On My Bookshelf: The Dancing Master by Julie Klassen

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Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links; I received a copy of this book to review.

Do you ever read a book and feel as though you’re seeing the movie play out right before your eyes? That’s exactly the impression I got while reading The Dancing Master by Julie Klassen. The characters were somewhat predictable for a period piece, yet I felt as though I was stepping through a Jane Austen world.  Klassen seemed to capture the story from the beginning of the novel and carried it through to the end.  While some parts were a little disconcerting, overall the story was really beautiful.  I admired the main male character, Alec, for his devotion and obligation to his family.  The curious aspect of the story was drawn out enough that it held my interest.  I loved the writing style; as I said, it reminded me of Jane Austen.  Downton Abbey fans would also appreciate this story since it deals with the hierarchy of society during the 1800s.

The main conflict in the story comes about because Alec, a dance instructor, moves to a town where dancing is prohibited.  I attended a small private college where one of the benefactors provided a large sum of money to the school with a stipulation — there would be no dancing on campus.  I am not really sure when the agreement was made but it was an arrangement that was honored during my 5 years at the college.  We got creative with our social ambitions, though; several events were held off campus.  We played semantics by stating that there would be a dinner held at a hotel, followed by a period of Music and Movement.  Ha!!   The Dancing Master reminded me a little of that experience.   The female main character, Julia, is a spunky spoiled little thing who is so bored that she just tries to create her own drama.  If you enjoyed Jane Austen’s Emma, Julia’s immaturity might remind you a bit of Emma’s behavior.  I tend to be more a rule-follower like Julia’s friend Patience, so I enjoyed her character as well.   The book also reminded me how lucky I am to live in an era when I don’t have to feel indebted to a male relative for my future.

Best-selling author Julie Klassen will be hosting a Kindle Fire HDX giveaway and a live webcast event (1/23) to celebrate the release of her latest novel, The Dancing Master. Enter and RSVP today!

 

 
One winner will receive:

  • A Kindle Fire HDX
  • The Dancing Master by Julie Klassen

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on January 23rd. Winner will be announced at the “All Things Jane (from Austen to Eyre)” Live Webcast Event on January 23rd. Connect with Julie for an evening of book chat, trivia, laughter, and more! Julie will also be taking questions from the audience and giving away books, Jane Austen DVDs, fun “Jane” merchandise, and gift certificates throughout the evening.



So grab your copy of The Dancing Master and join Julie and friends on the evening of January 23rd for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven’t read the book, don’t let that stop you from coming!)


Don’t miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today by signing up for a reminder. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 23rd!

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