Customer Reviews

Shadow Dancing

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

 

 

This book was a long awaited follow up to her debut, Daddy was a Number Runner. Shadow Dancing tells the story of Glenda, a writer with a magazine and Mark, the Director of a Theater, and how they were able to overcome obstacles and adversities, primarily Mark's ex. I believe the story started out strong, but towards the middle and end, it started to lose me. The main characters were not as well developed as I would have like -- I didn't feel an intimate relationship with them, so when we experienced the climaxes, I wasn't deeply involved enough with the characters to really feel anything. I found the book entertaining and enjoyed the history of black theater and culture that the author supplied, but the book wasn't memorable enough that I would choose to read it a second time.

I picked up this book because according to the display in my local library, it's a great new African-American women's novel. I actually forced myself to finish it because I wanted to make sure I wasn't judging it unfairly. Basically, I wouldn't suggest anyone waste his/her time on this book--it was not particularly well-written (the dialogue was stilted, the narration constantly said explicitly what could have been implied or shown to the reader in a more interesting way); the plot was incredibly contrived (drama after drama happens--to reveal here that there's a car crash, a near-mugging, a death in a gunshot robbery, a meningitis scare, and lots of post-traumatic stress syndrome doesn't spoil any of the pleasure of the book), and the characters were never three-dimensional enough for me to care about them.

This book was like a soup that was under seasoned- bland. Don't get me wrong, the writer is very talented, that's clear by her lyrical, concise prose. But overall, Shadow Dancing is filled with mundane people having mundane experiences. The most interesting person is Darlene, but unfortunately, she's just a secondary character who's given a sketchy life. Come to think of it, where were all of the strong, lasting subplots? It seems the writer killed of a major character when there wasn't anything else to do. This book lacked depth and substanstiality, but on a positive note, it wasn't torture.

I am over 12, actually 35 but can't find the review page for adults. Shadow Dancing is first rate. I sat down and read it from cover to cover. Couldn't stop reading. It's a beautiful love story, challenging and well written. The characters are well defined and I cared about them deeply to the point where I shed a tear or two.

Shadow dancing is the up and down marriage of Glenda and Mark. The marriage has problems that include, Glend's insecurities, Mark's ex wife, and the lost of his beloved job. What happened to Mark at the end was a shock and unexpected. I throught this book was good, in that in didn't end with the fairytale ending that most romance books do.

I thoroughly enjoyed Shadow Dancing. The characters were realistic, dealing with mature problems of love and guilt and vulnerability. From the very beginning I was drawn into the story, feeling connected to Glenda, the main character, and remained enthralled throughout. The writing is also exceptional. A very good read.

Shadow Dancing's main character, Glenda, enters life passionately, completely, yet with clear eyes. As she says when she is recovering from an accident, "No more painkillers. They take me out. I'd rather experience the pain." Because she loves--her man, her friends, her child--she knows that she does so despite all the forces that daily assail one so vulnerable: the danger in a moment's inattention while driving, the violence in the culture, the killer instinct in her lover who has fought in a war. Even viruses. Yet through it all, she experiences the power and glory of life.A truly remarkable book.