A Dancer's Guide To Africa
by Terez Mertes Rose
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Pub Date Jan 20 2019 | Archive Date Feb 13 2019
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Description
Still reeling from her sister’s unforgivable betrayal and a shattered relationship, new college graduate and ballet dancer Fiona vows to take a chance on herself. Her journey of self-discovery begins when she accepts a two-year English teaching assignment in Africa. However, Gabon, a country as wild and mysterious as it is beautiful, may be just another mistake in Fiona’s life. Christophe, her trainer, is a green-eyed, irresistible African, whose smoldering charisma threatens to undermine Fiona’s resolve. After fleeing the States, the last thing she needs is to fall for another womanizing heartbreaker. But the lessons Christophe ultimately teaches Fiona allow her to realize her deepest desires, unleashing the passion within her. Learning to let go of her inhibitions and exploring her own yearning become paramount in Fiona’s quest. And just when she discovers where her heart has been all along, an enemy threatens everything she’s worked toward. With her newfound courage and strength, will Fiona risk everything to fight back for the future she’s always wanted?
Advance Praise
A Quarter-finalist for the 2017 BookLife Prize
"Vivid prose and rapt evocations of the African surroundings make the story come alive." - Kirkus Reviews
“Hilarious and poignant, with a frank, observant narrator who seems forever on the outside looking in, and all the more lovable and relatable for that.” -- Sarah Bird, author of The Yokota Officers Club and Daughter of a Daughter of a Queen
“Terez Mertes Rose knows dancing. She can make us feel its soulful allure. And in A Dancer’s Guide to Africa she captures the wonder, the culture divide, the longing and loneliness of being an outsider in the nation of Gabon. Better still, she delivers a cast of characters and a story that holds our attention from beginning to end. With this novel, Rose, a savvy, insightful and entertaining writer, has come into her own.” -- John Dalton, award-winning author of Heaven Lake
“Rich with the smells, sounds, sights and culture of Africa, this novel takes us on an exquisite journey, through the eyes of a ballet dancer turned Peace Corps volunteer. A Dancer's Guide to Africa is at once funny and dark, and superbly nuanced.” -- Marika Brussel, choreographer and former dancer
“A textured, sensuous, coming-of-age story that had me turning pages until the very end. I could almost hear the drums and see the firelight as I followed these believably drawn characters through their cultural and romantic escapades in this wonderful novel.” -- Anne Clermont, author of Learning to Fall
Available Editions
| EDITION | Ebook |
| ISBN | 9780986093463 |
| PRICE | $3.99 (USD) |
Links
Featured Reviews
Heather F, Reviewer
A better than average fictional account of a young woman's stint in the Peace Corps in Africa. Filled with relationships, danger and dancing the main character experiences personal growth. Descriptive writing of food and locale bring the setting to life.
Copy provided by the Publisher and NetGalley
Reviewer 399184
It didn’t take me long to fall in love with this book. I want to thank the author, publisher and Net Galley for the ARC I received in exchange for an honest review,
This is a beautifully written novel about a young woman with a background in classical ballet who gets a position as an English teacher with the Peace Corps in Gabon, Africa. The lush descriptions of the countryside and customs are alone worth the read. It was evident the author drew on her knowledge and love of dance, storytelling, music and their mystical elements to weave a suspenseful tale. I will definitely be reading her other books.
Jamie Lynn B, Reviewer
I was immediately drawn to A Dancer's Guide to Africa because I love stories about Africa. It's the story of a young woman, a classical ballet dancer, who accepts a two year assignment working with the Peace Corps in Gabon, Africa. She takes this journey to find her true self. Did she make the right decision in coming to Africa of all places? Along the way, she meets many people who challenge her resolve, values and identity. She questions her life and what's truly important. The story is so well written and flows along so well that you will lose track of time. The heroine is a wonderfully developed young woman of strength, character and heart. The descriptions of the African landscape are beautiful and lyrical. It's as if, for a moment, you are transported there. I loved this story. I will read more from the author, Terez Mertes Rose. If you want to read a beautiful story, this one is perfect. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewer 368118
The author writes really well and draws one easily into the story.
This novel is about a young woman, Fiona, a recent college graduate, a ballet dancer and a person who wants to find herself and get away from some things that are bothering her in her hometown. Fiona decides to join the Peace Corps and is sent to the country of Gabon in Africa to become an English teacher.
Once in Africa, and assigned to her village Fiona, experiences, both respect and disrespect from some of her students and experiences some hardships in her village to where she is transferred to another place.
Dance which has always been so important to her, was found again after much reluctance in a local African dance, where she is finally able to feel free again.
A couple of romances which teach her a lot about herself, and experiences she has with the local people bring her a fulfilling experience.
The author gives use a wonderfully visual look at the culture, traditions and feel of the country and I felt I was there with the character as she goes through every aspect of it.
A very worthwhile read, and I look forward to more of her books.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Classical Girl Press for the ARC of this book.
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