Review: The Spectacular by Fiona Davis

The Spectacular by Fiona Davis has been on my shelf for a while. I ordered it quite a while ago with my Book of the Month (BOTM) subscription and, like most of my other BOTM books, it has languished, waiting for me to be in the mood to pick it up. I finally did just that in mid June, and I wish I had picked it up sooner.

The story begins in 1992, in first person, from the point of view of Marion Brooks, as she prepares to move from her childhood home to an independent-living facility. Very quickly though, we are taken back in time to 1956, where the story switches to third person, but still mainly from Marion’s point of view. Most of the book takes place in the earlier timeline but it does switch back and forth a couple of times, not enough to be annoying.

Marion, creative like her mother was, is a dance instructor, but loses her job because she doesn’t follow the strict rules of her employer. On a whim, she decides to try out for the famous Rockettes, and shocks herself when she gets the job! This causes a rift in her family , but Marion is determined to follow her dream.

At the same time, there is a man in New York, terrorizing the city by placing bombs in public buildings. Marion is drawn into the search for the bomber when a tragedy strikes her world, due to the bomber’s actions.

I really enjoyed this book, although, I’ll be honest, I preferred the earlier part of the story that told how Marion became a Rockette, and of the challenges she and the other women who performed faced; dancing multiple shows, day in and day out, with very little time for rest or any kind of life outside of their work.

That said, the rest of the story was still interesting and kept me glued to my book. I felt Marion’s frustration at not being taken seriously  when she had valuable information to share, because she was a woman.

I was so drawn into this book because of the way it showed Marion’s personal struggles with her desire to follow her dreams, the disappointment she caused her family, the grief she went through, and her struggle to get justice.

The ending though really got to me, and I’ll admit I cried a few tears and was sad to see the story come to an end.

 I don’t want to say more, because if I do, it might spoil the book. Just know that it was, well, a spectacular read.