Julia Holden One Dance in Paris

One Dance in Paris

Julia Holden

NAL, Jul 2007, $14.00

ISBN: 9780451220806

Her self esteem has always been low because she always towered over her classmates, who assumed she played basketball. At thirteen she was exiled from ballet class for being too tall. Now an adult Linda Stone still has problems with being a six foot plus skinny female with men's size 11 shoes as her reticence has left her friendless. Adding to her feelings of towering inadequacy is she barely remembers anything about her mother having been raised by a loving caring father Jack.

However, everything changes when the package arrives with information about her mother, Mimi Archer. Linda learns who her mother is, an internationally famous Paris showgirl; as the star of Follies Bergere, she wore high heels and a gigantic headdress to further accentuate her height that in bare feet made her taller than most men. Linda wonders if her mother can flaunt her six foot body with a sexual teasing come on, why not she too, starting with her mother's showgirl gown as a first giant step. She figures ONE DANCE IN PARIS will give her a lifetime of memories although it is Eddie Atkinson the artist who makes her feel like a lovely swan.

This adult version of the Ugly Duckling is a fabulous character study of a young woman who has always felt like a misfit until she learns about her maternal heritage and decides to take a plunge into her mom's lifestyle. Linda is a terrific protagonist as all her life she has struggled with towering over men let alone every female she met. Her dad is a nice person, which adds to the evolution of Linda as she decides whether following the steps of mom will hurt her dad. Readers will appreciate this entertaining transformation of a clumsy shy giantess into a lovely gazelle.

Harriet Klausner