“He imagines dancing with her, the two of them arm in arm under the stars. Silent, of course, but that is no matter. It is better that way. She is a dancing doll, his Coppélia, created at last.” DesireDancingObsessionThrillerHistorical FictionBalletDollsMale Gaze Book:The Dance of the Dolls Source: The Dance of the Dolls
“Once war was over, everyone wanted to find some normality, to settle and fix their disordered homes. The reality, of course, was that it was impossible. Not with rationing and homes bombed and fathers not yet returned.” WarHistorical FictionWw2Mystery NovelsEvacuation1940sRationing Book:The Sleeping Beauties Source: The Sleeping Beauties
“Clearly it is simplest never to marry at all,’ I said, trying to keep my voice light. These stories, ridiculous fairy tales though they were, had tainted the evening. Like Vivian, I preferred to think of The Sleeping Princess as a magical spectacle of fairy godmothers and characters from folklore. But then we had both learned the hard way about heartbreak and loss.” BalletGothicFairy TalesFairytale RetellingFairy GodmotherWw2 BooksHistorical ThrillerThe Sleeping Beauty Book:The Sleeping Beauties Source: The Sleeping Beauties
“I thought that this mad life you all live, always on the edge of pain and exhaustion, was somehow worth it. It was glamorous, beautiful, justified by art.” LoveArtPainDanceObsessionBallet Book:The Dance of the Dolls Source: The Dance of the Dolls
“Without pain, how do we know we are working hard enough? I said that to Clara once and she laughed at me. She didn’t understand what I meant.” PainDesireHard WorkDanceObsessionBalletTwinsBallet Shoes Book:The Dance of the Dolls Source: The Dance of the Dolls
“Surely you would like to be immortalised in art, fixed forever in perfection?” ArtDanceObsessionThrillerMale Gaze Book:The Dance of the Dolls Source: The Dance of the Dolls