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Astonish Me
Astonish Me | Maggie Shipstead
From the prize-winning author of Seating Arrangements comes an exquisitely written, fiercely compelling glimpse into the demanding world of professional ballet and its magnetic hold over two generations. Astonish Me is the irresistible story of Joan, a young American dancer who helps a Soviet ballet star, the great Arslan Rusakov, defect in 1975. A flash of fame and a passionate love affair follow, but Joan knows that, onstage and off, she is destined to remain in the shadows. After her relationship with Arslan sours, Joan decides to make a new life for herself. She quits ballet, marries a good man, and settles into the rhythm of Californian life with their son, Harry. But as the years pass, Joan comes to understand that ballet isnt finished with her yet: for there is no mistaking that Harry is a prodigy. Inevitably Joan is soon pulled back into a world she thought shed left behind and back to Arslan. Gripping and dramatic, Astonish Me is a story about the nature of talent, the choices we must make in search of fulfilment, and how we can never truly escape from the secrets of the past.
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review
rachaich
Astonish Me | Maggie Shipstead
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Pickpick

Now that was good. It was wonderful.
Plot, characters, writing. All kept tightly together and spanning the necessary time and outline.
Need to read more by her.

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rachaich
Astonish Me | Maggie Shipstead
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Loved Great Circle so thought I'd give this a whirl.
Plus it's about a ballerina and I started adult ballet in January 😊🤗

LapReader Hello fellow adult ballerina! 3y
Caroline2 Ohhh I‘d love to take ballet lessons. No where round here, I‘ve done some you tube videos but it‘s hard to stick at it. 3y
rachaich @LapReader so much fun! I also attempt tap dancing... 3y
rachaich @Caroline2 I've wanted to learn since I was a child x 3y
Caroline2 Ohhhhh I‘m dying to do tap too!!! 😆 I might have to suck up, get some shoes and do it on you tube. I bet you‘re loving it!!! 😉 3y
18 likes2 stack adds5 comments
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Cathyloves2read
Astonish Me | Maggie Shipstead
Pickpick

This book is about ballet, a topic that I‘m not very interested in. I don‘t remember why I decided to put this book on my TBR list. I think it‘s because somebody from my monthly book club Facebook account recommended it. At any rate, this story didn‘t bore me at all. It had everything. A bit of romance, a bit of scandal, a bit of suspense. I am glad that I took a chance on this book, it was pretty good.

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LeslieO
Astonish Me | Maggie Shipstead
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I loved this one and can‘t wait to read her new one. #Dance #JulyJourneys

Eggs 👏🏻💃👌🏼 3y
28 likes1 stack add1 comment
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TheatreSpaz
Astonish Me | Maggie Shipstead
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It's my favorite time of year: reading outside weather! I just finished a pretty dramatic, kind of scary, rather heavy novel, and this has been in my TBR stack for an unknown amount of time. Ballet? Long lost love? Yes please!

Soubhiville I really liked this one! 5y
TheatreSpaz @Soubhiville I did, too! It somehow got better and more interesting as I read it. Became much more than a romance or a book about dance. 5y
4 likes1 stack add2 comments
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PacingTheCage
Astonish Me | Maggie Shipstead
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#Bleeckersays mommy, it's cold outside and there's white stuff in all my places. #snowpocalypse2018 #RaleighNC #pugsoflitsy

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PacingTheCage
Astonish Me | Maggie Shipstead
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I am completely astonished here in #RaleighNC today. 5 inches of snow and it's still falling! #snowpocalypse2018☃❄
#bookandwinepairing 📚 🍷
2015 Marchesi Di Barolo 'Maraia' Barbera Del Monferrato
#MOUNTTBR2018 #MtKilimanjaro here I come

16 likes1 stack add
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RebelReader
Astonish Me | Maggie Shipstead
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I opened Litsy this morning and look what greeted me! I'm so glad @Booksnob introduced me to this wonderful community. Everyone has been welcoming and helpful in expanding both my reading and my technical skills. 😁 I will announce a #giveaway in the next day or two to celebrate a milestone I never dreamed I would achieve when I joined. Thanks everyone for enriching my life! ❤️❤️

ReadosaurusText Congratulations! 7y
erzascarletbookgasm Nice catch! Congrats!🎊 7y
heikemarie Awesome! Congrats 7y
See All 34 Comments
Cathythoughts Wooohooo 🎉🎉🎉 7y
Bklover Congratulations!!! 🎉🎈 7y
PenguinInFlight Yay! Congratulations!! 💜🎉🎉🎉👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 7y
Librarybelle Congratulations! 7y
Minervasbutler Congrats! 7y
tournevis Yéééééééééé!!!!!!! 7y
Christine11 Congratulations! 😊 7y
Redwritinghood 🎉🎉🎉🎉 7y
mabell Congrats! 🎉 7y
niha923 Congrats!! 🎊🎉 7y
AmyG Yay! 🎉🎉🎉 7y
rubyslippersreads 🎉📚🎉📚🎉🎉🎉 7y
Liatrek Excellent🎊🎊🎊🎊🎊🎊 7y
Mollyanna Congratulations! 🎉🍾🎉 7y
GripLitGrl 🎉🎉Congratulations!! 7y
Ddzmini 😝📚congratulations 🎈 7y
Jas16 🎉👏📚 7y
DGRachel Congrats!🎉🎉🍾🎉🎉 7y
shadowspeak17 Congrats! 🎉🎊 7y
megt Awesome! 🎉🎉🎉 7y
SilversReviews GREAT!! CONGRATS!!! 🎊🎈🎉 7y
bookaholic1 Congratulations!! 7y
JessClark78 Congrats! 🎊🎉🎊📚 7y
Sungirl79 Congrats 🎊🎉🎉👏👏 7y
Velvetfur Woohoo for you! 🎆 7y
SandyW 🙌 Congratulations! 🎆🎆🎆 7y
CAnne Congratulations!🎉🎉🎉 7y
Izai.Amorim Congratulations! 7y
Booksnob Congrats my friend. I love this app and all these amazing book people. Happy New Year!! 7y
RebelReader @Booksnob Happy New Year! 7y
hes7 Yay! 🎉 7y
142 likes34 comments
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Lacythebookworm
Astonish Me | Maggie Shipstead
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@MeganAnn My date was so beautifully wrapped I didn't want to open it! Thank you so much! #blinddatewithabook #lgpog

Darth_Kaders I looooovvvved this book! 7y
81 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Lauren.Archer
Astonish Me | Maggie Shipstead
Pickpick

I just loved this book. I did not want this to end at all. It was not long at all, but read so slowly so I could take it all in. Highly recommend if you like literary fiction.

Allietaylor16 I loved this as well! 7y
67 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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Lauren.Archer
Astonish Me | Maggie Shipstead
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This is been on my shelf forever. It is about time I read it.

Bookcation74 I really liked this one! 7y
nomadreader I really liked this one! 7y
Sydsavvy I ❤️❤️❤️it. 7y
Redwritinghood I've had it on my Kindle for forever, too. 7y
Mc_cart_ny It's a good one! 7y
91 likes3 stack adds5 comments
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NatalieR
Astonish Me | Maggie Shipstead
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Pickpick

I really liked this book because it centered around the ballet. The characters were likable and I enjoyed how they developed over a few decades. It also brought back cherished memories of dancing during my childhood.

Soubhiville I really enjoyed it too! 7y
61 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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Cinfhen
Astonish Me | Maggie Shipstead
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Day 20 #TinyDancer Today's book title is definitely appropriate because yesterday you all blew me away with your creative choices for #UmaThurman😁🙌🏻 and though I haven't read Astonish Me, I'm pretty sure I stacked it when @Soubhiville reviewed it a while back. I know it involves a former ballerina, an ex lover and her dancer son...sounds good! Does anyone remember the movie, The Turning Point?!? Only 10 more days left in #LyricalApril 😧

TrishB You have certainly had us thinking!! 😀👍 8y
Sydsavvy I loved it. 8y
Reggie What @TrishB said☝🏼😏lol 8y
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Cinfhen Thanks @TrishB & @Reggie you guys have been awesome and my TBR is piling up! Hope you'll continue to join me for #RockInMay 😉🤘🏼🎸 8y
Cinfhen @Sydsavvy the movie???? I'm trying to think how old I was...and how old Mikhail Baryshnikov must have been?!? 8y
Sydsavvy Oh you mean White Nights? I loved that too. So maybe that is why I loved Astonish Me, though I honestly felt the book had a power that was ignored by most. I just thought it it was truly well done. 8y
Cinfhen Haha, I meant the movie The Turning Point...but I forgot how much I loved White Nights 💙 @Sydsavvy 8y
Cinfhen I'm glad to hear book is good, it has mixed reviews on Litsy @Sydsavvy 8y
erzascarletbookgasm Yesterday's was a tough one for me, but you guys are certainly very creative and amazing! Enjoyed all the #umathurman posts! 👍🏼 8y
Sydsavvy 😂😂😂👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 8y
Sace Ohhhh. I loved The Turning Point when I was little. I'm sure I missed most of the plot. I was just there for the ballerinas. I had the soundtrack and I wore it out. I wish it was available in DVD or Netflix or something. I think I found a crappy upload on YouTube once. 8y
KarenUK Ahhh... another kindle daily deal I've not yet read... but thanks for the reminder... I love a ballet story 😊💕 8y
minkyb Why yes I do remember The Turning Point! 8y
ValerieAndBooks I actually bailed on this book early in -- the plot does look good but I didn't like the present tense narrative style. I'll have to watch the Turning Point movie...maybe this summer when my dancer is home 😊 8y
93 likes4 stack adds14 comments
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BookishClaire
Astonish Me | Maggie Shipstead
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My essay "Dance: On Ballet And Impossible Love" is up on Catapult today. https://catapult.co/stories/dance-on-ballet-and-impossible-love #ballet #essay #amwriting

LectricSheep That is awesome. Congrats! 🎉 8y
22 likes1 comment
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BooksForYears
Astonish Me | Maggie Shipstead
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Taking care of two prompts in one post! Not only is this #signed for day 27 of #ReadJanuary but it also meets the criteria for #FunFridayPhoto because it starts with the first letter of my first name and is unread.

MeganAnn I really enjoyed Astonish Me! I've been meaning to read this one >> ever since but haven't gotten around to it yet. 8y
Soubhiville Astonish Me was my first read of the new year! I enjoyed it! 8y
BooksForYears @MeganAnn I thought Seating Arrangements was a hoot, and I'm thinking of doing a reread this summer 🐳 8y
147 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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LeahBergen
Astonish Me | Maggie Shipstead
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#BookMail Look what came today! Thank you so much, Soubhi! This is going to be my "A" for #LitsyAtoZ (and I can hardly wait). ???

Soubhiville Yay! I hope you'll enjoy it! 8y
Suzze Nice! 8y
shanebeth this is my A too! 8y
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Hobbinol Wow! A dance book and an adorable bookish card! Sweet! 8y
LeahBergen @Soubhiville I read the first few pages right away and I KNOW I will! 😍 8y
LeahBergen @shanebeth It looks really good. 👍🏼 8y
LeahBergen @Hobbinol I know! Awesome! 👏🏻 8y
107 likes2 stack adds8 comments
review
Soubhiville
Astonish Me | Maggie Shipstead
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Pickpick

I loved this! Subtle, complicated, beautifully told story of tricky relationships entwined in ballet. If you're into dance, I recommend it. 💃🏻❤

LeahBergen Oh, good!!! 😉 8y
KendallMorganHall Just got it from the library. My mother was a ballerina so I'll read anything (within reason) about dance. Thanks for the recommendation! 8y
86 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Soubhiville
Astonish Me | Maggie Shipstead
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I'm almost finished with this, and while I am enjoying it, I won't keep it in my bursting home library. Would anyone be interested in it? It's about ballet, or more so a woman who retires from a corps and her family and friends. I'll send it to the first person to comment, just email me your address: magicbelly@gmail.com.
#balletbooks #balletfiction #danceypants

LeahBergen Yes!!! 8y
LeahBergen I've been waiting for this one to come through my used bookstore 😀 8y
Soubhiville Great @LeahBergen I'll try to get it in the mail for you tomorrow 😊 8y
LeahBergen @Soubhiville You're the BEST. 😘 8y
60 likes1 stack add5 comments
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Soubhiville
Astonish Me | Maggie Shipstead
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Here's my #A for#LitsyAtoZ! I'm starting with the A to Z challenge and cross listing as many books as I can with Litsy Bingo and Book Riot's Read Harder, then I'll go in and fill the blanks. This also fulfills #LitsyBingo's #RecommendedBy... as it was by @ChrisBohjalian and Vintage books at TX book Fest. 😊. 49 pages in and enjoying it.

Reviewsbylola This cover is beautiful. 😍 8y
70 likes1 stack add3 comments
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Soubhiville
Astonish Me | Maggie Shipstead
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It's coming you guys! I just got my email to sign up for #24in48 readathon! Jan 21 and 22. I don't know if I'll get the full 24 hours this year, but I'm game to try 😊📚. And my #LitsyAtoZ stack just got repurposed too! I love this #readathon. (They haven't posted on Litsy yet, but follow them and I'm sure it'll be up soon.)

Blair_Reads Yay!!! These are always fun :) 8y
Lacythebookworm Thanks for sharing! I wasn't following them on Litsy yet! 🙌😊 8y
BookNerdBritt I really want to do this! I was unable to participate in the last one but I'm gonna try to clear my schedule for this one! 8y
See All 9 Comments
Varshitha Yayy!! Can't wait.. 8y
Bookzombie Yay! Thanks for sharing this. I was wondering what the dates were just the other day! 8y
readinginthedark I'm excited, too! Just trying to work out the logistics with the husband and child... 8y
Handmade_Redhead I hope i can do this one. Last one was interrupted beyond repair. 8y
Sue Woot! Can't wait! 8y
PurpleyPumpkin I'm so looking forward to this. It's in my calendar!🗓📚 8y
74 likes9 comments
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shanebeth
Astonish Me | Maggie Shipstead
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I should be wrapping presents, but instead I'm making fancy lists with fancy pens. these are my picks for the #LitsyAtoZ challenge! I'm pretty excited about my choices, because most of them have been on my TBR list for ages. I feel like I cheated a little with my D choice since I went by the author's last name, but I needed some fluffy romance in the mix. to be continued... #readingchallenge

Magpiegem I've just stolen your "q" thank you ? 8y
shanebeth @Magpiegem you're welcome! 8y
32 likes2 comments
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AshleyS
Astonish Me | Maggie Shipstead
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Pickpick

This book is fantastic. It's not super exciting but it is so beautifully written. I am very excited that I bought Seating Arrangements on my kindle awhile ago so I have more Maggie Shipstead to read as soon as I am able. I'm could not have asked for a better 100th book of the year! 💯

14 likes1 stack add
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AshleyS
Astonish Me | Maggie Shipstead
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Just starting my 100th book of the year. 2016 has been the year of the ballet book for me.

BooksForYears Woohoo!! 🙌🙌🙌 8y
Megabooks Awesome! 🍾 8y
LauraBeth Wow! So awesome 😀 8y
Lucylovesreading My former ballerina shelf will love this 💃 8y
22 likes1 stack add4 comments
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Soubhiville
Astonish Me | Maggie Shipstead
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My haul from #TXBookFest this weekend! I wanted to buy so many more! I actually already owned The Guest Room, but got it signed by the author, and Astonish Me was a giveaway from Vintage/ Anchor Books. I can't wait to read them all! (Saw all of the authors except Maggie Shipstead speak! What a blast!)

LeahBergen Nice! 8y
58 likes1 comment
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LeslieO
Astonish Me | Maggie Shipstead
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I loved this book.

15 likes1 stack add
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LeslieO
Astonish Me | Maggie Shipstead
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Loving this one.

16 likes1 stack add
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cathy6098
Astonish Me | Maggie Shipstead
Mehso-so

The story reminded me a lot of the movie "The Turning Point", with variations. I like the movie much more.

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Loreen
Astonish Me | Maggie Shipstead
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Here it is! my #firsteverlitsypost I was just pushing buttons to see what would happen. Shout out to the first comment as well! #booktober #octphotochallenge (and I'm still working on the #readmyowndamnbooks , too!)

candc320 Awesome!!! 8y
36 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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MeganAnn
Astonish Me | Maggie Shipstead
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#textonlycovers these are the ones I found on my shelves. I love how they color coordinated 🤓 #booktober

LukkiAnn Cute shoes ;) 8y
MeganAnn @LukkiAnn thanks 😄 8y
37 likes2 comments
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Beckys_Books
Astonish Me | Maggie Shipstead
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Astonished at my self-control. Stopped at B&N today and only bought one book. From the bargain area no less. 🙂

BookishMarginalia 👍🏼 I'm astonished too! 😜 8y
28 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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Miss_Mel
Astonish Me | Maggie Shipstead
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Pickpick

So good. Jumps around a lot between narrators and time frames. The ending was perfectly precise and left me so satisfied.

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courtney
Astonish Me | Maggie Shipstead
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Mehso-so

Astonish me this book did not but it was still a stunning and engaging read. Shipstead really plunges us into the drama and rigors of ballet, and you can tell she really knew her stuff. There was also a lot of dramatic nuggets, but as soon as I was ready to get the popcorn, it fizzled out. This book spans thirty years in 250~ pages, so it was very hard to get a close read on the characters and how certain things impacted them. Gorgeously written!

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courtney
Astonish Me | Maggie Shipstead
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Double post on this one tonight because our cat, Ouija, came up and wanted to read with us and he is too cute. It's like he knows what we find adorable (he also has a little habit of climbing into the bookshelf...because he knows we hide his toys behind the books.). 😻

BookishMarginalia He is adorable 😻😻😻 We have a black kitty too (all grown up now). 8y
MrBook 😻😻😻😻 Look @BookBabe ! Coale's sibling! 8y
24 likes2 comments
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courtney
Astonish Me | Maggie Shipstead

The city seems like an offering that has not been claimed. It's beauty is suspenseful.

BookishMarginalia ...although the teacher in me immediately thinks: how can beauty BE suspenseful? 8y
22 likes1 comment
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courtney
Astonish Me | Maggie Shipstead
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I started reading this yesterday evening. 20 pages in and I already feel the insane desire to watch Center Stage as soon as possible.

Eyelit That movie is my number 1 guilty pleasure! 8y
Shortstack I love that movie! Dance movies are my favorite guilty pleasure. 8y
courtney @Eyelit @Shortstack same! I think I've seen that movie a minimum of 8 times and I still love it (and making fun of Cooper) so much! 8y
See All 8 Comments
Megabooks ❤️ Centerstage! I even own it. 8y
Blair_Reads What makes it like that movie? I don't know anything about this book. But I too love the movie!! I know the jazz class dance by heart! 8y
courtney @Ebooksandcooks me too! I haven't made my husband watch it yet so I think the time is right 8y
courtney @Blair_Reads it's about ballet dancers and the main character wants to be amazing but just isn't good 8y
kgriffith Sold! 8y
30 likes3 stack adds8 comments
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CherylDeFranceschi
Astonish Me | Maggie Shipstead
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When you bring 4 books to dinner with the BF because you just finished your last read and are filled with dread because you're not actively reading something.

Hugoreads I know that feeling well! It's painful but exciting. I have a sort of ritual for choosing the next book. 8y
BookishMarginalia Sounds familiar 8y
CherylDeFranceschi @Hugoreads I do too! But 1) I'm bookishly weird 2) I panicked! 8y
See All 7 Comments
BookishFeminist I always do this if I go somewhere when I'm "in between" books! I just don't know how to pick one when I'm feeling rushed. I get lots of weird looks when I go grab a tote bag to go to dinner though. ?? 8y
ValerieAndBooks How does this cover relate to dance? (I tried to read it with its pink cover-- my daughter is a dancer-- but I couldn't get into it because of the present tense). 8y
CherylDeFranceschi @BookishFeminist I know. I have to have a stack of 4 or 5 things and then I read they the beginning of each one until I choose. Luckily the BF is a crazy reader, too. 8y
Hugoreads @CherylDeFranceschi I pick about 3-4 books, read the first maybe 50 pages...if one grabs me I keep going with it. Or...like yesterday...I abandon them all and run to my local bookshop for something new! 8y
84 likes3 stack adds7 comments
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CherylDeFranceschi
Astonish Me | Maggie Shipstead
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Yay for book mail!! 👏 📚👏📚

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Amanda1
Astonish Me | Maggie Shipstead
Pickpick

An American ballerina helps a Cold War-era Russian dancer defect, but there are still consequences decades later for everyone involved.

MrBook Wow, intriguing premise. You've talked me into it. https://youtu.be/TV2em3YsNtk 8y
2 likes1 stack add1 comment
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courtney
Astonish Me | Maggie Shipstead
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I STRUCK LIBRARY GOLD TODAY

Liberty Holy cats. 8y
courtney @Liberty sometimes it's hard for me to get books published 10 years ago at the library here, so I was 100% surprised to find so many new releases 8y
Liberty Have fun! 8y
See All 13 Comments
Reviewsbylola Tipping the Velvet is amazing. 8y
CherylDeFranceschi So much goodness! 8y
courtney @Reviewsbylola it's been on my To Read list for FOREVER. It was on a separate shelf in the "staff picks" section so it felt like fate haha 8y
Megabooks I've read quite a few of those, but Station Eleven is an all-time top 5!! 8y
BookishFeminist You seriously did! Lots of great choices to read from here. 8y
courtney @Ebooksandcooks Station Eleven was highly recommended by a friend of mine, too! 8y
MrBook Great cache you've got here! 8y
courtney @MrBook I don't know how the hell I'm going to finish them all, but I'm going to try! 8y
MrBook I'll give you my address. Just send as many as you want my way. You can take the credit 😉😎👍🏻. 8y
24 likes1 stack add13 comments
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Grazona
Astonish Me | Maggie Shipstead
Pickpick

A lovely story that winds through time and revolves around ballet. A perfect summer read!

1 like1 stack add
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stephopitz
Astonish Me | Maggie Shipstead
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Pickpick

Russian ballet superstar defects for opportunities in America. But the novel is really about the good, but not great, dancer, Joan, who in her youth aides the defector but now, older and retired, is living a much less astonishing life. Maggie Shipstead Skyped into my book club tonight, it was great!

11 likes5 stack adds
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Loreen
Astonish Me | Maggie Shipstead
This post contains spoilers
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Pickpick

I really liked it. It had lots of dance drama which I find so readable. The ending is not great, but I can let it go.