Circle Dance

by Lynne Constantine and Valerie Constantine

Book Overview

Young, smart and beautiful with everything figured out - or so they thought. Born into a prosperous Greek American family, sisters Nicole and Theodora have achieved the perfect balance between the old... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1480164496
• ISBN13: 9781480164499
• Release Date: November 2012
• Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
• Length: 260 Pages
• Weight: 0.86 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Wonderful book with great character development.

This is a great read. It lets the reader get totally involved with this family and experience all of the love, tradition, culture, politics, heartbreak and faith that the family experiences through life. It also gives the reader a good understanding of the expectations of one another in an ethnic family. The descriptions of the Greek island and the time spent with their grandparents brought tears to the eyes. This is a beautiful book, one you want to read more than once.

Excellent Book

This is one of the best books I have read over the past year. The story is incredibly real. In this book the reader finds joy, sadness, tragedy, wisdom, and the ultimate resilience of the human soul. This book is a real tour de force.

A thoroughly worthwhile read

First-time authors Lynne and Valerie Constantine capture perfectly the heart-tugs that are so keen for two young women claiming their adulthood in a Greek American family that is steeped in the tradition and values of another culture. There is a lot of wisdom shared in these pages, as well as subtle humor and a surprising amount of drama. The two main characters are drawn with piercing yet compassionate insight as they come to understand and appreciate at a new level the value of family, integrity, and tradition. If you are from a close family (Greek or not), you will enjoy this book; it lovingly portrays the interplay between three generations and the way a rich Greek heritage permeates this spirited family. This was the kind of book that compelled me to keep the light on way past my bedtime. The two sisters are lively and real in their struggles with both internal and external demons. It was fascinating to watch the older sister, who despite her obvious perspicacity was led astray by her heart (even as she watched her sister's life almost derail because of her blind love for a man). The writing actually gets sharper as the plot unfolds. A thoroughly worthwhile read!

Couldn't Put it Down

"This intriguing story filled with deception, hope, sorrow, and joy, is perfectly balanced with the traditions and culture of Greek America. The reader becomes an eyewitness to the saga of the close-knit Parsenis family. Compelling and wonderfully described characters come to life as you conjure up vivid images-trying to anticipate the fast-paced events impacting two sisters, Theodora and Nicole. The story often alternates between these characters with a seamless flow that contrasts and compares their lives. The book's authors, also children of the Greek-American experience, tell a story that is both delightful and suspenseful. It is not surprising to find the reader transported with ease between the unfolding drama in America and Greece. Beginning with an elusive death, the story comes full circle concluding with the shining hope offered by new life. In a surreal fashion, you are there with the Parsenis family every step of the way and once you finish Circle Dance...you will simply wish for more." Nicholas M. Prevas, Historian, Author of History of the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation, Baltimore, 1982. Gone But Not Forgotten, A Definitive History of the Greek Section at Woodlawn Cemetery, Baltimore, 2001.

What a delight!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Circle Dance. It reeled me in from the beginning and I was hooked for the rest of the book. The characters are beautifully developed and the description of Greek traditions and family is woven into their modern day lives. Not being of Greek descent myself, I wondered as I picked up the book whether I could relate to the characters and appreciate the storyline but I was very pleasantly surprised at how absorbing the storytelling was. It didn't matter that I wasn't Greek - I literally couldn't put it down. A real page turner! If you're searching for a refreshing look at a close knit family with an ethnic flair - Circle Dance is the book for you.