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5th out of 15 books
—
2 voters
The Sugarless Plum
by
Zippora Karz
It started as the perfect story. Zippora Karz was a member of the famed New York City Ballet by the age of eighteen. By twenty she was starring as the Sugar Plum Fairy in "The Nutcracker, " dancing roles created by Jerome Robbins, and traveling the world.It was the stuff dreams are made of until, at age twenty-one, Karz became exhausted, dizzy and excessively thirsty. Heav...more
Hardcover, 277 pages
Published
November 1st 2009
by Harlequin
(first published October 15th 2009)
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I always knew that ballet is a very difficult art to master, it requires a lot of sacrifices, discipline and asks to move our bodies in the most unnatural but beautiful way. The lives of ballet dancers are as mysterious to an average person as the chasms of the deepest ocean, but this book provides fascinating and cringe worthy look behind the velvet curtain. These people are intense athletes and with this story Zippora Karz not only exposes her hardships as a dancer but also as a diabetic. Her...more
4.0 out of 5 stars Insightful and fascinating autobiography of a prima ballerina, November 25, 2009
This review is from: The Sugarless Plum (Hardcover)
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
This memoir of her career as a ballerina with the New York City Ballet is an insightful and moving look inside the life of Zippora Karz. Her association with this famed company began at age 18 in the corps de ballet and continued for the next sixteen years as she was noticed and groomed f...more
This review is from: The Sugarless Plum (Hardcover)
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
This memoir of her career as a ballerina with the New York City Ballet is an insightful and moving look inside the life of Zippora Karz. Her association with this famed company began at age 18 in the corps de ballet and continued for the next sixteen years as she was noticed and groomed f...more
This is a great memoir, focusing mainly on the professional ballet career of Zippora Karz, in the years leading up to her diagnosis with diabetes, and especially with her struggles in progressing in the world of ballet while also dealing with misdiagnoses, out of control blood sugars, conflicting advice, and more than a little bit of initial denial about the seriousness of the disease.
I love the idea of memoirs like these, but all too often I pick them up only to find that they are poorly writt...more
I love the idea of memoirs like these, but all too often I pick them up only to find that they are poorly writt...more
This books delivers a fascinating, scary and inspirational story of a young person's life. Zippora Karz provides us a unique perspective into the life of a professional ballerina. The dedication and physical demands are sometimes overwhelming in contrast to the beauty and grace of the performance. While not the primary focus of the book, the inside story of the New York City Ballet is very interesting.
Reading the book, I could share the fear Zippora must have felt when she finally returned her d...more
Reading the book, I could share the fear Zippora must have felt when she finally returned her d...more
Title: The Sugarless Plum: A Ballerina's Triumph Over Diabetes
Author: Zippora Karz
ISBN: 978-0373892037
Publisher: Harlequin
List Price: $22.95
From a young age, Zippora Karz desired to achieve her dream of becoming a ballerina. By the time Karz had reached the age of 20, she had attained professional status and had obtained work with the New York City Ballet.
The Sugarless Plum: A Ballerina's Triumph Over Diabetes is a debut memoir written by Zippora Karz, a former soloist ballerina of the New Yor...more
Author: Zippora Karz
ISBN: 978-0373892037
Publisher: Harlequin
List Price: $22.95
From a young age, Zippora Karz desired to achieve her dream of becoming a ballerina. By the time Karz had reached the age of 20, she had attained professional status and had obtained work with the New York City Ballet.
The Sugarless Plum: A Ballerina's Triumph Over Diabetes is a debut memoir written by Zippora Karz, a former soloist ballerina of the New Yor...more
In recent years I've met multiple moms whose children have been diagnosed with diabetes - the preschool daughter of a longtime friend, the school age son of a neighbor, a high school boy in our church youth group as well as a school age girl in our preteen youth group - the list seems to keep growing. When The Sugarless Plum was available for reviewing, I knew I had to read it and I'm glad I did.
I was surprised to find out that Karz is a contemporary of mine since I can't remember knowing any te...more
I was surprised to find out that Karz is a contemporary of mine since I can't remember knowing any te...more
Jun 21, 2012
Asma
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
52-books-2012,
diabetes
This is an inspiring memoir of a type 1 diabetic ballerina; Zippora Karz,as she progresses in the world of ballet and how her diagnosis stunts her for a while. Her support system failing her. Her medical care team not doing what its supposed to. Being in denial for a long time and struggling with the reality of the situation after. Diabetes having its toll on her professional career and her relationships. She went through all of that and still be called a success story. Her life gives us all hop...more
Zippora Karz's memoir, "The Sugarless Plum" details her struggle against diabetes even as she climbs the excrutiating ladder of success in New York City's ballet.
The physical difficulties of a ballerina's life are immmense under ordinary circumstances, with hours of practice, rehearsals, and performance. When illness enters the picture, the dancer is forced out of the company or into silence about the illness.
Zippora contends with her emotions as a young girl growing into a woman under the stre...more
The physical difficulties of a ballerina's life are immmense under ordinary circumstances, with hours of practice, rehearsals, and performance. When illness enters the picture, the dancer is forced out of the company or into silence about the illness.
Zippora contends with her emotions as a young girl growing into a woman under the stre...more
Author Zippora Karz offers an insightful look at her struggle to manage diabetes as a solo ballerina in her memoir The Sugarless Plum: A Ballerina’s Triumph Over Diabetes. Ms. Karz’s love of dance started at an early age and with the encouragement of her family and ballet teacher, she was able to earn a place in the New York City Ballet company at the age of eighteen.
Ms. Karz’s dedication and diligent work ethic earned her many solos including the lead as the Sugar Plum Fairy in numerous product...more
Ms. Karz’s dedication and diligent work ethic earned her many solos including the lead as the Sugar Plum Fairy in numerous product...more
The Sugarless Plum by Zippora Karz is about the author's experience living with diabetes. Karz's case is a bit unique, as she's a ballerina, so she must walk a fine line in her insulin and sugar intake.
Read the rest of my review here
Read the rest of my review here
I am really starting to enjoy memoirs - I have gone from being a straight fiction reader, to reading non-fiction and enjoying it. This is just one of the things that reviewing books has done for me.
The Sugarless Plum was a very enjoyable memoir of the life of Zippora Karz while she was growing up and in the New York City Ballet dealing with Type-1 Diabetes. It was a fascinating look inside the life of a ballerina. I had no idea what all they go through during the day and how many performances th...more
The Sugarless Plum was a very enjoyable memoir of the life of Zippora Karz while she was growing up and in the New York City Ballet dealing with Type-1 Diabetes. It was a fascinating look inside the life of a ballerina. I had no idea what all they go through during the day and how many performances th...more
Outstanding memoir about the life of a dancer with the New York City Ballet. Zippora Karz started ballet as a young girl and was chosen to attnd NYCB summer camps. By age 18 she was a member of their Corps de Ballet. But at 21 she developed Type 1 (children's) diabetes. the book covers both her experince as a dancer and her trials and tribulations as she worked to get her diabetes under control.
I enjoyed the book very much. I think that readers who have an interest in either or both ballet and...more
I enjoyed the book very much. I think that readers who have an interest in either or both ballet and...more
I'm always a sucker for behind-the-scenes stories of the ballet world-- and Balanchine's ballet school and ABT are every bit as colorful and larger-than-life as I had hoped. Zippora makes a fabulous heroine-- she's not afraid to acknowledge both strengths and weaknesses, and her decision to take charge of both her health and her dancing are an inspirational lesson for everyone. The balance between her creative growth and struggles as a dancer and her diabetes is handled beautifully -- the book l...more
This was very quick and mostly enjoyable read. I love any memoir detailing the life of a ballerina and this book was no exception. I enjoyed reading how Karz rose through the ranks to become a part of America's most prestigious ballet company, New York City Ballet, only to succumb to diabetes during her prime dancing time. It was also interesting to see how she and NYC Ballet Company responded to this disease. The only time Karz started to lose me was the last 30 pages, probably because I was ti...more
"I could not let my excuses, my fears, even if they were valid, interfere"
NOTE: I received this book as part of the Amazon Vine Program
This Vine selection is a bit of a departure for me (nonfiction biography), but the "story" really called to me.
Zippora Karz is a ballerina with the New York Company Ballet. At the age of twenty-one, she is diagnosed with diabetes. The book details her childhood, her growing love for ballet, her early life with the NYCB, and her struggle with diabetes.
I Liked:...more
NOTE: I received this book as part of the Amazon Vine Program
This Vine selection is a bit of a departure for me (nonfiction biography), but the "story" really called to me.
Zippora Karz is a ballerina with the New York Company Ballet. At the age of twenty-one, she is diagnosed with diabetes. The book details her childhood, her growing love for ballet, her early life with the NYCB, and her struggle with diabetes.
I Liked:...more
This was a memoir I thoroughly enjoyed. I love ballet and while it's not a "tell all" book, the insiders look into the world of the New York City Ballet was fascinating. Zippora's account of the perseverance it took to become a prima ballerina is inspiring: the hard work and hours of practice; the pressure to not only excel, but succeed to the expectations of greats like George Balanchine.
Zippora's story is honest and unembellished. As she reaches her professional goals, her health declines and...more
Zippora's story is honest and unembellished. As she reaches her professional goals, her health declines and...more
Zippora’s memoir is touching, inspirational, dramatic, and profound. I felt 100% in her shoes through her story, not just because I am a dancer and can relate to a lot of the experiences, but because of the way she has written it. She writes like the whole thing is magic—because Ballet is magic. I just can’t think of words to describe how much I loved this book.
There was a lot of information about Diabetes in the text, and I did skip over a paragraph occasionally. But for the most part it all f...more
There was a lot of information about Diabetes in the text, and I did skip over a paragraph occasionally. But for the most part it all f...more
THE SUGARLESS PLUM is a powerful story that will reach out to those who suffer from diabetes and even touch those who have never encountered it on a personal level. Zippora's struggles are portrayed honestly and with a lot of emotion as she re-tells the story of her younger years, her ballet career, and struggling to balance her life with her diagnosis. She not only shares her personal and professional life to readers but she reaches out to others with diabetes by providing resource materials ne...more
This is an okay book, but it is published by Harlequin and is a harlequin reading level. I loved reading the first half about how Zippora got to be a professional ballet dancer in New York. It requires a tremendous amount of self discipline and hard work. After her diagnosis of diabetes, she works just as hard only has to balance her disease and her work. Overcoming some terrible odd she gets things under control and continues as a soloist for the next 7 years.
A wonderful book! I bought this for my 11-yr old daughter, who like the author has Type 1 Diabetes and is a ballet dancer. But I started reading it and couldn't put it down. Zippora has a great way of telling a story and I appreciated her honesty about dealing with a diagnosis that could have ended her career. Her trials, tribulations, and ultimately her triumph touched me very deeply. I am so impressed with her tenacity and drive - I wish my daughter could meet her and take a ballet class from...more
The Sugarless Plum, by Zippora Karz, was a great book that showed that determination will pay off in the long-run. It was a great book for dancers and told the story of a talented member of the School of American Ballet and later the New York City Ballet, who struggled with diabetes. This was such an inspiring story and may of it's lessons will stick with me for life.
This was a great read! Not only does Zippora give you an inside look at SAB and NYC ballet but her personal struggles and triumphs as well. She did not skim over her denial stage while writing this book she embraced it and shared her experience. A great read for anyone who wants to read an inspirational story.
I recommend this book to anyone interested in ballet, anyone training to be a professional ballet dancer, and anyone struggling with diabetes. It is an engaging read and well-written. Ms. Karz learned a great deal about herself and this disease - diabetes - and was called to write about it.
While not the most well-written memoir, Karz's illness narrative is engaging and important. Having a background in ballet and an interest in chronic illness narratives helped me really enjoy this simply told story of an extremely successful of this NYC Ballet member who is diagnosed with diabetes.
Mar 31, 2013
Theresa
added it
A story about a Ballerina with diabetes who conquers her health , It reminded me so much of my daughter's figure skating years, the dedication and sacrifice for doing something , that becomes almost an addiction, rather than a sport , or dance in this case!
As a type 1 diabetic, and former ballerina, I loved this book. I found this book to be not only accurate, but encouraging, heart-breaking, beautifully written, and amazing. Despite difficulties, always live your dreams to the fullest.
quick read I picked up at the library. not bad, not great. some interesting details about life as a professional ballerina newly diagnosed with diabetes.
Mildly interesting look at the world of ballet through the eyes of a professional dancer at the peak of her career who was diagnosed with diabetes.
A very touching story. Reminds me of how much I, myself love to dance. I was so privileged this past summer to have met Zippora and take her class.
The entire book is great, but the opening really made me feel the urgency of the situation.
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Oct 12, 2011 04:38pm