{"product_id":"9780007555239_astonish-me","title":"Astonish Me","description":"\u003ch2\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe \u003cem\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/em\u003e bestselling author of \u003cem\u003eGreat Circle\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e‘Brilliantly written; the first ballet novel for grown-ups’ \u003cem\u003eTHE TIMES\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e‘A bravura display of high-performance art’ \u003cem\u003eGUARDIAN\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e‘Brims with emotion … an accomplished novel embracing both domestic drama and the competitive quest for perfection’ \u003cem\u003eSUNDAY TIMES\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAstonish Me \u003c\/em\u003eis the irresistible story of Joan, a young American dancer who helps a Soviet ballet star, the great Arslan Rusakov, defect in 1975. A flash of fame and a passionate love affair follow, but Joan knows that, onstage and off, she is destined to remain in the shadows.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAfter her relationship with Arslan sours, Joan decides to quit ballet and make a new life for herself. But as the years pass, Joan comes to understand that ballet isn’t finished with her yet…\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFrom the prize-winning author of \u003cem\u003eSeating Arrangements \u003c\/em\u003ecomes an exquisitely written, fiercely compelling glimpse into the demanding world of professional ballet and its magnetic hold over two generations.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e‘Cleverly constructed with some elegant pirouettes of its own’ \u003cem\u003eDAILY MAIL\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e‘A gripping mix of family drama and insight into the world of ballet’ \u003cem\u003eGOOD HOUSEKEEPING\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e‘Shipstead is a gifted writer who examines families and relationships in a poignant, insightful way’ \u003cem\u003eSTYLIST\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e‘A dazzling story rooted in the competitive world of dance’ \u003cem\u003eWOMAN \u0026amp;amp; HOME\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e‘So graceful, so dazzling, so sure-handed and fearless, that at times I had to remind myself to breathe’ Maria Semple, author of \u003cem\u003eWhere’d You Go, Bernadette\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e‘\u003cstrong\u003eI will be paying close attention to Shipstead’s career from here on in’ Jeffrey Eugenides\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Maggie Shipstead","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47275078320277,"sku":"9780007555239","price":8.99,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0484\/3175\/9509\/files\/9780007555239.png?v=1776890078","url":"https:\/\/harpercollins.com.au\/products\/9780007555239_astonish-me","provider":"HarperCollins AU","version":"1.0","type":"link"}