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Dancer With Bruised Knees
This novel tells the story of photographer Sarah Blight who, in her fortieth year, falls into "a depression so deep that not even the thought of sex could raise me from it."
Sarah is somewhat unclear as to the source of her malaise. It could be that her continuing sexual relationship with her ex-husband has gone awry because of an affair she had ten years ago, or that she has lost an eye in a barroom fight with a jealous woman, or that her mild-mannered, maintenance-drinker father has been thrown out of the house by her agoraphobic mother. Or it may be that her brother, who terrorized her childhood, has been arrested for the murder of his third ex-wife, or that her grandmother's death has resulted in the sale of the family farm.
As she takes us through these wild events and the photographic images from her life, Sarah calmly dispatches advice, both practical and philosophical.
Sarah is somewhat unclear as to the source of her malaise. It could be that her continuing sexual relationship with her ex-husband has gone awry because of an affair she had ten years ago, or that she has lost an eye in a barroom fight with a jealous woman, or that her mild-mannered, maintenance-drinker father has been thrown out of the house by her agoraphobic mother. Or it may be that her brother, who terrorized her childhood, has been arrested for the murder of his third ex-wife, or that her grandmother's death has resulted in the sale of the family farm.
As she takes us through these wild events and the photographic images from her life, Sarah calmly dispatches advice, both practical and philosophical.
- GenresFiction
215 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 1994
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
May 7, 2012
I bought this book probably 10 or 12 years ago at a rummage sale or a thrift shop or somewhere, and it's been sitting, forlorn and unread, all this time. Saturday night I pulled it out of a basement bookcase to get to another book, opened it up, read the first sentence, and realized that I *needed to read this book* right away. And so I did, I read it on Sunday, basically all at on gulp, just like that.
It would have gotten five stars, but the ending was a tiny bit sloppy and too quickly sorted out, but not sorted out enough. I feel the author could have taken another 20 pages to work through some of the tangles, perhaps, flesh it out a bit, make it a little more satisfatory. But perhaps that's just me. It all seemed so nicely messy and *real*, and then towards the end it veered into the unreal and drunken-western-gothic trope that authors rely on too much sometimes to end stories that just doesn't make sense and isn't very satisfying after all is said and done.
It would have gotten five stars, but the ending was a tiny bit sloppy and too quickly sorted out, but not sorted out enough. I feel the author could have taken another 20 pages to work through some of the tangles, perhaps, flesh it out a bit, make it a little more satisfatory. But perhaps that's just me. It all seemed so nicely messy and *real*, and then towards the end it veered into the unreal and drunken-western-gothic trope that authors rely on too much sometimes to end stories that just doesn't make sense and isn't very satisfying after all is said and done.
May 24, 2011
This book is beautiful and sad and lovely. There are lines in here you need to read six or thirteen times because they are so beautiful. One reviewer called this book "slam-bang" and I think it's spot on. McFall bring a middle-aged character dealing with mental illness to life. Her family is complex and terrible but real, like your neighbors or maybe even your own family. You don't for a second doubt the plot. While I would have liked to see a little less dramatic ending, it still seems fitting and good. It's a quick read and there's a lot to learn about language here.
October 11, 2017
I randomly picked this up at a library book sale and WOW, I am impressed! There are themes of trauma, addiction, codependence, family dysfunction... all things I am drawn to reading about! I agree with one reviewer that the ending tied up a little too cleanly and quickly. It felt like the author was sort of sick of telling the story and just needed to finish it. Otherwise, the story is brilliant, the writing beautiful.
July 13, 2023
“I set him free to become whatever he is.
I watched him bloom, even in the dark, like a nightflower.”
He said that I should stop reading it as he knows that I'm in my self-sabotaging era.
I did not listen to him. Picked up the book and was glad I read it. So many poignant lines that punched me right in the heart that I had to stop reading and reflect on with life.
I watched him bloom, even in the dark, like a nightflower.”
He said that I should stop reading it as he knows that I'm in my self-sabotaging era.
I did not listen to him. Picked up the book and was glad I read it. So many poignant lines that punched me right in the heart that I had to stop reading and reflect on with life.
September 30, 2019
Well written but very depressing!
January 27, 2009
Forty year old Sarah is depressed. She's just lost her eye in a fight and has to deal with her agoraphobic mother, alcoholic father and her brother who's in jail for murdering his wife. This tale of a dysfunctional family has the capacity to make you laugh and cry.
December 5, 2011
Every bit as good as I remember it being years ago. The hardest parts to read (always for me) are the ones with animal cruelty.
July 21, 2013
This book was really interesting. Left me with a couple unanswered questions. It was all about her hard life, but yet at some points I couldn't help laughing at the things she did or said.
July 22, 2010
Loved it, the writing was beautiful. A great portrait of a woman.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews