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Dancing with Gravity
Painting an unforgettable portrait of the grand and petty motivations of the human heart, this poignant novel tells the story of Father Samuel Whiting, who simply exists, asleep in his own life, adrift in a loneliness of his own creation. When a circus comes to town and his self-imposed isolation is shattered, he gradually awakens to a world of possibility, embarking on a journey of discovery through the uncharted terrain of his own heart. Whiting’s tale is one of insecurity and false hopes, of self-absorption and self-denial, and of reaching out and falling short. Finally blinded by self-delusion and at the brink of despair, a challenge to serve will change everything he believes about the true cost of love.
298 pages, Hardcover
First published March 1, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 3, 2015
I should start by mentioning that I'm not at all religious (academically interested, but not a believer in any of the Books), so I was admittedly a little skeptical about reading a story with a priest as the main character. However, though there are a few homilies here and there and Whiting's faith is an important aspect of the book, I didn't feel preached at or that the book's main intent was actually to 'spread the good word' or revel in the mutual beliefs of the author and reader. (Both of which I have a pretty low tolerance for.)
I actually quite enjoyed Whiting's story...no, enjoy isn't the right word because this is one of those books that is good, but an uncomfortable read. Another reviewer called it emotionally draining and that's a good way to say it. It's draining, but it's worth the cringe moments for the way it humanised priests. They're often just reduced to caricatures of their collar, especially in these post abuse-scandal days. Whiting is having personal issues, but the last thing he could ever be called is a predator. The book doesn't go there AT ALL.
This isn't really a story about a circus. In fact, Whiting doesn't even meet the circus performers until 35% into the book and he doesn't get to know any of them until closer to 60%. It's not really a story about one man's desire to rediscover the value of his calling or vocation either, though it's touched on. This is a story of one man's almost unconscious search for meaning in his life.
He's having a bit of a midlife crisis, not that he realises that and it takes the form of 'love'—deep, passionate, obsessive, self-absorbed, utterly extinguishable 'love'...twice in a matter of days. The story really is watching his internal struggles.
At one point Whiting says to another character, "You always make me sound so naïve." She responds that he isn't, but he is. It part of what makes him so loveable. He's naïve, but not stupidly so. He's just more inclined to see the good in a person or circumstance than the potential for harm, even when it's obvious.
In the beginning he reminded me of Prince Myshkin from Dostoyevsky's The Idiot, full of emotional reflection and genuine good will, but a step removed from social understanding and therefore often confused and deceived (if only by himself) and therefore deemed deficient.
By the end however, he was differnt. He'd been broken and reformed to become something else, something more. And it was a painful, if unacknowledged, process for everyone involved. There were also some very real consequences of his actions, inactions and inattentions. His transformation was subtle, but oh so real.
The writing was marvellous. It matched the tone of the book wonderfully. I did think that some of the internal thoughts were disruptive. Not all of them, most played an important role in letting us in on Father Whiting's mental state. The man started the book fragile; I mean he's a mental and emotional basket-case. I don't mean crazy, but he overanalyses everything, second guesses himself constantly, and is overly aware of his own social awkwardness (thereby, of course, making it significantly worse).
The internal (and occasional external) monologues are important, but other ones aren't. There are times he does things like make a cup of tea, thinks, "tea will make it better" and then sits to drink his tea. The thought is redundant and breaks the narrative. There were a number of these sorts of little internal snippets that I could have done without. But for the most part, it was well written, engaging and thought provoking.
If you're looking for a strong, character driven novel this is a good one to pick up. It's not an easy-breezy book, but not all of them should be.
I actually quite enjoyed Whiting's story...no, enjoy isn't the right word because this is one of those books that is good, but an uncomfortable read. Another reviewer called it emotionally draining and that's a good way to say it. It's draining, but it's worth the cringe moments for the way it humanised priests. They're often just reduced to caricatures of their collar, especially in these post abuse-scandal days. Whiting is having personal issues, but the last thing he could ever be called is a predator. The book doesn't go there AT ALL.
This isn't really a story about a circus. In fact, Whiting doesn't even meet the circus performers until 35% into the book and he doesn't get to know any of them until closer to 60%. It's not really a story about one man's desire to rediscover the value of his calling or vocation either, though it's touched on. This is a story of one man's almost unconscious search for meaning in his life.
He's having a bit of a midlife crisis, not that he realises that and it takes the form of 'love'—deep, passionate, obsessive, self-absorbed, utterly extinguishable 'love'...twice in a matter of days. The story really is watching his internal struggles.
At one point Whiting says to another character, "You always make me sound so naïve." She responds that he isn't, but he is. It part of what makes him so loveable. He's naïve, but not stupidly so. He's just more inclined to see the good in a person or circumstance than the potential for harm, even when it's obvious.
In the beginning he reminded me of Prince Myshkin from Dostoyevsky's The Idiot, full of emotional reflection and genuine good will, but a step removed from social understanding and therefore often confused and deceived (if only by himself) and therefore deemed deficient.
By the end however, he was differnt. He'd been broken and reformed to become something else, something more. And it was a painful, if unacknowledged, process for everyone involved. There were also some very real consequences of his actions, inactions and inattentions. His transformation was subtle, but oh so real.
The writing was marvellous. It matched the tone of the book wonderfully. I did think that some of the internal thoughts were disruptive. Not all of them, most played an important role in letting us in on Father Whiting's mental state. The man started the book fragile; I mean he's a mental and emotional basket-case. I don't mean crazy, but he overanalyses everything, second guesses himself constantly, and is overly aware of his own social awkwardness (thereby, of course, making it significantly worse).
The internal (and occasional external) monologues are important, but other ones aren't. There are times he does things like make a cup of tea, thinks, "tea will make it better" and then sits to drink his tea. The thought is redundant and breaks the narrative. There were a number of these sorts of little internal snippets that I could have done without. But for the most part, it was well written, engaging and thought provoking.
If you're looking for a strong, character driven novel this is a good one to pick up. It's not an easy-breezy book, but not all of them should be.
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May 3, 2011I’m not exactly a religious person, and almost never read books that could be labeled “Christian Fiction,” but there was something about the description of Dancing with Gravity, the debut novel from Anene Tressler, that made me think this one was somehow a little different than the typical genre offering.
Dancing with Gravity tells the story of Father Samuel Whiting, a Catholic priest who finds himself approaching middle age only to discover he’s not entirely sure how he got to where he is in life, nor is he sure he wants to be there anymore.
Already constantly questioning his ability to adequately handle his role as head of Pastoral Care at a teaching hospital in St. Louis, Father Whiting returns from an extended trip to Italy for a conference only to find another large, and unusual, responsibility foisted upon him… to minister to the spiritual needs of a group of circus performers who have set up shop at the nearby Missionary Sisters of the Little Flower’s motherhouse.
As Father Whiting gets to know the colorful members of the troup he strikes up a friendship with Nikolai, one of the trapeze artists. As their unlikely friendship deepens, Father Whiting comes to realize he’s been sleepwalking through life, not fully experiencing all it has to offer.
Author Anene Tressler does a very nice job of allowing the reader a glimpse into the turmoil raging in Father Whiting as he seeks to overcome the confusion and doubts awakened in him by his association with his vibrant new friends. Chief among those doubts is the question of love. Is platonic love enough? What is he to do with the feelings he is suddenly all too aware he feels for the attractive public relations director at the hospital where he works? Can he live a full and exciting life while still holding to the tenets of the priesthood?
Though some of the trials and tribulations which Father Whiting faces are specific to his position as a Catholic priest, just as many are of a nature that could confront any person during the course of their life (is the secretary he inherited from his predecessor really trying to sabotage him?). Dancing with Gravity is not about the struggles a Catholic priest faces as a man, but of those experienced by a singular man who just happens to be a Catholic priest. In the end Father Whiting’s path to self-discovery brought to mind for me a line from John Greenleaf Whittier’s poem Maud Muller: “For of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these, It might have been!”
If you really can’t get “past” the idea of a Catholic priest as the protagonist of a book then this just isn’t for you, there’s no way around that. But if you’re willing to take the story as it comes, to look at Father Whiting the same way you would any character tackling their own unique set of problems and challenges in life, then you should definitely consider going Dancing with Gravity.
Dancing with Gravity tells the story of Father Samuel Whiting, a Catholic priest who finds himself approaching middle age only to discover he’s not entirely sure how he got to where he is in life, nor is he sure he wants to be there anymore.
Already constantly questioning his ability to adequately handle his role as head of Pastoral Care at a teaching hospital in St. Louis, Father Whiting returns from an extended trip to Italy for a conference only to find another large, and unusual, responsibility foisted upon him… to minister to the spiritual needs of a group of circus performers who have set up shop at the nearby Missionary Sisters of the Little Flower’s motherhouse.
As Father Whiting gets to know the colorful members of the troup he strikes up a friendship with Nikolai, one of the trapeze artists. As their unlikely friendship deepens, Father Whiting comes to realize he’s been sleepwalking through life, not fully experiencing all it has to offer.
Author Anene Tressler does a very nice job of allowing the reader a glimpse into the turmoil raging in Father Whiting as he seeks to overcome the confusion and doubts awakened in him by his association with his vibrant new friends. Chief among those doubts is the question of love. Is platonic love enough? What is he to do with the feelings he is suddenly all too aware he feels for the attractive public relations director at the hospital where he works? Can he live a full and exciting life while still holding to the tenets of the priesthood?
Though some of the trials and tribulations which Father Whiting faces are specific to his position as a Catholic priest, just as many are of a nature that could confront any person during the course of their life (is the secretary he inherited from his predecessor really trying to sabotage him?). Dancing with Gravity is not about the struggles a Catholic priest faces as a man, but of those experienced by a singular man who just happens to be a Catholic priest. In the end Father Whiting’s path to self-discovery brought to mind for me a line from John Greenleaf Whittier’s poem Maud Muller: “For of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these, It might have been!”
If you really can’t get “past” the idea of a Catholic priest as the protagonist of a book then this just isn’t for you, there’s no way around that. But if you’re willing to take the story as it comes, to look at Father Whiting the same way you would any character tackling their own unique set of problems and challenges in life, then you should definitely consider going Dancing with Gravity.
August 6, 2011
Mentally draining, thought-provoking, and utterly fascinating are the descriptions that come to mind after reading Anene Tressler's Dancing with Gravity. An International Book Awards 2011 Literary Fiction Winner, Dancing with Gravity immerses the reader into the novel through rich descriptions (some of which caused giggling on my part):
"Whiting took his ice cream and stepped over to the trash barrel to unwrap it. The wafer stuck to the paper so that each time he lifted a piece of the wrapper, it tore. Tiny strips stuck to his fingers. Ice cream dripped down his hands; he leaned over the trashcan to avoid dripping anything on his jacket. He tasted paper and spit it out. As he unwound the sandwich, a large chunk broke off and fell into the barrel. He tossed the remainder into the can in disgust and looked around for a napkin or water to rinse his hands" (161) and clever use of vocabulary, "He knew the parents wanted him to respond, but his words were stillborn" (136).
The complex protagonist, Father Samuel Whiting, an educated man who suffered a less than stable childhood, inserts the proper anecdotes at the proper time, but remains socially and romantically immature at the age of forty-eight. Whiting's incessant questioning, analysis, and uncertainty invites the reader into his psyche and ultimately into the role of psychiatrist to his ramblings from the metaphorical couch (thus, naps were needed between reading "sessions" in order to process and recover). Tressler accurately portrays the ideal that there is much more to a person than what one witnesses on the outside; even a person who acts as a spiritual advisor or counselor experiences real emotions.
The setting of Dancing with Gravity centers around a circus specifically located in St. Louis, Missouri, so why not have your book club entertain the idea of a group outing to the circus? Circus Flora has been thrilling St. Louis audiences for over 25 years. If this is not possible, bring circus food to your book club discussion. Hot dogs, flavored ice, cotton candy, popcorn, and an ice cream sandwich for the road. In closing talks, recognize the importance of thanking a spiritual advisor, pastor, rabbi, counselor, or guru. Trained to assist others, these often thankless professions deserve appreciation.
"Whiting took his ice cream and stepped over to the trash barrel to unwrap it. The wafer stuck to the paper so that each time he lifted a piece of the wrapper, it tore. Tiny strips stuck to his fingers. Ice cream dripped down his hands; he leaned over the trashcan to avoid dripping anything on his jacket. He tasted paper and spit it out. As he unwound the sandwich, a large chunk broke off and fell into the barrel. He tossed the remainder into the can in disgust and looked around for a napkin or water to rinse his hands" (161) and clever use of vocabulary, "He knew the parents wanted him to respond, but his words were stillborn" (136).
The complex protagonist, Father Samuel Whiting, an educated man who suffered a less than stable childhood, inserts the proper anecdotes at the proper time, but remains socially and romantically immature at the age of forty-eight. Whiting's incessant questioning, analysis, and uncertainty invites the reader into his psyche and ultimately into the role of psychiatrist to his ramblings from the metaphorical couch (thus, naps were needed between reading "sessions" in order to process and recover). Tressler accurately portrays the ideal that there is much more to a person than what one witnesses on the outside; even a person who acts as a spiritual advisor or counselor experiences real emotions.
The setting of Dancing with Gravity centers around a circus specifically located in St. Louis, Missouri, so why not have your book club entertain the idea of a group outing to the circus? Circus Flora has been thrilling St. Louis audiences for over 25 years. If this is not possible, bring circus food to your book club discussion. Hot dogs, flavored ice, cotton candy, popcorn, and an ice cream sandwich for the road. In closing talks, recognize the importance of thanking a spiritual advisor, pastor, rabbi, counselor, or guru. Trained to assist others, these often thankless professions deserve appreciation.
April 14, 2011
I could not finish this book, it simply was not for me at all, however I have seen reviews were people love this book, so check reviews. I chose to spotlight the book on my book review blog Rundpinne
July 26, 2011
This novel examines a priest's life, and I'll admit, I found it difficult reading. I'm not sure if it challenged me because the priest's interior life had conflicts or if it was a result of what the conflicts were.
In the end, I enjoyed it. It's character-driven and it made me consider the challenges of a priest's vocation in a more ongoing way.
In the end, I enjoyed it. It's character-driven and it made me consider the challenges of a priest's vocation in a more ongoing way.
Want to Read
September 27, 2011Thanks for the recommendation Kristina!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews