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readwithpassion's review
3.0
This book has beautiful language that is almost poetic. I just couldn't connect with the narrator, and I didn't find her relationship with Nick to be believable. I liked how Rosie develops a strong connection with her dying grandfather and his past.
carmenhartjensen's review
3.0
I really enjoyed this book would give it a 3.8 if I could. It makes me look forward to the time when my girls and I can read books like this together and then have are own book club.
book_nut's review
4.0
This is a simple little book about a girl, Rosie, dealing with her grandfather's impending death (as well as her mother's affair with a married man). The plot is not gripping, the characters aren't compelling. What it is, though, is lyrical, poetic even, and for the language alone it makes this worth reading.
mon_ique's review
4.0
(Just one curse word, better, better:) When ever I look back on this book, I'd hear a slow, sweet, sad song. This book, about a girl, her boyfriend, her grandad, her mom, her mom's married suiter (words of Rosie, a loser) and sickness. Her mom, and her before than her after, start this story. Throughout you get glimpses into the past life of Rosie, what made her into the person she is. An absorbing read that would interest anybody, not just about dance, but about the things expressed through dancing.
hopeylope's review
3.0
This book confuses me. I felt like I knew the characters extremely well, and yet I felt I knew nothing about them. I loved the prose, yet at times I was left confused. I enjoyed the story, yet at times I found myself slightly bored. Fortunately due to its short length none of these things really mattered. It was a sweet story with lovable characters and for the most part beautiful writing. I found it similar to the other book I read by Beth Kephart, Dangerous Neighbors. Not my favorite book, but an enjoyable quick read with lovely characters and prose.
angek98's review
3.0
Rosie's grandfather has cancer, and as she finds out about his life, she decides to revive his memories through dance. The character of Rosie is an interesting one. She is fifteen years old, and he voice in this story is entrancing and captivating. She is determined and headstrong and she seems much older than what she is.
Beth Kephart's writing is amazing, and so poetic. There were a lot of memorable sentences in this novel, and you can tell she's been personally affected by loss, as stated in her acknowledgements.
Personally, I found it hard to relate, because I've never had to deal with the loss of a close family member. I sympathised with the characters and I understood Rosie's actions, and it was a deeply touching story about loss and family.
Beth Kephart's writing is amazing, and so poetic. There were a lot of memorable sentences in this novel, and you can tell she's been personally affected by loss, as stated in her acknowledgements.
Personally, I found it hard to relate, because I've never had to deal with the loss of a close family member. I sympathised with the characters and I understood Rosie's actions, and it was a deeply touching story about loss and family.
theresidentbookworm's review
4.0
I'm very mixed up about House of Dance. I've been wavering between a three and four. There were things I liked about it and a few I loved, but not much I hated. I did think it was too short and felt very much like House on Mango Street (which I did love).
Pros:
1. Rosie herself.
Insightful and witty, she has the ability to see the world through fresh eyes. The only good comparison to this narration style would be House on Mango Street. I actually think this is more effective.
2. The scenes between Rosie and her grandad.
They're funny, emotional, and so heartbreaking in a good way. There's closure and memories and stories that will go on because he is telling them to her.
3. Rosie and Nick.
Though I wish this romance had been more developed (you only really meet Nick once), it felt exciting and fresh like a long-awaited romance would.
4. The House of Dance characters
They just added another dimension to the story. This wasn't necessarily a book about dance, but the dance plays an important role, and what is dance without dancers?
Cons
1. Rosie's mom
I just never emphasized with her or understood her, not even at the end. She wasn't a good mother or daughter.
2. Length
This could've been fifty or so pages longer.
3. The tangents
In HOMST style, Rosie goes off on tangents about her life, her family, her friends, and her childhood. Sometimes this is helpful, but sometimes it drags the story along and hinders plot development.
4. The end
I never really understood why the whole town rallied for this party? Was it because Rosie's grandfather had lived there so long and knew everyone? This is never really elaborated on.
I guess I'll give it a four for now and tentatively recommend, especially for Mango Street fans.
Pros:
1. Rosie herself.
Insightful and witty, she has the ability to see the world through fresh eyes. The only good comparison to this narration style would be House on Mango Street. I actually think this is more effective.
2. The scenes between Rosie and her grandad.
They're funny, emotional, and so heartbreaking in a good way. There's closure and memories and stories that will go on because he is telling them to her.
3. Rosie and Nick.
Though I wish this romance had been more developed (you only really meet Nick once), it felt exciting and fresh like a long-awaited romance would.
4. The House of Dance characters
They just added another dimension to the story. This wasn't necessarily a book about dance, but the dance plays an important role, and what is dance without dancers?
Cons
1. Rosie's mom
I just never emphasized with her or understood her, not even at the end. She wasn't a good mother or daughter.
2. Length
This could've been fifty or so pages longer.
3. The tangents
In HOMST style, Rosie goes off on tangents about her life, her family, her friends, and her childhood. Sometimes this is helpful, but sometimes it drags the story along and hinders plot development.
4. The end
I never really understood why the whole town rallied for this party? Was it because Rosie's grandfather had lived there so long and knew everyone? This is never really elaborated on.
I guess I'll give it a four for now and tentatively recommend, especially for Mango Street fans.
anna_reads_too_much's review
5.0
This is one of those books that is worth heading over to the bookstore to get instead of waiting for the library to get it. It will grab you with the first chapter and have you reading until the end.
Rosie's emotions are real in this story. They don't seem fake at all. Also, the descriptions are really nice. I felt like I was there with Rosie as she traveled, as she cleaned out her grandfather's house, and when she was with Nick.
One thing that I liked a lot about this book was that it didn't focus solely on romance. Don't get me wrong, I love reading romance books, but it was nice to read a book where you don't hear about the guy sucking off the girl's face all the time. The romance in this book was really subtle - the author didn't mention it much, but it was inferred, so that you knew it was happening.
The book has really good meaning to it. It is definitely something that I will read again in my future.
Rosie's emotions are real in this story. They don't seem fake at all. Also, the descriptions are really nice. I felt like I was there with Rosie as she traveled, as she cleaned out her grandfather's house, and when she was with Nick.
One thing that I liked a lot about this book was that it didn't focus solely on romance. Don't get me wrong, I love reading romance books, but it was nice to read a book where you don't hear about the guy sucking off the girl's face all the time. The romance in this book was really subtle - the author didn't mention it much, but it was inferred, so that you knew it was happening.
The book has really good meaning to it. It is definitely something that I will read again in my future.
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