Astonish Me by Maggie Shipstead

I loved Seating Arrangements by Maggie Shipstead, so when I found this  new book by her, I snatched it off the shelf.  It is a well-written and compelling glimpse into the passionate, political world of professional ballet and its magnetic hold over two generations. Astonish Me tells the story of Joan, a ballerina whose life has been shaped by her relationship with a world-famous dancer Arslan Ruskov, whom she helps defect from the Soviet Union to the U.S. While Arslan's career takes off in New York, Joan's slowly declines, ending when she becomes pregnant and decides to marry her longtime admirer, a PhD student named Jacob. As the years pass, Joan settles into her new life in California, teaching dance and watching her son, Harry, become a ballet prodigy himself. But when Harry's success brings him into close contact with Arslan, secrets are revealed that shatter the delicate balance Joan has struck between her past and present.
This book is certainly for ballet lovers, but anyone can enjoy the great story, too!