Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Book Club #5 Ballet Shoes (feat. Avi Valencia)

Hello best friends! In case you're not aware of this, I launched a book club here on the blog. I know it's not really related to fashion but I also think that is quite important for everyone (inside and outside the fashion industry) to read more. I teamed up with Avi Valencia from Petite Fashion Monster, like in a proper book club, and we chose a British classic to discuss: Ballet Shoes, by Noel Streatfeild.

// ¡Hola mejores amigos! En caso de que no lo sepan, lancé un club de lectura aquí en el blog. Sé que no está realmente relacionado con moda pero también creo que es importante para todos leer un poquito más (dentro y fuera de la industria de la moda). Hice equipo con Avi Valencia de Petite Fashion Monster, como en un club de lectura en forma, y elegimos un clásico inglés para discutir: Ballet Shoes, de Noel Streatfeild.
Book: Ballet Shoes, by Noel Streatfeild. You can buy it at www.bookdepository.com
"We three Fossils vow... To try and put our names in history books because it's our very own and nobody can say it's because of our grandfathers." The Fossil sisters don't have any parents; in fact, they're not even related to each other. They've been raised as sisters, sharing a unique last name, one that is their own and no one else's. Ballet Shoes tells the story of these three different girls that start in a similar path but evolve into individual characters.

There's the oldest, Pauline, the actress. She's conflicted, she's rebellious, she only wants to help her sisters. Then we have Petrova, the tomboy, the one that isn't fond of arts; she loves vehicles, she hates singing. And finally, Posey, the youngest, the ballet dancer with unprecedented talent. The three of them are forced to work in the arts when money at home becomes scarce. Some love it, some see it as a way to earn money, and one of them dreams of flying an airplane.

Ballet Shoes is real, as real as you can feel within a performer's family. There are times where you laugh, times when you yawn and times when you cry. The three main characters are very different, and yet, each of them can connect with a reader on different levels. We've all been desperate, hungry for success, frustrated, pissed at the world. Noel Streatfeild explores all those feelings through the bodies of three sisters who vow to put their names in history books, to leave something behind that's bigger than themselves. It's an easy read, enjoyable and, most importantly, a classic in British literature. Want a picture of the UK in the 1930s? Read this book and you'll get a pretty realistic one.

// "We three Fossils vow... To try and put our names in history books because it's our very own and nobody can say it's because of our grandfathers." Las hermanas Fossil no tienen padres; de hecho, ni siquiera están relacionadas entre ellas. Fueron criadas como hermanas, compartiendo un apellido único, uno que es de ellas y de nadie más. Ballet Shoes cuenta la historia de estas tres diferentes niñas que comienzan en un camino similar pero evolucionan a personajes individuales.

Está la más grande, Pauline, la actriz. Tiene conflictos, es rebelde, sólo quiere ayudar a sus hermanas. Luego tenemos a Petrova, la no femenina, la que no tiene afinidad por el arte; ama los vehículos, odia cantar. Y, finalmente, Posey, la más joven, la bailarina de ballet con talento sin precedentes. Las tres son forzadas a trabajar en el mundo del arte cuando el dinero en casa se vuelve escaso. Algunas lo aman, algunas lo ven como forma de ganar enero, una de ellas sueña con volar aviones.

Ballet Shoes es real, tan real como se puede sentir dentro de una familia de artistas. Hay veces donde ríes, otras donde bostezas y otras donde lloras. Los tres personajes principales son muy distintos, aún así, cada uno logra conectar con el lector en niveles distintos. Todos hemos estado desesperados, hambrientos de éxito, frustrados, molestos con el mundo. Noel  Streatfeild explora todos esos sentimientos a través del cuerpo de tres hermanas que juran poner sus nombres en los librosde historia para dejar algo atrás que sea más grande que ellas mismas. Es una lectura fácil, se disfruta y, aún más importante, un clásico de la literatura británica. ¿Quieren una imagen verídica de Inglaterra en los 30s? Lean este libro y la obtendrán.
My friend Avi also wrote her review and here's a sneak peek (in spanish); you can catch the rest at her blog: Petite Fashion Monster. Don't forget to follow her on Instagram and give her page a Like on Facebook:

"Es muy fácil enamorarte de las tres chicas Fossil, sí, es su apellido adoptivo. Cada una tiene su gracia, personalidad y sueños (...) Puedo decir que ese libro lo debe de leer toda niña, adolescente y mujer porque realmente te inspira a seguir por tus sueños"

Finish reading here review here.
Don't forget that you can buy Ballet Shoes over at www.bookdepository.com along with other titles, also by Noel Streatfeild.

Let me know what you think of this entry!
Love always,
Hen.

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