Book Review | Hester’s Story by Adele Geras
By Mrs S • May 18th, 2008 • Category: 4 stars, 50 book challenge, Book Binge, Chunkster, Spring Reading Thing
Hester’s Story - Buy this book here
Rating
4 stars - a lovely story
Why did you decide to read this book?
I have to admit that this is another book that found its way onto my TBR - and I have no idea how it got there! The title’s not really inspiring is it? But then maybe I was drawn to the cover… Anyway it’s on the TBR, and its next on the alphabetical list, so I read it.
The Book Review
I really wasn’t sure what to expect when I opened this book - but judging by the review quote by Company magazine on the cover I should have realised it was Chick Lit - but there’s nothing wrong with that!
This is Hester’s Story - the life and times of a prima ballerina. The novel opens with a five year old girl, the death of her mother, and the giving of a gold chain - to be handed down to the next generation.
It soon becomes clear that this is a flash back - the current year is 1986 and Hester is at Wychwood House, Yorkshire, preparing for an annual ballet festival.
The book moves between 1986 and earlier years in Hester’s life through a series of flashbacks, each one adding in a new piece to the jigsaw that will eventually reveal the whole picture at the close of the story.
In essence this book is about ballet, coming of age, infidelity, betrayal and secrets.
It’s a lovely book to read; as new characters are introduced I became comfortable with them very quickly - although I’m not sure all were necessary. It flows well between the present day and the flash backs - and I didn’t pick up on the final twist until the author wanted me to (although it could just have been that I missed the earlier clues!).
This is a fine example of Chick Lit at its best - grown up Chick Lit I would call it - it’s certainly not trashy. I could see it being made into a movie (although maybe straight to tv rather than for the movie theatres!)
At 472 pages it a chunky read but I really enjoyed it - and now that I’m finished I find I’m rather missing Wychwood House.
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Next on my list: Perfect on paper by Maria Murnane
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Mrs S is is a lover of books! These are my thoughts on the books I've read. Have a different view? Leave me a comment below :)
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It doesn’t sound like my kind of book but if the writing is good, then I’ll read anything. Sometimes, quality is more important than subject matter.
Linda Jacobs’s last blog post..Book Woes
I have to laugh at “this is another book that found its way onto my TBR - and I have no idea how it got there!” I’ve found myself with more than one copy of a book and didn’t know how.
@Linda - you’re so right - if I’d realised this was about ballet I probably wouldn’t have picked it up - but it’s more the background to the story than the actual focus.
@J.Kaye - glad it’s not just me then! *lol*
I liked the cover too and I love coming of age novels so I will add this to the TBR list.
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This sounds like a lovely story! I’ll be looking for this book next.
Alessandra’s last blog post..Book review: How I Live Now