About Like I Used To Dance
“Our kids, my, my,
Gracie” laughed Bud. “Where did we go wrong? One marries God, another a Jew and
the last one, the devil!”
Texas, 1951. The
Wolanskys—Grace, Bud and their three grown children—are a close-knit clan,
deeply rooted in their rural community and traditional faith. On their orderly
farm, life seems good and tomorrow always holds promise.
But under the surface,
it’s a different story. Grace is beset by dark memories and unnamed fears,
calmed only by practicing a secret obsession. Their son Andy has said no to
becoming a farmer like his dad and, worse, has fallen in love with a big-city
Jewish girl. Youngest child Regina is trapped in a loveless marriage to an
abusive, alcoholic husband. Even “perfect” daughter Angela’s decision to become
a nun unleashes consequences no one could foresee.
And then Ceil Dollard
breezes into town.
Ceil—wealthy, sophisticated, irrepressible—is like a visitor from Mars. She’s a modern woman. She drives a car and wears pants. She blows away tradition and certainty, forcing Grace to face her fears and brave a changing world. Through Ceil, Grace learns about courage and pleasure—but at the risk of losing Bud.
Barbara Frances’
sparkling, richly human novel takes you back to a time when Ike was president
and life was slower, but people were the same as now. You’ll encounter a cast
of characters storm-tossed by change, held together by love. Written with
compassion, humor and suspense, Like
I Used to Dance will charm you, warm you and even squeeze a
few tears, from its opening number to the last waltz.
Enjoy this Texas treat !
Verified Purchase
Ms. Frances has given us a rare treat. She
writes of people and places she knows well....their traditions, their culture,
their pleasures and their pains. We come to care very much for these characters
and follow their interwoven stories, eager to learn how their struggles are
resolved. Ms. Frances infuses her story with her special kind of humor while,
at the same time, tugging on our heart strings as her characters, even the less
likable ones, strive to overcome their unique challenges. You can feel the hot
Texas sun, see the parched landscape, smell the barbecue in the air, because
this writer knows and loves her setting. Better set aside time to enjoy this
page-turner. It's a real pleasure! What's next Ms. Frances?
