Yeah, I read this despite the bad pun in the title. It was refreshing to see that the main character is capable of going to the bathroom and contracting a yeast infection ... and that the author could actually work a yeast infection into the plot. While I lived in NYC, I was involved in theatre and have spent many an hour in a rehearsal studio dancing. In Boston I exercised at a place that taught ballet and tap to adults. There were many ballet dancers hanging out in the halls pretentiously turning out their toes and searching through their wallets for change for the drink machines only to "accidentally" find centimes. So, if an author wants to kill off a few of the bunheads, I'm up for it.The main character, Juliet, is a successful romance writer who takes her historical research seriously. She lives in an expensive apartment in Manhattan and has a secretary, Ames. I have actually been in a similar situation, transcribing notes for authors living on the Upper West Side while I lived in a studio apartment that I shared with at least one other person (on the Upper East). Her friend, Ruth, is a choreographer who has is trying to put together a piece based on Great Expectations, which they humorously refer to as "Great Ex." Ruth is stymied and calls on Juliet to come to use her plot development expertise. This puts a crimp in Juliet's writing, but Ruth was there for her when she needed her and she agrees. A dancer dies under suspicious circumstances and Juliet becomes reacquainted with an old college chum she used to be attracted to ... who is now a police detective. Sexual tension and a yeast infection ensue. There is more going on than meets the eye in the world of beautiful dancers. And everyone is sleeping with everyone else. Was the dancer murdered? Will Juliet and Murray get it on? Will Murray get over this love/hate thing he has going for rich women? Will Ruth chill out? Stay tuned.
I finished this book to see if I had the perp right. Yup!! I felt the ending was too easy to figure out. I also wondered about some of the vocabulary the author used. Such as: rebeginning. Having a ballet background, although many years ago, I felt there was a lot to be desired, or more thoroughly explained about the choreograhy scenes. And, I did not believe that the protagonist could see a dancer work outy a series of steps and know that it came from a particular ballet.All in all, this book did not appeal to me. I won't search out another by the same author.
Do You like book Corpse De Ballet (2002)?
I happened across this book one day at a library book sale, where they need to get rid of old, forgotten, or overstocked books. I remember opening it for the first time and not really being interested at first, so I put it back down. Sometime later I pulled it back off my shelf and found myself particularly engrossed. At first, it seemed slow; I had no idea that I was holding a very good mystery read in my hands. There are many characters and lots of idling here and there but eventually it picks up. A good book after all has to have well developed and numerous characters, especially a mystery. Some people may find too many characters hard to follow,however, I don't believe this is one of those books.
—Jessica
Juliet, a popular author, is asked by her choreographer friend to help with the plotting of her new ballet based on Dickens's GREAT EXPECTATIONS. It feels stagnate to Ruth. Once Juliet joins the cast in the studio, a string of mishaps and injuries begins. The death doesn't occur until going on halfway through the book, which gives us plenty of time to care about what is going to happen to the people.The wonderful thing about CORPSE DE BALLET is the ballet the author has created. I know little about ballet, but the author's combination of invention and commentary makes me wish it would be produced. It's a delight to watch it flower.
—Joy
