Customer Reviews

Dancing Backward In Paradise: A Novel

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Dancing Backward in Paradise is the debut novel of award-winning theater actress Vera Jane Cook, about one young women's quest to find herself in "Paradise" - New York City in the 1960s, a place beset by hippies, ambition, and the turbulence of the civil rights era. At first, nineteen-year-old trailer park resident Grace Place enjoys amorous trysts with her lover, Lenny Bean, more than anything else; but urged by her mother to seek fame and fortune in New York City, she works as a cleaning lady for the wealthy Betty Ann Houseman. When her lover betrays her and seeks to steal Betty Ann's estate, Grace is shocked, yet remains intent upon fulfilling her mother's wish and seeing New York City with her best friend, Ginny Jo. Together they will discover unforgettable surprises in this Eric Hoffer Award-winning novel. Highly recommended.

I absolutely cannot recall when I read a book that I enjoyed (loved) as much as I did "Dancing Backward in Paradise," written by Vera Jane Cook. Starting with that wonderfully apt title, I became so totally involved in this story that takes place in a tailor park called "Paradise," l was so totally fascinated with the characters who lived in the town of "Holy Horrible Hixon," that I couldn't tear myself away from that crazy, mysterious, wonderful trailer park world.

My favorite characters were Miss Grace Place ( Every single time I read that name, I just giggled, wondering how the author ever came up with it.), Mama Place, and Betty Ann Houseman. Poor dear! There was such warmth and love (and a bit of lust) in all three of those characters, and Vera Jane Cook portrayed them perfectly. Then there was also Mrs. Bean talking in verse all the time. What a stroke of genius Cook's part. Oh, and I also loved Miss Dorothea.

One of the very best things about Vera Jane Cook's writing is how she magically turn words into touch -- into feelings. For example, talking about a little boy, Chelsie, "I felt him wrap himself around me like gift paper on a birthday box." And about one of the several villains in the book, "He got meaner than a bumble bee shooed off a flower." And, "She curled up there every day just as happy as a fly on buttered toast." "I felt as high and as spry as a bumblebee let loose on a sunflower.....as effervescent as champagne on New Years." And so many, many other wonderful similes.

This book is filled with delightful characters, charm, warmth, love and last, but certainly not least, wonderful humor.

In closing, I will just say that I ADORED the book, and look forward to reading many books from a superb writer.

Arlene Uslander

(This book was a finalist in the Indie Excellence 2007 Book Awards)

The setting is Hixson, Tennessee, in the mid-1960s, but this story could be set anywhere, with any dialect.

The story is the step beyond the "coming-of-age" period for Grace Henrietta Place, who has lived all of her life in Paradise Trailer Park with her parents and her brother. Her life has been uneventful, and she and the country are still clinging to the last remnants of their innocence. It's a small-town atmosphere where everyone knows everyone and relationships are complex, complicating and confusing. These are not genteel Southern people but earthy and unsophisticated folk who use explicit language.

Grace's mother has had one goal for her daughter--to go to New York and become an actress. For Grace, getting to New York requires much more than just saving the money to go. People and unforeseen events keep threatening her move to New York. Grace has a new boy friend, Lennie Bean, whom she finds is not only unscrupulous but may be planning a murder. She enlists the help of her mother and a new friend, Ginny Jo (who thinks she is the only lesbian in Hixson), to prevent the murder. Determined not to disappoint her mother, Grace and Ginny Jo, in a junky car with little money and a Chihuahua, leave Paradise for New York. Grace's loyalty, compassion and determination bring her into a new circle of friends in New York as she creates her new life.

The author introduces a parade of personalities that you will recognize--people that you will want to know and that you will miss. The life and richness she gives to the people of Paradise will take you in like a welcomed stranger. You will love knowing Grace, her family and her friends, both in Hixson and in New York.

Life has its tragedies, humor and mysteries, and this story has all of that. Some really good novels slip through the cracks, don't let this be one of them.

Armchair Interviews says: Dancing Backward in Paradise is a story you do not want to miss.

From the minute I purchased this book I was dying to read it. Due to my work schedule I couldn't get to it quick enough and had already started on another read before Dancing Backwards in Paradise had arrived. I finally finished my previous book and after several attempts at my mother trying to take it home with her (I promised her she gets to read it next)I finally dug in.

All I have to say now is MORE please from Ms. Cook. I don't even no where to start except that this cast of characters, the places, the nostalgia, Ms. Cook's writing style and humor is like the perfect book for me. All I need now is a wrap around porch, some iced tea and a warm breezy day! This is the book you don't want to put down or ever end.

I am looking forward to her next series of books! Please hurry!

Dancing Backward in Paradise left me thankful for living in NYC and with a new friend, Grace Place, that I remember as I walk the streets of my own "Paradise". I can still hear the anecdotes filled with wisdom that Vera Jane Cook so beautifully included through the character of Mama Place. A unique and intriguing piece of literature that reaches all of your senses - I found myself smiling from ear to ear, laughing with and at the characters while feeling their pain and struggles. Young and old, men and women - ALL WILL ENJOY THIS NOVEL!

Loved the characters, loved the story. The entire cast was well received by this reader. How could I find anything wrong with a book that circles around characters called: GRACE PLACE, LENNY BEAN, GINNY JO PENNY, BILLY BEAN AND EZRA BUCKLEY BEAN - to name a few - Kinda goofy - yeah, but down to earth Southern love!
At first the dialect was unnerving but it was wonderful to see Grace grow. Grace Place was naive and that normally gets on my nerves but she was so innocent in her thoughts and actions that it was acceptable. Funny to the point that I laughed out loud more in this book than in the last two weeks of my real life (which is actually quite sad!) Some great quotes could be pulled from this..I think I may when the need arises. Enjoy it - it's funny, loving, aggravating, heartfelt and goofy - all pages neatly bound and called "Dancing Backward in Paradise"

I was just browsing through titles when I found this book and read the few reviews that are there already for DANCING BACKWARD IN PARADISE. On the basis of these reviews, I ordered the book and I simply can't put it down. This is a novel about a "real" young girl living in an upscale trailer park, her move to New York City to make it "big", the people she comes to know along the way, and the way she chooses to live her life. She is funny, sensitive, innocent ( though not sexually) and so appealing. I loved her mother with her sometimes odd words of wisdom, and I just can't recommend this book enough. Why this book isn't on its way up the best-sellers list, I will never understand, but I'm recommending it to everyone I know. True, Grace has a mouth on her and can be a bit "raunchy" in some of her expressions- but that's what makes her funny and real. I'm trying to decide whether to suggest this for my Readers Club- if you read it, tell me what you think- Enjoy!

A rare find, great timing in her writing and a tightly woven story. Finished it in 4 days which is rare for me. Lovers of southern literature will devour this book!

I bought this book because of the FEW good reviews. I have to wonder if these were her relatives doing the reviewing. I found this book very mediocre and not that good. I gave it to my mother and she felt the same way. I was disappointed.

I really don't understand how this book was rated so highly. I hated it! I read past the halfway point and finally quit. The dialogue was ridiculous - everyone calling each other by their full names was just one example. There are a ton of typos and I thought it was very poorly written. I really rely on the reviews to select books and this is one of the few that totally failed.