Title: Invitation to the Waltz
Author: Rosamond Lehmann
Genre: Fiction
About the book...
Written in 1932, Invitation to the Waltz follows Olivia and Kate Curtis over the period of two days as they celebrate Olivia's 17th birthday and prepare for and attend a coming out dance at the neighboring Spencer's. As their friend is introduced into society, Olivia is given a considerable amount to consider in terms of her place in society, the people who inhabit her circle, and overall her place in the world she lives in, which is the primary focus of the book.
What I think...
I liked this book, which manages to deftly tie in the funny, bittersweet, and charming experiences of a young woman attending her first society dance and coming to terms with entering adulthood as well as reflecting on where she fits in her swiftly changing world.
It was well written and alternates between a traditional narrative and steam of consciousness with Olivia's being the primary perspective. In some ways, it reminded me of Katherine Mansfield writing in terms of tone and just in general how an experience can shape the way you view the world around you.
There is a lot of emotion tied in with the writing, but in a way that
enhances rather than hampers the story and that captures a lot of what
being at the dance means to Olivia. I liked how Lehmann includes the more mundane observations, such as details and meandering thoughts about clothing or furniture, along with the more serious ones that lead to deeper thoughts about what it means to be an individual and life, in general.
It is on the leisurely side with the bulk of it taking place at the dance and with it being focused on Olivia's encounters, observations, and reflections. However, it does not come across as being a book that drags on and on, but as one that ends way too soon.
To sum it all up...
A pleasant coming of age story centered around a young woman's first dance and offering a look at society in the 1920's. ♥
(This is being antedated by a day because as usual I failed to press the publish button after scheduling it.)
What a delightful premise for a book. I am really fond of novels (and movies, etc) that are able to focus solely on a very small time periods (such a day, weekend, week, and so forth). I think it takes a considerably amount of skill to successfully contain an entire story in such a short timeline and to do so in a way that hones the reader's (or viewer's) attention from start to finish.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for this lovely latest book review. They are always appreciated.
Autumn Zenith 🧡 Witchcrafted Life
I agree with you and it's certainly a treat when you can find a novel or movie that pulls it off well!
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