I Was Dancing

by Edwin O'Connor

In I Was Dancing, Pulitzer Orize-winning novelist Edwin O'Connor again plunges us into an uproarious, pulsating world spilling over with unforgettable characters. Daniel Considine is a spry oldtime vaudevillian passionately devoted to himself and the things he wants in life. Now retired, he wants to spend the rest of his days in the home of his son-whom he hasn't seen in twenty years-and his son's wife. The young people accept him has a temporary guest; it is only when they discover his intentions that the conflict begins. (Excerpted from dust jacket)
Reviewed as one of Jonathon Yardley's Second Readings for the Washington Post.

242 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1964

About the author

Edwin O'Connor was an American journalist, novelist, and radio commentator who won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1962 for his novel The Edge of Sadness (1961). His ancestry was Irish, and his novels concerned the Irish-American experience and often dealt with the lives of politicians and priests.

Reviews

[Jennifer Morefield · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting story of an old man taking advantage of his son. He is in need of a home and goes to sponge off of his son. He was rarely home as a father. I have found it fascinating to read a story where someone who is wonderful (son) torn between his wants and his duty. The old guy is a vaudeville actor. He has lots of tricks up his sleeve to try to get his son to provide him w/a home and not send him to the retirement home. This book has really made me think about family relationships. A good read.

[Ginny Thurston · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was interested in this book initially....the main character and his cronies were funny and quirky, but as the book progressed, I got fed up with Daniel Considine...his whining and selfishness really began to grate on my nerves. I am a performer, and it made it sound like we are all fakes and self-absorbed. I kept waiting for Daniel to redeem himself, but he never did. I can see how this would give a chance for some great acting for some older actors; and, therefore, would be better as a play. As it was....very hard to get to the end and disappointed when I got there.

[Annette Kane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the novel, not the acting edition which is the only one Goodreads could find. I did think it would make a good play so I’m not surprised there’s a dramatisation of it. Nearly a five star book.

[Lou · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, read this years ago in an old READER'S DIGEST CONDENSED BOOK version, but the memory still lingers. Waltzing Daniel Considine, an old vaudevillian, lapses back into his son's life after a 20 year absence. Now, a year later, the son wants him to go, and Daniel doesn't want to. There's a lot of humor here, a lot of humanity, but some tough decisions, too. Daniel's a born con man and there lies his charm. But will it prevail against his son's wishes? Read it and see.

[Terry · Rating 3 out of 5]

Moving my way through the Edwin O'Connor catalog.

This edition came out of the storage facility at the St. Clair County Library in Port Huron--not much interest anymore, but his books were best-sellers back in the 1960s.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow but suspenseful plot that surmounted to a good ending.

[Eileen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute at first, really annoying to read after a while. I stopped reading halfway through.