ABOUT THE BOOK
Gillian Kincade is a soloist with Ballet New York, a sought-after guest artist, and a committed Christian. Though she may be an anomaly in the world of dance, Gilly believes her devotion to God isn’t compromised by following her dreams. Then she meets Jacob Ferrar.
Jacob is the brilliant young artistic director of the Birmingham Ballet Theatre and a born-again Christian. When he offers Gillian the lead in his latest ballet, she accepts, knowing it won’t necessarily further her career, but it will touch her soul.
On the chaotic road to opening night, Gilly and Jacob develop a deep professional respect for each other and begin to fall in love. Then their brilliant first performance is destroyed by a terrible accident, and suddenly both must face an uncertain future. Together, they dance the fine line between personal vision and God’s will, listening for the guidance of the Father’s heart.
MY THOUGHTS
As a reader who has a longtime interest in the fine arts and has good friends in the arts, I found Tour de Force to be a compelling read about the pressures Christians deal with “behind the scenes.” Every decision made, every response is a reflection on who the artist is not only as a dancer/musician/painter, but also as a Christian.
To me, nothing about the book seemed superfluous or unrealistic. The pressures, the parties, the relationships, the schedules, and the rumors are all a stark reality in the performing arts.
I never studied ballet, so I had no concept of the physical strain a dancer’s body goes through. Author Elizabeth White carefully depicts the grueling routines and consequent blisters, aches, and pains. But just as she describes the physical aspect of ballet, she reaches into the heart and soul of the dancer describing how the dancer is transformed by the music and message. And the reader is swept away to the world of ballet.
Tour de Force is an excellent book to settle back in the deck chair with this summer. If you have an older teenage daughter considering a career in the performing arts, I believe she will benefit from reading Gilly’s story and seeing how Gilly seeks God’s approval in every choice.
Side note: Tour de Force is the first book I’ve read by Elizabeth White. However, Gilly’s sister Laurel is the main character in Off the Record, a book that precedes Tour de Force in the timeline. Tour de Force easily stands alone, but reading Off the Record first may lend some information about Gilly’s interaction with other family members.
And, in closing, I have to say that this book has one of the most stunning covers I’ve seen. It’s gorgeous!
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Thanks for a lovely review, Kara!
Blessings,
Beth