clicked through to see this review here on GR, many thanks.
If you would like to read my thoughts on this book, you can view them in the following places:
LeafMarks
BookLikes
LibraryThing
BuriedInPrint
Posting these links does not constitute permission to duplicate these thoughts anywhere, including corporate-owned sites.
If you read/liked/clicked through to see this review here on GR, many thanks.
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