The Belly Dancer by DeAnna Cameron
Dora is newly transplanted from New Orleans to Chicago. Although her mother’s family is from money, she and her mother were reduced to running a guest house after her father’s death. Now that she has married Charles Chambers from Chicago, she is restored to what she and her mother see as her proper place in society. Charles is pursuing a Vice Presidency at his bank and has arranged for Dora to be on the World’s Fair Board of Lady Managers in order to bolster their social position.
Chicago society is quite different than what Dora is accustomed to in New Orleans. In addition to trying to navigate the often choppy waters of female society, Dora’s assignment for the Board of Lady Managers is to enforce proper conduct in the Egyptian belly dancing exhibition – not an easy task due to the prejudice against the belly dancers. However, Dora’s time with the belly dancers begins to change her, making her more comfortable with herself and giving her more self-esteem to deal with those in Chicago society who treat her poorly.
I really enjoyed Cameron’s descriptions of the World’s Fair and the belly dancing exhibition. She clearly did her research and seemed to describe late 19th-century Chicago society well. The romance aspects of the book, including Dora’s self-discovery and an affair aren’t as much my speed, but I still found the book as a whole very enjoyable.
Cameron based her story on the legend of the belly dancer Little Egypt who may or may not have performed at the World’s Fair and created an historical romance around it. I think that this would be enjoyed both by those who enjoy historical fiction that gives them a sense of a period and those who enjoy a romance without too much sex.
Buy this book from:
Powells.
A local independent bookstore via Indiebound.
Amazon.
Sounds interesting. I really like the cover.
.-= Anna´s last blog ..I’m back…and I already need ANOTHER vacation! =-.
I’ll have to keep this one in mind, it sounds just like something I’d like!
.-= Meghan´s last blog ..Review: A Pearl in the Storm, Tori Murden McClure =-.
Interesting. I’ve heard of Little Egypt but don’t really know anything about her.
.-= Kathy´s last blog ..Wondrous Words Wednesday =-.
I don’t think much of anything is known about Little Egypt, DeCameron took the little that was known about her and created a story that could have happened.
I just say this book recently (can’t remember where) and thought it looked interesting!
.-= Julie P.´s last blog ..July Book Club Meeting =-.
That looks like a really interesting story, I would love to read it. I knew nothing Great review!
That looks like a really interesting story, I would love to read it. I knew nothing of Little Egypt before reading an interview with the author a few days ago. Great review! (and sorry for the previous post, I’m not sure what happened, but it entered my message while I was still typing it!)
.-= Kay´s last blog ..Review : The Tent =-.
I took a belly dancing class a few years ago. It’s not as easy as they make it look! Sounds interesting.
.-= stacybuckeye´s last blog ..Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, by John Berendt =-.
Sounds like a fit for me!
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Thanks for the review! If you like the cover, the publisher gave me some gorgeous souvenir bookmarks to give away. I’d be happy to send one to anyone who wants one. Just e-mail me at deanna AT deannacameron DOT com.
Cheers!
DeAnna Cameron
Author of THE BELLY DANCER
This is new to me. I’ll have to see if the library has it because it sounds like something I might like.