Review & Summary:
I will start by saying I bought this autobiography after watching A Ballerina's Tale
. I was inspired by this talented dancer to find out more about her background and what she went through, so I bought this autobiography.
My first impression as I start to read this is that while it is great that Misty is willing to share her stories she glosses over some of the challenges she faced. While I understand it is her life and she does not have to share details, glossing over struggles makes it seem like there was no struggle. I am hoping that as the book continues she will open up about her current life and what the world of ballet has meant to her and some of the challenges that she faced.
As the book moves on, you start to realize that while Misty is a prodigy or a natural at ballet there were other challenges that went along with it. I don't know if it is her personality or the way she wants to view the world (or have you think she does) but she glosses over challenges and discrimination that she faced. Making you wonder if she is either not as bothered by it as her and her co-writer want you to think or is she hiding hurt she may have felt in the past and gotten over, and does not want to relive those feelings or hurt others by talking about it.
As a reader you do appreciate more of Misty's accomplishments, because you learn more about her and how hard she worked to get where she is. But, as Misty said in the book: when asked about the battles from her childhood she would keep answers short and sweet, because it was disheartening people knowing things about her that she didn't share or want them to know.
After reading that in Chapter Seven, I realized how hard it was for her to write this book and share things with strangers, and that might be why topics are glossed over instead of providing details of the drama. While Misty talks of overcoming her shyness and anxiety when she is on the stage it seems off stage she still has the shyness.
Misty does discuss her struggles with racism within the world of ballet and how she has a support system. Misty is great at pointing out who is helping her, but not letting the personal details of her private life be exposed. While reading the majority of the book you think this is annoying or question why she glosses over topics, but in the final chapters she opens up on all the reactions she has gotten. Reading how much criticism, bigotry, and hatred she has received at every accomplishment and when she does something in the public eye you understand why she keeps so much of her life private. People are mentioned and memories are shared but details and in depth stories are held back. Which makes her all the more amazing to me.
. I was inspired by this talented dancer to find out more about her background and what she went through, so I bought this autobiography.My first impression as I start to read this is that while it is great that Misty is willing to share her stories she glosses over some of the challenges she faced. While I understand it is her life and she does not have to share details, glossing over struggles makes it seem like there was no struggle. I am hoping that as the book continues she will open up about her current life and what the world of ballet has meant to her and some of the challenges that she faced.
As the book moves on, you start to realize that while Misty is a prodigy or a natural at ballet there were other challenges that went along with it. I don't know if it is her personality or the way she wants to view the world (or have you think she does) but she glosses over challenges and discrimination that she faced. Making you wonder if she is either not as bothered by it as her and her co-writer want you to think or is she hiding hurt she may have felt in the past and gotten over, and does not want to relive those feelings or hurt others by talking about it.
As a reader you do appreciate more of Misty's accomplishments, because you learn more about her and how hard she worked to get where she is. But, as Misty said in the book: when asked about the battles from her childhood she would keep answers short and sweet, because it was disheartening people knowing things about her that she didn't share or want them to know.
After reading that in Chapter Seven, I realized how hard it was for her to write this book and share things with strangers, and that might be why topics are glossed over instead of providing details of the drama. While Misty talks of overcoming her shyness and anxiety when she is on the stage it seems off stage she still has the shyness.
Misty does discuss her struggles with racism within the world of ballet and how she has a support system. Misty is great at pointing out who is helping her, but not letting the personal details of her private life be exposed. While reading the majority of the book you think this is annoying or question why she glosses over topics, but in the final chapters she opens up on all the reactions she has gotten. Reading how much criticism, bigotry, and hatred she has received at every accomplishment and when she does something in the public eye you understand why she keeps so much of her life private. People are mentioned and memories are shared but details and in depth stories are held back. Which makes her all the more amazing to me.
Book Rating: 5 out of 5 books
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