Name: The Music and the Mirror
ISBN: 9783963240140

LOLA. KEELEY

Anna is the member of an elite ballet company. She must face down jealousy, sabotage and injury, not to mention navigate the circus of friends and lovers within the company. Anna discovers that she and the daring, beautiful Victoria have a lot more than a talent for ballet in common, and that not every thrilling dance can be found on stage.

The Music and the Mirror

Lola Keeley

Anna is the newest member of an elite ballet company. Her first class with her mysterious idol, Victoria, almost ruins her career before it starts. When she shows she might be a potential star, Victoria chooses Anna to launch a new season around.Now Anna must face down jealousy, sabotage and injury, not to mention navigate the circus of friends and lovers within the company. The pressure builds as she knows she must pour everything she has into opening night and prove to her rivals and herself that Victoria's faith in her is not misplaced.In the process, Anna discovers that she and the daring, beautiful Victoria have a lot more than a talent for ballet in common, and that not every thrilling dance can be found on stage.

Lucia Correa

Wow. 5+ Stars. I often compare a handful of my favorite 5+ Star books to a new book- does it deserve 5 Stars? Well, this book will be on that list that others will have to live up to.

I try not to read glowing reviews before reading the book myself. I want to experience it myself. I did read Tiff's early review and I knew it was going to be good. I tried limit my reading of reviews to glancing at the first sentence. I wasn't always successful.

"The Music and the Mirror by Lola Keeley isn’t good, it isn’t great, its next level amazing." @Tiff 
"I loved it! This is the feel good book of the first quarter of 2018" @Lex Kent
"The mystery of the body in motion. The surprise of seeing what seems impossible. And the pure joyful optimism of it all." @Diane Wallace
"Believe the hype about The Music and the Mirror." @Pin
"I. Am. Blown. Away." @Sprinkles

Unlike many readers of this book who practically devoured it in one sitting. I'm weird. If I'm reading a great book, I tend to take a break from it and read short comfort read. Why? So I don't read it so fast that I miss savoring each bite. I think I highlighted most of the book! There are many, but here are just a few that won't spoil it too much.
 
"It's magic. Everywhere she looks something beautiful is happening. These aren't just dancers; these people are Anna's heroes and they can fly." 
Anna about Victoria - "How unfair that someone who could dance so well also communicates so clearly with words"
Victoria about Anna - "It should be infuriating how unbreakable Anna's spirit is, but there she goes again with bouncing right back."
"She dances, she eats, she sleeps."

This is an inside glance of a professional ballet company, all the pain, triumphs, the politics, and the love. Ballerinas in different stages of their careers. The upstart rookie, the star, the pain riddled prima on her last legs, and the former world renown star now a director. Its more than than just the behind the stage, it is also about off stage - the relationships and friendships that form. I can't recommend this higher enough.

SIDE NOTE:
I can't dance. period. But I can say I know a professional ballerina. She was a longtime girlfriend of my nephew, Travis. She wasn't a principal dancer but one of the chorus. When she wasn't dancing, she taught. When I first met her, I thought she didn't look like the stereotype. She was in between jobs, a bit tall, fit, but not a waif and boy could she eat! She did have the posture and grace of a dancer. But when she started dancing with the Denver Ballet, she definitely became more waifish. I only saw her dance once in the Nutcracker in Denver (I live in CA). Well, I knew she was on stage, unfortunately she was one of the sugarplum fairies and we couldn't figure out which one was her - they all looked alike. :-) Travis didn't want to see it yet again, so we couldn't ask him. Dancing in the chorus - they don't pay you much of anything. In fact, I think she was part of a scholarship type program, so she kinda paid them. It was inevitable that their relationship wouldn't last. She was (still is) a nomadic dancer. Every season she is in a different city, a different company. A dancer's career is short, much like athletes. So she is doing what she has to do, while she can do it. Her current boyfriend is also a dancer and Travis just got married and hoping to have kids.

If you thought Victoria Ford could dance, then Jesus you should feel her kiss. 


s*raight couples ain't got nothing on my sapphic ballerinas!!!!

The Music and the Mirror

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