Hester's Story is a charming tale, simply told. The story follows young Estelle through her life as a young girl in France and then on to her new life in England as an almost-orphan living with relatives, and her career as a ballerina.Simple as it is, it would give away a great deal to say any more than I have already. Underlying the entire text is the 'secret' that the woman/ballerina/heroine who is the focus of the story is hiding, mentioned in the back blurb, and tangibly present in each word the author has written. It's a real page-turner this book, and I finished it in one sitting. I just couldn't bear to put it down.Each character is beautifully drawn. Realistic. Believable. And amazingly all of them strike a chord within me, I identify characteristics of my own with each of their personalities. It's very rare for that to happen to me, as I am usually a pretty unbiased reader, and don't always get emotionally involved with characters in this sort of novel. Even the places are so vividly described, it feels like you are there in the flesh.Told through flashbacks, the book was incredibly well put together and edited beautifully as well. The writing is simple but effective, and the ending turned out to be fairly predictable - I loved it none the less for all that.I just Wiki-ed her, and apparently this was her first book for adults, and now that I know that (after having read the book), the writing style makes more sense. Definitely one to look out for... got to go and hunt out her other books from the library now!This review was originally published at Book Weyr
Published back in 2005, and probably been sitting on my shelf for almost as long!I was never one of those little girls who was interested in ballet, in fact I only read Noel Streatfield's 'Ballet Shoes' for the first time last year, so I wasn't really sure if I would be interested in this story.The story opens in 1986 at Wychwood House in Yorkshire, the home of former prima ballerina Hester Fielding. Hester was at the top of her field, the most famous and talented ballerina in the world for a while. She's now a ballet teacher and the director of an annual Festival at Wychwood. Hester receives a phone call that makes her think back on her life and her career.The story flits back and forth. Between Hester's childhood and her rise to fame and back to the 1980s as the preparations for the Festival are underway.Depsite knowing nothing at all about ballet, I enjoyed this story very much. I was reminded of the novels of Barbara Taylor-Bradford or Penny Vincenzi, it was an easy read with a good central plotline and some interesting characters.
What do You think about Hester's Story (2015)?
Estelle Prevert escapes an unhappy childhood and becomes Hester Fielding, prima ballerina. The story charts her career and the difficulties within her personal life through to her middle age when after retiring from performing she reinvents herself as the organiser of the Wychwood Ballet Festival where unexpected events force her to face her past.Considering that one of my favourite books as a child was "Ballet Shoes", there were elements within this novel that I loved! It was an indulgent holiday read and I devoured it in a day! Yes, it was predictable and full of stereotyped dancers, but the whole backstage, gossipy aspects made me feel twelve years old again!
—Fluffychick
