Blues Dancing: A Novel [Hardcover]

Diane McKinney-Whetstone (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 20, 1999

From the beloved author of Tumbling and Tempest Rising comes a new novel, Blues Dancing--a richly spun tale of love and passion, betrayal, redemption, and faith, set in contemporary Philadelphia.

In the early seventies, Verdi, a pampered, cloistered daughter of a southern preacher, heads to Philadelphia to enroll at the university. There she meets Johnson, a city boy. Their differences draw them together--he loves her gentility, she is seduced by his charisma. Their relationship is pure sweetness until Johnson teaches her the one thing that will change her life irrevocably--how to love heroin.

Enter Rowe, the conservative black professor who rescues Verdi from her overwhelming addiction and then falls desperately in love with her, leaving his sophisticated wife for this confused southern girl. Rowe and Verdi live a comfortable existence for twenty years, even though he attempts to strain Verdi's relationship with her first cousin and dearest friend, Kitt. As the novel opens, Kitt tells Verdi that Johnson is back in town and Verdi feels her safe and protected world teeter off balance. Once they lay their eyes on each other, they realize that the years have not dulled their passion as they skid uncontrollably toward the desires of their youth. Blues Dancing makes for rich interplay as the author allows time to inform her characters' lives in provocative ways.In the early seventies, Verdi, a pampered, cloistered daughter of a southern preacher, heads to Philadelphia to enroll at the university. There she meets Johnson, a city boy. Their differences draw them together--he loves her gentility, she is seduced by his charisma. Their relationship is pure sweetness until Johnson teaches her the one thing that will change her life irrevocably--how to love heroin.

Enter Rowe, the conservative black professor who rescues Verdi from her overwhelming addiction and then falls desperately in love with her, leaving his sophisticated wife for this confused southern girl. Rowe and Verdi live a comfortable existence for twenty years, even though he attempts to strain Verdi's relationship with her first cousin and dearest friend, Kitt. As the novel opens, Kitt tells Verdi that Johnson is back in town and Verdi feels her safe and protected world teeter off balance. Once they lay their eyes on each other, they realize that the years have not dulled their passion as they skid uncontrollably toward the desires of their youth. Blues Dancing makes for rich interplay as the author allows time to inform her characters' lives in provocative ways.In the early seventies, Verdi, a pampered, cloistered daughter of a southern preacher, heads to Philadelphia to enroll at the university. There she meets Johnson, a city boy. Their differences draw them together--he loves her gentility, she is seduced by his charisma. Their relationship is pure sweetness until Johnson teaches her the one thing that will change her life irrevocably--how to love heroin.

Enter Rowe, the conservative black professor who rescues Verdi from her overwhelming addiction and then falls desperately in love with her, leaving his sophisticated wife for this confused southern girl. Rowe and Verdi live a comfortable existence for twenty years, even though he attempts to strain Verdi's relationship with her first cousin and dearest friend, Kitt. As the novel opens, Kitt tells Verdi that Johnson is back in town and Verdi feels her safe and protected world teeter off balance. Once they lay their eyes on each other, they realize that the years have not dulled their passion as they skid uncontrollably toward the desires of their youth. Blues Dancing makes for rich interplay as the author allows time to inform her characters' lives in provocative ways.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Delving again into the Philadelphia she claimed in her first two novels (Tumbling; Tempest Rising), McKinney-Whetstone gives a rhapsodic performance in this story of self-discovery that moves seamlessly between the early 1970s and early '90s. At its heart is Verdi, a woman fast approaching 40, who lives with Rowe, the older professor who saved her from a drug habit when she was an undergrad. Now the recently appointed principal at a school for special-needs children, Verdi is enjoying a relatively stable life when she learns that her first loveAcharismatic and street-smart Johnson, the college flame who introduced Verdi to political activism and heroinAis back in town. Running into Johnson unexpectedly at a cousin's birthday party, Verdi finds her feelings for him far from dead as they face each other and seem to sense "their blues dancing." But Verdi's attraction to Johnson, who's now an established fund-raiser, raises questions about her long-kicked habit and about her relationship with Rowe. Gracefully dovetailing with the love triangle are the equally complex and eloquent stories of Verdi's mother, aunt and, especially, her close-as-a-sister cousin Kitt. Pitch-perfect dialogue and a keen eye capture the spirit and cadences of the early '70s, when students were "booking" between Black Students League events and listening to the Stylistics on the record player. The author pegs the caring but comfy zeitgeist of the '90s as well. Verdi's evolution, from sheltered but curious daughter of a Southern preacher to drug-addicted student to stifled partner of an overprotective father figure, is all too credible. Flashbacks to the early days of the erstwhile lovers' relationship shimmer with the intoxication of first love, while their later encounters powerfully reveal their vulnerability to old desires. The novel's swift resolution may seem improbable, but even the tidiest wrap-up can't help but satisfy readers who have become passionately involved in the fates of these winning characters. Agent, Pam Bernstein. 11-city author tour. (Nov.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

A love story spanning 20 years, this novel, like the author's earlier ones (Tumbling and Tempest Rising), is set in Philadelphia. Despite a trite-sounding plotAstar-crossed loversALJ's reviewer said the book had "real depth and emotion." (LJ 10/1/99)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow; 1st edition (October 20, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688149952
• ISBN-13: 978-0688149956
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (71 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,315,417 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Passionate and Breathtaking!, October 28, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Blues Dancing: A Novel (Hardcover)

Diane McKinney-Whetstone has done it again... taken her readers to Philly, evoked every sensory organ, and personally introduced us to vivid characters with personality. Mrs. McKinney-Whetstone is such an excellent storyteller!

Blues Dancing is a beautifully written novel of passionate relationships between friends and family. By passionate, I'm referring to the deep and loving heartfelt emotions... and a bit of physical intimacy.

Verdi and Johnson display such strong passion for one another during a time when the major focus of the Movement was violence. During their college years, they become friends and inevitably lovers. I enjoyed reading how they were so much a part of one another that you couldn't tell where one ended and the other began... that's some DEEP love.

While swimming (and nearly drowning) in the depths of this passionate love story, I had to put the book down a few times to literally catch my breath. Blues Dancing took me back to a place I never wanted to leave... who knows, maybe I'll smell the sweetness of butter!

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved This one Too !, December 28, 1999

By 

S. Bishop "bookworm" (San Jose, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Blues Dancing: A Novel (Hardcover)

Yes, she has done it again ! Diane McKinney Whetstone is one of my favorite writers of the 90's. I LOVED Tumbling, was again impressed by Tempest Rising and was anxiously patting my foot waiting for another novel to be published. Blues Dancing was yet another 'love story' which featured 'tragic' female characters who ultimately find themselves and overcome their demons.

This story was simple, yet lyrical - complicated, yet easy to read and understand. You could compare her to Toni Morrison but you can leave the notepad, dictionary and hightlighter in your desk.

It is hard to trudge through this wave 'Dating Game', junk food fiction by African American writers which has marked the 1990's. But, finding Diane McKinney, Edwidge Danticat and Helen Elaine Lee has renewed my faith in real writers and makes me glad I am a reader.

The main character, Verdi, along with her male suitors Johnson and Rowe, demonstrates how easily people can give up their power to another person or substance and how finding your own self and own way are really the only ways to assure that someone elses strengths or weaknesses are not making you what you are.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WONDERFUL, EXCELLENT, November 28, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Blues Dancing: A Novel (Hardcover)

While Tumbling and Tempest Rising were very good, Blues Dancing has to be the best work of Ms Whetstone. She very smoothly takes us back and forth from the 70's and 90's and the relationship of Verdi and Johnson and Verdi and Rowe. Her writing is very descriptive and you could just imagine yourself in the midst of the story. Sage, Penda and Kitt lends a very nice touch to the story. This book will keep you intrigued.