The Ballroom on Magnolia Street

by Sharon Owens, Caroline Winterson (Translation)

Attending the festivities at Johnny Hogan's ballroom every Saturday night, Shirley Winters pursues a relationship with fellow regular Declan Greenwood, while her sister, Kate, indulges in her taste for romantic variety and relentlessly seduces potential marital candidates. By the author of The Tea House on Mulberry Street. . Reprint.

Genres: Fiction, Chick Lit, Romance, Ireland, Audiobook, Contemporary, Irish Literature

336 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Here are some questions I get asked a lot:

DID YOU ALWAYS WANT TO BE A WRITER?

No, it never crossed my mind, though I have always loved books.

WHAT BOOKS DID YOU LOVE AS A CHILD?

THE BORROWERS
THE BORROWERS AFIELD
THE BORROWERS AFLOAT
THE BORROWERS ALOFT
THE BORROWERS AVENGED, all by Mary Norton
THE SECRET GARDEN by Frances Hodgson Burnett
THE LION, THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE by CS Lewis

WHAT BOOKS DO YOU LOVE NOW?

THE MAIDEN DINOSAUR
TEA AT FOUR O'CLOCK, both by Janet McNeill
LADY CHATTERLY'S LOVER by DH Lawrence
THE LONELY PASSION OF JUDITH HEARNE
THE FEAST OF LUPERCAL
AN ANSWER FROM LIMBO
THE LUCK OF GINGER COFFEY, all by Brian Moore
READING IN THE DARK by Seamus Deane
THE COUNTRY GIRLS TRILOGY by Edna O'Brien
BEATRICE by Noelle Harrison
THE RAGGY BOY TRILOGY by Patrick Galvin
THE FALLING ANGELS by John Walsh
MAN OR MANGO? by Lucy Ellmann
THE BLUE TANGO by Eoin McNamee

HOW DO YOU RELAX?

I love gardening. This is my garden in Belfast. We managed to squeeze about 25 trees into a very small space. It’s getting quite cramped now the trees are maturing but it feels like a little secret garden to sit in so we love it. I don't think I could ever move house as I love my garden far too much and also this was our first home together and the only house our daughter has ever known!
WHAT KIND OF FOOD DO YOU LIKE?

I'm a veggie who doesn't like courgettes or aubergines! So eating out is usually quite an adventure. I love salads, pizza, fries, most vegetables especially butternut squash, most cheeses, Indian curries, pretzels and most types of bread, all kinds of fruit and ice-cream. My favourite snack is tea and toast with real butter. I do a mean roast chicken for my daughter Alice, and she loves my bread and onion stuffing made on the frying pan with a little butter and
DO YOU WATCH MUCH TV?

Too much! My favourites are:

MURDER SHE WROTE
POIROT
MIDSOMER MURDERS
MISS MARPLE
MONK
KATH & KIM
FATHER TED
BLACK BOOKS
THE IT CROWD
8 OUT OF 10 CATS
THE FRIDAY NIGHT PROJECT
CORONATION STREET
SEINFELD
CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN FASHION?

Well, I would have said no until recently when it was pointed out to me that I love fashion very much: but only certain trends, and I never change my mind about what I like. So, for the last 25 years I have worn (only black) Victorian-style blouses, long waisted overcoats, pointy-toed ankle boots, DM shoes and sandals, palazzo pants and silver costume jewellery. I have long, straight hair and my favourite perfume is the POISON range by Dior, or anything by CHANEL. I have one designer piece: a LULU GUINNESS handbag that dermot

DO YOU BELIEVE IN LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT?

Yes. It happened to me. My husband Dermot is a wonderful man; strong and supportive yet gentle and thoughtful too. I wouldn't have a career without his encouragement, and I don't think I'd be nearly as happy or well-grounded either. He's my best friend.
The funny thing is, when I first met him, he was really skinny with long black hair and he wore a dog collar and an overcoat from the second World War. Twenty-three years on, he's gained some muscles, shaved his head, and now resembles a Hollywood hit-man. Both looks work for
HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE REMEMBERED?

Hopefully with affection by my husband, daughter and close friends.

MY FAVOURITES...

BANDS:
Joy Division
New Order
Bauhaus
Jesus & Mary Chain
Siouxsie & the Banshees
Smiths
Morrissey
Cure
Cocteau Twins
Iggy Pop
Undertones
Papa Roach
XTC
Sex Pistols
Clash
Interpol
Muse
Rammstein
Futureheads
Kooks
KT Tunstall

Best Live Band: Smiths
FILMS...

WILD AT HEART
TRAPPED IN PARADISE
RAISING ARIZONA
AMELIE
EDWARD SCISSORHANDS
SWEENEY TODD

Reviews

[Rainy Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book makes me crave a lot of food because the way the author described every delicacies were so vivid it makes my mouth water! The story was kind of a "roller coaster" for me, but I like how the book ends. It gave me so much satisfaction after that.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Spoiler Alert -- I tried to write a review without giving away too much, but it was too confusing.

I don't know who were my favorite characters in this book, Eddy and Marion (whose marriage not only survived, but flourished against the odds) or Declan and Shirley (who were so mature and loving for such young people) or James and Eileen (who were so wise, funny, and dependable). They were all so nice and steady and good. I loved how Declan dealt with the surprise Johnny Hogan gave him!! He didn't really care to find out that Johnny was his biological father because Eddy had been such a good father all his life and given him such a good role model. So mature and filled with gratitude toward his dad. I think the private scenes could've been given with much less detail, but I'm glad that Kate (Shirley's older, wilder sister) was able to work her life out so well and settle down so nicely with her husband Kevin.

[Susan Schimmel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just like the other Sharon Owens’ books I have read, The Ballroom on Magnolia Street feels like curling up in a comfortable arm chair!

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had potential for some great storylines. Instead they were mostly half told which made them boring.

[Polly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This sat on my Audible shelf for a long time before I got to listen to it. Had a hard time getting past the first few pages, as the author jumped us around from character to character with no rhyme nor reason. There was too much focus on Johnny, who's my least favorite in the book. Not to worry though, he's not the bulk of the story (although he never quite goes away). Really enjoyed the characters, and I think you will too.

[Anita · Rating 3 out of 5]

Irish soap opera with wacky self absorbed characters, some of whom redeemed themselves by the end of the story and others who did not. Story centered around a ballroom in Belfast owned by one Hollywood Hogan, two sisters and others who frequented the ballroom and portrayed lots of relationship melodrama.

[Lauren of Ngaio · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first Sharon Owens novel. I read it in a day - I was on holiday - and enjoyed the escapism of reading about a small group of people, whose lives are entwined via the Ballroom on Magnolia St.
From Hollywood Hogan, a bit of a dandy, who owns the Ballroom, to the sisters who love to dress up and go dancing & seeking a reputable boyfriend. Oh and the bumbling extortionists - not really cut out for crime but they do their best. There is a relatable character for everyone.
There are some good laughs in this book, and if you want to transport yourself to (fictional)1980's Belfast then this is worth a read. Pure escapism!

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Johnny Hogan is a romantic and a dreamer. He opens a Ballroom on Magnolia Street and invites the city of Belfast to come in, meet the man of your dreams, the lady who will take your breath away, and dance all night through. The book shares the stories of all those all in the same town and who in some way or another are entwined within the lives of Johnny and the Ballroom crowd.
The story is of sister rivalry, of courtship, or shattered dreams, and traumatic moments.
The love story between Deklin and Shirley warms the heart. Kate is a harder one to stomach but just as real.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whenever I need something lighthearted and fun, I pick up a Sharon Owens book. The Tea House on Mulberry Street was my favorite. With this one I could have done without some of the intimate descriptions, but otherwise it was a very entertaining story. I love the bumbling villains. :)

[Melissa Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book made me laugh several times and for that I gave it 4 stars.

[Sarah H · Rating 2 out of 5]

It didn’t grab my attention and I didn’t finish it.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Jessica Pater · Rating 2 out of 5]

A strange story about a bunch of mostly unlikeable characters.

[Angela Good]

I enjoyed the entire book until page 310ish. Everything went downhill fast. Total bummer of an ending.

[Jennie Winters · Rating 1 out of 5]

I agree with other posts that this story dragged. I could not get through it.

[Shonda Grimes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maeve Binchy fans will love this!

[Beth Ellis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good characters, a bit long winded.

[Sue Risner · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this was a pleasant read, I found myself getting increasingly frustrated with the characters.

[Els · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe 2.5?
Did not enjoy as much as Ballroom

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book to be a fun, sweet, sometimes maddening and overall delightful read. The characters are very human with lots of flaws and I found myself shaking my head and laughing throughout.

[Essie]

Did not finish! Too much happening to too many characters, right from the start I was confused.....!

[Tracey Inglis · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy good read

[Rachel]

It took me so long to get through the first three chapters, I can’t remember if there was anything inappropriate or if I was just bored.

[AnnMarie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was a old book, held my attention long enough to read.
Lots of secrets and different ideas of the characters in book.

[Elizabeth Meadows · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this one better than Tea House on Mulberry Street, but not as well as Tavern on Maple Street.

[Kimberly Walsh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute story. I really enjoyed the characters. It was funny at times and I think that wouldn't have come off as well if I weren't listening to it on audible.

[Cindy Su · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good.

[Kimberly Westrope · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the characters in this story, especially the two sisters and the ways they goaded and supported each other. Actually, all of the main relationships were really sweet. I really liked the way the characters interacted. Another good story from Sharon Owens.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is perhaps my least favorite of Sharon Owen's work. The Ballroom on Magnolia Street starts off very slow, in fact, the first half of the book I consider largely useless. Luckily, I stuck through and was rewarded with a decent second half of the book.

Unlike her other works a great portion of this novel actually doesn't involve the ballroom. While the characters are sometimes there or mention it, it isn't the main focus like the Tea Room or Pub were in her other novels.

At the beginning we're introduced to Johnny "Hollywood" Hogan, the owner of the ballroom. He has a penchant for Blue Suede shoes and Marion, another character's (Declan) mother. He's famous for having stopped a crime years before in the ballroom and also for being the only survivor of a bombing in the neighborhood where the ballroom is when he was born.

The most prominent characters are sisters Kate and Shirley. In the first half of the novel I couldn't stand either of them. They were both very superficial and written to be quite annoying. While Shirley improves midways through the novel, it isn't until almost the end when Kate redeems herself. Both of the sisters are in a perpetual hunt for love (or in Kate's case) a good time. Shirley, especially has a thing for Declan.

After the first half of the book is done the story really gets going. Shirley gets involved with Declan finally (even though in one paragraph of the first book he liked Kate, which is never explained away). Kate starts dating a mechanic out of jealousy of her sister's relationship. These relationships shape out the second half of the book and evolve into a double wedding that causes numerous sorts of grief.

Also featured is a kidnapping that seemed somewhat out of place and a transference of the ownership of the ballroom, which is quickly and conveniently reversed at the end of the novel. Like her other novels, the last chapter consists of different paragraphs explaining what happens to each of the characters, even the lowliest of side characters.

Her writing is still cheery in this book and it wouldn't be a bad read with a bubble bath and a glass of wine (the wine is very important for getting through the first half). It just didn't seem to have the charm that her other novels did and I didn't connect to the characters as much.

The Ballroom on Magnolia Street
Published in 2004
356 pages

[Rusty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun light read. This one reminds me of the British television soap operas I view occasionally. It features Johnny Hogan, the only survivor when his street was bombed. Known as Hollywood Hogan, his life revolves around the ballroom. He dresses the part, acts the part and loves every minute he spends there. His only regret is the loss of Marion, his sweetheart of several years. When she realizes she is pregnant and John never gets around to proposing she finds her previous sweetheart. They marry and together raise a son, Declan.

The book uses the ballroom as the focus for much of the action as people search for love, friendship and happiness. The only person who cannot find another is Johnny himself. However, when he discovers that he has a son he sets out to win his love. The result is not what one would expect and those who visit the ballroom find their own lives much changed by what happens to those they meet there. It's like a walk along a street veering into the ballroom now and then. Nice read.