Wednesday, September 15, 2010

FitG Update: Ten Cents a Dance


Another excellent book! My favorite part of this one was the incredible setting. I felt like I was in 1940's Chicago. If you're interested you can read my full review here on the Fill in the Gaps project blog.

Here's a blurb about the product description from Amazon:

With her mother ill, it’s up to fifteen-year-old Ruby Jacinski to support her family. But in the 1940s, the only opportunities open to a Polish-American girl from Chicago’s poor Yards is a job in one of the meat packing plants. Through a chance meeting with a local tough, Ruby lands a job as a taxi dancer and soon becomes an expert in the art of “fishing”: working her patrons for meals, cash, clothes, even jewelry. Drawn ever deeper into the world of dance halls, jazz, and the mob, Ruby gradually realizes that the only one who can save her is herself.  A mesmerizing look into a little known world and era.

Read any good books lately? Or have you read this one? Share in the comments.

3 comments:

  1. Thanks for this review, Amy. The world definitely sounds interesting, but I can't help but wonder if it would make me feel a little icky. Where did it register on your ick-o-meter?

    I read and enjoyed HEIST SOCIETY by Ally Carter, but that's the only one I can remember of the books I've read of late. I still have MOCKINGJAY sitting on my nightstand (I'm currently rereading the others in the series so I get that one in perfect context), but from the rumbles I've been hearing around the blogosphere, MOCKINGJAY wasn't quite what everyone was hoping for. I hope that's not the case!

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  2. Krista, Good question! I know with this subject matter and setting there is definite ick-potential. But for me personally there was no ick-factor. Ruby battles hard *not* to fall into many of the "activities" the other taxi-cab dancers participate in for extra income. Not that she gets through her experience as a taxi-dancer unscathed -- and part of her character evolution is a loss of innocence -- but still, it's not what you'd expect. She's tough, not a victim, so I think that helps to make this non-ick-ish. Plus, there's nothing graphic that I remember. So, anyway, hope that helps. If you do decide to try it, let me know what you think. Of course, we all have different ick-o-meters, but don't worry, this wasn't a novel about one young girl's decent into prostitution or anything. :)

    I have Mockingjay coming to me in the mail. I'm so excited!! :)

    Amy

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  3. Thanks for the review, Amy! Sounds like an interesting read...something I did not know about...as for the ick-factor, glad to hear it isn't on the high end. I'll have to keep my eye open for that one. I love historical novels, too!

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