What do you think?
Rate this book
Belly Dancing for Beginners
Gayle and Sonya are complete opposites: one reserved and cautious, the other confident and outspoken. But their very different lives will converge when they impulsively join a belly dancing class. Marissa, their teacher, is sixty, sexy, and very much her own person, and as Gayle and Sonya learn about the origins and meaning of the dance, much more than their muscle tone begins to change.
308 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
31 people are currently reading
222 people want to read
About the author
Liz Byrski
31 books196 followersLiz Byrski is a writer and broadcaster with more than 40 years experience in the British and Australian media. She is the author of eleven non-fiction books and five novels, and her work has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines.
In the nineties Liz was a broadcaster and executive producer with ABC Radio in Perth and later an advisor to a minister in the Western Australian State Government; she now lectures in Professional and Creative Writing at Curtin University of Technology in Perth, and has PhD in writing with a focus on feminist popular fiction.
Liz was born in London and spent most of her childhood in Sussex. As an only child she spent a lot of time alone, much of it buried in books. She began her working life as a secretary and later moved into journalism working as a reporter on a local newspaper until she took up freelance writing when her children were born. Before moving to Western Australia she also worked as an appeals organiser for Oxfam.
After moving to Perth with her family in 1981 she once again established a freelance career writing for Australian publications including The Australian, Homes and Living, Cosmopolitan and Weekend News.
Liz lives between Perth and Fremantle and in addition to enjoying the company of family and friends, she spends most of her time reading, writing and walking. She has two adult sons and twin grandsons.
In the nineties Liz was a broadcaster and executive producer with ABC Radio in Perth and later an advisor to a minister in the Western Australian State Government; she now lectures in Professional and Creative Writing at Curtin University of Technology in Perth, and has PhD in writing with a focus on feminist popular fiction.
Liz was born in London and spent most of her childhood in Sussex. As an only child she spent a lot of time alone, much of it buried in books. She began her working life as a secretary and later moved into journalism working as a reporter on a local newspaper until she took up freelance writing when her children were born. Before moving to Western Australia she also worked as an appeals organiser for Oxfam.
After moving to Perth with her family in 1981 she once again established a freelance career writing for Australian publications including The Australian, Homes and Living, Cosmopolitan and Weekend News.
Liz lives between Perth and Fremantle and in addition to enjoying the company of family and friends, she spends most of her time reading, writing and walking. She has two adult sons and twin grandsons.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
September 11, 2018
I’ve known of Liz Byrski’s reputation as an esteemed Australian author for many years, but this is the first time I’ve actually read anything of hers. I’m so glad I did, and regret that it has taken me so long to get around to it!
Belly Dancing for Beginners is a book about women, families and relationships set in modern day Western Australia. The novel probes the intricacies of a dysfunctional marriage and explores the dynamics of friendship, real friendship, among a small group of individuals who are linked to each other in various ways.
Gayle, married to Brian, is a librarian at the university where Oliver lectures. Her daughter Angie works for Sonya, a senior bureaucrat in the WA Education Department. Marissa, a rather Bohemian type, is engaged to perform belly dancing at the hens' party for Angie, a few days prior to her wedding to Tony. So enamoured of the dances are Gayle, Sonya and their friend Trisha, they join Marissa’s weekly classes to learn belly dancing themselves.
While the author examines a number of interpersonal relationships across the breadth of the novel, it is the fraught marriage of Gayle and Brian which is a major focus. Brian is an alpha male, a bullish advertising executive working for an international corporation. Living with such a domineering personality for decades has turned Gayle into a self-effacing mouse of a woman, with no apparent backbone. She survives by always giving in to Brian’s bombastic ways and fixed ideas. Her one solace is her friendship with colleague Oliver at work, in which she can converse on a range of subjects without being pressured into accepting Brian’s opinions.
Initially hesitant, Gayle, Sonya and Trisha come to love the belly dancing classes. The music, the physical movement, the camaraderie of the group all combine to give the women enjoyment, relaxation and awareness of their bodies. When Marissa announces that she has obtained a government grant to take her belly dancing classes on tour for several weeks to regional areas of the State, Gayle and Sonya agree to accompany her.
Taken out of their normal environments, the three women are tested by challenges, and each is forced to confront their own demons in some way. Sonya has a history of failed relationships, and now, in her mid-50s is looking for new paths and a new home. Marissa, so free-spirited on the surface, is hiding deep wounds and psychological pain. Gayle finds that life on the road, away from bullying Brian and his cruel words, suits her very well and she starts to blossom. Not only does she have to deal with her husband’s resentments of her new-found freedom, but she is pestered by her petulant daughter who continues to make demands on her time and good will.
Travelling around Western Australia brings the belly dancing women into settings where they need to confront things they have been hiding for decades. The author teases out details bit by bit, allowing the reader to identify with the characters’ pain and understand how they have dealt with the issues. How they overcome these traumas makes for thought-provoking reading, clearly designed by Liz Byrski to get us to assess and re-think some of our own issues and habits.
The writing style is pleasant and readily accessible to a wide readership. The overall tone of the book is warm and uplifting. How Gayle overcame her problems with her toxic marriage is an object lesson that many women might find instructive. Byrski has put a lot of thought into the creation of Brian, a type of male that is rather common in our society, with attitudes and behaviours that go directly to the core of our concerns about spousal abuse.
I can list a number of women of my social circles who have, at one time or another, compromised their own ethics and beliefs in order to “save” their marriages by allowing their husbands to behave in inappropriate ways. I often wonder if their concessions were worth it in the long term…? To what extent are women complicit in their own misery…? I certainly don't have any answers to these musings of mine, but Byrski does provide interesting insights in this novel.
There is a surprising twist in the tale right at the end of this book, which gave me much cause for thinking…
Belly Dancing for Beginners is a book about women, families and relationships set in modern day Western Australia. The novel probes the intricacies of a dysfunctional marriage and explores the dynamics of friendship, real friendship, among a small group of individuals who are linked to each other in various ways.
Gayle, married to Brian, is a librarian at the university where Oliver lectures. Her daughter Angie works for Sonya, a senior bureaucrat in the WA Education Department. Marissa, a rather Bohemian type, is engaged to perform belly dancing at the hens' party for Angie, a few days prior to her wedding to Tony. So enamoured of the dances are Gayle, Sonya and their friend Trisha, they join Marissa’s weekly classes to learn belly dancing themselves.
While the author examines a number of interpersonal relationships across the breadth of the novel, it is the fraught marriage of Gayle and Brian which is a major focus. Brian is an alpha male, a bullish advertising executive working for an international corporation. Living with such a domineering personality for decades has turned Gayle into a self-effacing mouse of a woman, with no apparent backbone. She survives by always giving in to Brian’s bombastic ways and fixed ideas. Her one solace is her friendship with colleague Oliver at work, in which she can converse on a range of subjects without being pressured into accepting Brian’s opinions.
Initially hesitant, Gayle, Sonya and Trisha come to love the belly dancing classes. The music, the physical movement, the camaraderie of the group all combine to give the women enjoyment, relaxation and awareness of their bodies. When Marissa announces that she has obtained a government grant to take her belly dancing classes on tour for several weeks to regional areas of the State, Gayle and Sonya agree to accompany her.
Taken out of their normal environments, the three women are tested by challenges, and each is forced to confront their own demons in some way. Sonya has a history of failed relationships, and now, in her mid-50s is looking for new paths and a new home. Marissa, so free-spirited on the surface, is hiding deep wounds and psychological pain. Gayle finds that life on the road, away from bullying Brian and his cruel words, suits her very well and she starts to blossom. Not only does she have to deal with her husband’s resentments of her new-found freedom, but she is pestered by her petulant daughter who continues to make demands on her time and good will.
Travelling around Western Australia brings the belly dancing women into settings where they need to confront things they have been hiding for decades. The author teases out details bit by bit, allowing the reader to identify with the characters’ pain and understand how they have dealt with the issues. How they overcome these traumas makes for thought-provoking reading, clearly designed by Liz Byrski to get us to assess and re-think some of our own issues and habits.
The writing style is pleasant and readily accessible to a wide readership. The overall tone of the book is warm and uplifting. How Gayle overcame her problems with her toxic marriage is an object lesson that many women might find instructive. Byrski has put a lot of thought into the creation of Brian, a type of male that is rather common in our society, with attitudes and behaviours that go directly to the core of our concerns about spousal abuse.
I can list a number of women of my social circles who have, at one time or another, compromised their own ethics and beliefs in order to “save” their marriages by allowing their husbands to behave in inappropriate ways. I often wonder if their concessions were worth it in the long term…? To what extent are women complicit in their own misery…? I certainly don't have any answers to these musings of mine, but Byrski does provide interesting insights in this novel.
There is a surprising twist in the tale right at the end of this book, which gave me much cause for thinking…
February 20, 2015
Another great book by Liz Byrski. I love that her characters are my age and even though I don't think that i will be taking up belly dancing I could relate to the characters and their relationships.
March 17, 2025
Not great. Firstly because I couldn’t cope with the vast number of characters introduced (21 by page 52)! Marissa’s event in the shower was not necessary to the storyline and the ending was terrible. What was the point of throwing that in? Did Marissa get help for her trauma? Too many questions.
March 31, 2015
Gayle, Sonya and Marissa are all ladies in their 50′s wo meet up at Marissa’s Belly Dancing class.
They end up going on a Government sponsored tour through outback Western Australia to demonstrate Belly Dancing as healthy sport for ladies of all ages.
Each of them have a past, and each of them have reached a point where they must face the past, go through a crisis and move on.
The book is very well written,and very believable – the plots are not out there in “it could never happen land” like a lot of Chick Lit is today. The three ladies, and the people who come into contact with them, are all very well developed and grow during the story.
If you haven’t read Chick Lit then this is the one to start with.
They end up going on a Government sponsored tour through outback Western Australia to demonstrate Belly Dancing as healthy sport for ladies of all ages.
Each of them have a past, and each of them have reached a point where they must face the past, go through a crisis and move on.
The book is very well written,and very believable – the plots are not out there in “it could never happen land” like a lot of Chick Lit is today. The three ladies, and the people who come into contact with them, are all very well developed and grow during the story.
If you haven’t read Chick Lit then this is the one to start with.
October 15, 2019
I’m so glad I’ve only just discovered Liz Byrski, because it means there’s plenty more of her novels to devour!! I love the way She dives into the real life struggles and hurdles so many people can relate to. She writes deeply and so honestly about women, their friendships, relationships and personal hardships. I loved the West Australian setting in this one, being a born and bred West Aussie with a huge crush on Fremantle! Fabulous! A perfect holiday read! X
July 30, 2012
Many people think writing is easy. They’re right – it is. Writing well, on the other hand, is the hardest kind of thing. The best writers make it look easy. And even an indifferently written book takes a lot of effort. Li z Byrski, the author of this book teaches creative writing in WA. This novel is about middle aged people reviewing their lives and finding new pathways. Even though I am of that age-group, I found it pretty ho-hum – but maybe it wasn’t helped by the particular voice that was reading the audio-book I listened to. The experience made me think that I could write an indifferent novel – so maybe it will lead ironically to a change in my own life. Maybe – I know how hard writing well can be.
March 13, 2014
loved the characters, the sense of restlessness and friendships
June 9, 2025
I don't know what it is about Liz Byrski novels, but they envelope me like a warm blanket, and I feel like I'm reading about friends. It's a wonderful talent, and I find her stories reminiscent of Anne Tyler, one of my favourite authors. The characters are generally regular, middle aged women trying to redefine themselves or find their way in the second half of their lives. Generally speaking female friendship is a central theme, and this book is no different.
Another reason I connect with her work is the Australian backdrop, more often than not set in Western Australia. It feels like home.
Ultimately the characters in Belly Dancing For Beginners take some big steps to change their lives for the better, and this often takes courage. A new romance is not always the solution and this is why I like the way Ms Byrski resolves her storylines. You don't need a man to be happy, but it is essential to have a few core friends that you can laugh with, and rely on through thick and thin. As I get older this has become very apparent to me.
Another reason I connect with her work is the Australian backdrop, more often than not set in Western Australia. It feels like home.
Ultimately the characters in Belly Dancing For Beginners take some big steps to change their lives for the better, and this often takes courage. A new romance is not always the solution and this is why I like the way Ms Byrski resolves her storylines. You don't need a man to be happy, but it is essential to have a few core friends that you can laugh with, and rely on through thick and thin. As I get older this has become very apparent to me.
August 1, 2024
I have a 9 month old so I don't have much time for reading but she's been doing daycare orientation recently and it's given my first few hours of time away from her since she was born and alas, I choose to do some reading. This story reminds me of Liane Moriarty's style - both authors are Australian, both tell stories about ordinary people experiencing upheaval, trauma etc in their lives. Belly Dancing for Beginners centres around three middle aged women who push themselves out of their comfort zone and find their lives irrevocably changed. It was a compelling read, with relatable characters and the type of book I had the head space for when most of my day is spent dealing with my clingy little bub. And the twist at the end absolutely shocked me! I was probably a bit surprised but a very compelling, enjoyable book.
May 7, 2020
This was my first read by Liz Byrski... I loved the coming together of women; who were all 'struggling' with their own demons... but kept that particular area well concealed. What freedom comes into our lives when we can break free of the 'chains that bind'! I loved this book, with it's secrets that were eventually let loose and 'sent packing' :) Go you strong women! I was particularly gobsmacked at the end of the book... wowee... didn't see that coming!! I haven't given anything away, so no spoilers here :)
December 14, 2018
I absolutely enjoyed this story of 3 women of a certain age and their friends and some family members and how their lives revolved around others and each other. It was so well written and I was thoroughly drawn in. This book was an Australian Women's Weekly Book of the Month at some point. The author grew up in the UK but moved to Australia. The story is set in Perth and points north up the west coast.
July 23, 2019
Liz Byrski writes intelligent and relevant fiction directed at readers, mostly I suspect women, over a certain age. She's aware and relevant, has a good sense of societal issues and creates an interesting and engaging narrative. She understands Australian society, our landscape and history and the changing roles of women especially as they age in that society. I like her books and I suspect I'd like the author.
August 20, 2017
Just re read this, possibly my favourite Liz Byrski book. I enjoy her treatment of older women, they are relatable to women I know, and have known, and it is good to read books in the Australian landscape.
January 15, 2019
A great book truly from a different perspective and allowing unexpected non-traditional outcomes with a couple of interesting twists. I enjoyed reading about how women felt in their relationships and how they helped each other through challenges.
October 14, 2020
I’m not going to lie, I didn’t love this book. Found myself finding excuses to not pick it up. Just couldn’t get into it.... but persevered. And the twist at the end was excellent. Hence why I gave it three stars. Would have been only two without the twist......
July 13, 2024
Nice read that will appeal to readers who relate to the middle aged women characters. They connected via belly dancing and have their fair share of family, marriage and dating dramas. A tour around WA provides an Aussie backdrop.
July 23, 2017
It was an easy read. Out of all the characters only one main character's story interested me so I skipped the rest of it. Did read the ending, what a twist.
April 29, 2018
I am only sorry that my belly dancing lessons have not yet had this type of impact on my life :) well written and engaging.
August 21, 2018
Another good book by Liz Byrski, love the way she identifies with the older woman.
December 19, 2018
light, enjoyable
January 30, 2019
Not usually my sort of thing, but a friend insisted and I quite enjoyed it, well written
3 stars feels a bit mean but until Goodreads allows half stars ...
3 stars feels a bit mean but until Goodreads allows half stars ...
November 27, 2019
After a few books with disappointing endings... this one was fantastic, kept me guessing all they way through, lots of big moments revealed during the book and a big twist at the end!
December 30, 2019
a lovely light read...couldn't put it down.
July 9, 2020
Excellent story of women and how they survive and thrive No matter what live throws at them.
October 31, 2020
Easy weekend reading. No surprises here.
November 4, 2020
Another great read by Liz Byrski.
December 28, 2021
Not bad holiday reading about older women sorting their issues.
January 5, 2022
Enjoyable read for women of all ages ! Highly recommend
July 23, 2022
Wow!
I think I’ve found my new favourite author.
I think I’ve found my new favourite author.
November 16, 2022
Loved this book. Friends are the best things we have.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews