Last Dance on the Starlight Pier vintage book review by Tam Francis
The Synopsis
Last Dance on the Starlight Pier St. Martin Press (April, 2022) by Sara Bird is a lovely Texas-sized historical fiction that spotlights marathan dances of the great depression era.
Amidst the tumultuous era of the Great Depression, Sarah Bird’s Last Dance on the Starlight Pier transports readers to a world where dance, romance, and a little intrigue is set against the cocooned backdrop of 1930s Galveston Texas. While the rest of the country was struggling to recover, Galveston was not only keeping their heads above water, but many districts were doing the backstroke and partying like it was still the roaring 20s.
Written with parallel structure, we start close to the end and then backtrack to how Evie Grace Devlin finds herself barely saved from a fire. On the fateful night of July 3, 1932, she stands amidst the smoldering ruins of the Starlite Palace, her heart heavy with guilt and regret. Haunted by the flames that consumed her dreams, Evie grapples with the realization of how her past in vaudeville has shaped her present.
Seeking income and redemption, Evie finds herself thrust into the dazzling realm of dance marathons, where the glimmer of the spotlight offers a chance at fame and the promise of love. In this world of swirling skirts and rhythmic beats, Evie discovers a sense of belonging she never thought possible, a found family forged amidst the relentless rhythm of the dance floor.
Last Dance on the Starlight Pier unfolds as a tale of resilience and redemption. Through unforgettable characters and gripping storytelling, Sarah Bird captures the indomitable spirit of a nation coming together in the face of adversity, finding strength, joy, and even love amidst the chaos of the times.
Last Dance on the Starlight Pier Vintage Book Review: What I liked about it
- The characters were so real and I LOVED Evie. I could imagine myself as her and you will too.
- The settings were fantastic, I loved being in 1930s Galveston Texas.
- Evie’s backstory was so good and heartbreaking, it gave her so much depth.
- The dance scenes and music references were fantastic!
- The costume descriptions were lush and right on the era.
- I loved her found family with Sophia and all the Marathon dancers.
- The mob bits very fascinating and made me want to learn more about their presence in Galveston.
- Bird’s descriptions are lyrical, poetic, and lush.
Favorite Quotes from Last Dance on the Starlilght Pier
“She was performing that most delicate of operations, the one that transformed her from an ordinary beauty into a matinee idol.”
“’Confidence in the healer,’ my favorite instructor had taught us, ‘is the essential first step in healing.'”
“…with a schmaltzy sax dragging them through an intro so soppily funereal, I would have laughted if, in spite of knowing exactly how the strings were being pulled, I wasn’t swalling back a hot pool of tears.”
“Cleo and Zave stared at each other with a bond that made every one of us ache for the love we’d lost.”
“Their sorrow made me feel like I was reading The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in reverese.”
“The desolate, desiccated land that opened up for miles all around was eerily luminous in the light of a pale, cloud-whipped moon. The mournful songs of the whippoorwills filled the dry air. They fit my bleak mood.”
“Zave and I click into dance position like two magnets. Then I dance with the man who danced with my father. Who brought him back to me…Instead of a dizzying whirl, Zave and I are the calm center around which all the stars that have lighted my way orbit.”
What I Wanted More Of
- More dancing. Always more dancing for me.
- A true romance for Evie. The ending was a bit contrived for me.
- The twist a little sooner or at least some foreshadowing. I like twists, but I felt a tiny bit cheated for Evie with a little “bait-n-switch.”
- A little more upbeat pacing, at times the narrative was bogged down and a little slow.
- More historical vibes that weren’t anachronistic. At times the descriptions and the politics veered toward the modern.
- More indepth reflection from Evie with some quotable truisms.
Overall
I absolutely adored this novel. I might have been a tad bit jelly and wish I’d written it! Isn’t that the best feeling? There were so many elements that spoke to me. At times it felt a bit preachy, but sometimes we need might need vintage stories to contrast our contemporary life to illustrate how much we’ve grown or how little we’ve grown as a culture.
Although it’s historical fiction, the themes or very modern and progressive, and I found the story charming, the dancing fabulous, and the world enthralling. Readers who like my Jitterbug Dress series will definitely want to add this to their TBR pile. I honestly don’t know how this is not a movie or a series and why the booktok peeps have not rallied and pushed it!
Vintage Enthusiast Rating
Fashion: ♥♥♥♥♥
Music: ♥♥♥♥♥
Dance: ♥♥♥♥♥
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Do you like historical novels with a social politial slant? Have you read any other novels about dance marathons? How do they compare? Have your read any of Sarah Bird’s other novels, this was my first. What did you think of the cover, I thought it spoke of vintage romance vibes.
Tam Francis is a writer, blogger, swing dance teacher, avid vintage collector, and seamstress. She shares her love of this genre through her novels, blog, and short stories. She enjoys hearing from you, sharing ideas, forging friendships, and exchanging guest blogs. For all the Girl in the Jitterbug Dress news, give-aways, events, and excitement, make sure to join her list and like her FB page! Join my list ~ Facebook page