Astonish Me - Part 2 and 3 (April 2015)

[Casceil]

This thread is for discussion of Parts II and III. Please no spoilers from later threads.

[Deborah]

The evolving dynamic between Jacob and Joan is compelling.

[Amy]

In case anyone is interested, here is Mikhail Baryshnikov's "Ali the slave boy" variation. (I think it is, at least; someone correct me if I found the wrong variation): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlPZS...

I know very little about ballet, but found it pretty incredible. And I thought that Shipstead did a good job of explaining its technical components without making it dry for non-experts like me.

[Marc]

Even I knew who Baryshnikov was as a child, which is saying something for a 10 yr old boy not interested in dance (beyond break dancing) and not having family interested in ballet. It was probably the '85 movie White Nights that introduced me to him and he was mesmerizing. Thanks for the link, Amy!

I think that "evolving dynamic" moves a lot of this story along. The characters are still finding themselves to a certain extent as they are finding their way in relationships (part II being mostly about the defection and part III transported to suburban family life primarily). I found myself liking that I didn't necessarily like these characters. It fees like as a reader I was involved in that dynamic of feeling them out and Jacob and Joan start out in such an odd manner--the way she suddenly decides to be with him and have child. How did you read into this decision (as an escape, as a practical way to exit the professional dance world, in character vs out of character)?

[Deborah]

Marc wrote: "Jacob and Joan start out in such an odd manner--the way she suddenly decides to be with him and have child. How did you read into this decision (as an escape, as a practical way to exit the professional dance world, in character vs out of character)?"

1/3 of the way in, it's hard for me to determine if it was in character. I just accepted the reasons as laid out. But when you asked my thought was that it was a literary symmetry. Her own little defection.

[Casceil]

I like the idea that Joan's departure from ballet was "her own little defection."

[Casceil]

Amy, thank you for that link. It was amazing.