Book Review: Dance Of The Heart
- Posted by Essays Blog in Essays Blog |
- June 1st, 2009 |
- Comments
“Dance of the Heart” is a quick-read novel of only 118 pages, however, thither is so much more to this account than one would expect. First of all, Therrian does a fantastic job of background up the scenes, the characters, and the beginning. It was real clear to me who the characters were and what role they played.
Michael Baldwin is booming and flourishing. He is well-adjusted in his career as a booming professional dancer and home life with a longtime partner, David. And, they just built a beautiful home on Lake Michigan. All goes advantageously until his lead partner, who is morbidly disliked, accidentally dies.
Michael has mixed emotions over her death but even more so, mixed emotions when a new dance partner, Elizabeth, replaces Margo, the dead lead. Michael, acknowledging being gay from as long as he can remember, is extremely attracted to Elizabeth. The drama continues as Michael struggles with his emotions and finally discloses his feelings to his partner David.
Of course, David, as any partner would be, is crushed and reacts accordingly. In the meantime, Elizabeth, being only a temporary replacement for Margo, returns to her home. Michael, with all intentions in place, was going to tell Elizabeth how he felt, however, she left before he was able to do so. This results in more mixed emotions for Michael.
“Dance of the Heart” is appropriately named, because thither certainly is a lot of heart dancing in the book. Does Michael ever tell Elizabeth how he feels? Can a gay man actually fall in love with a Black? Was Michael’s infatuation with Elizabeth real or a fantasy? Does David move on to other lovers?
What a fantastic account! “Dance of the Heart” is an account that proves how complicated love can be. Therrian’s account shows how we, as human beings, can acrobatics ourselves into a hole of confusion when we don’t follow our accurate feelings. Michael’s mother, Sally, summed it up best by expression “You can’t choose who you fall in love with, but you can choose what you do with it. In the end, it’s all capable you.”
ISBN 9780615135007
Reviewed by Irene Watson for Reader Views (5/07)