In order to have a sense of balance, herewith the first (as I think) review by a male, of Thursday's Children on this platform. This novel is the fourth Godden I have read as an adult; I read Black Narcissus and An Episode of Sparrows back to back earlier this year, and In This House of Brede twelve years ago. What struck me at once when I read the blurb on the Virago Press reissue, knowing nothing of the novel, was a similarity to the plot of the film and musical Billy Elliot. I do not suggest that Godden knew of that film, but it is possible that the makers of the film knew of Godden's novel. So much for that. Thursday's Children is, as is almost always the case with Rumer Godden, a delight. She is able to see life simultaneously from a child's point of view and from an adult's. The smoothness of her writing -- already noted on this platform -- is once again seen here. Godden did considerable research before writing this novel, visiting the Royal Academy for one thing, and it shows, but not, please note, obtrusively. And a note here of autobiography: I was "converted" to the performing arts when I was seven years old. Fortunately I had three lady teachers who were completely sympathetic to and supportive of my new passion, especially when I said I wanted to be a dancer. (That never happened.) Far less sympathetic and supportive were my classmates; I grew up in a very macho city, and the boys would rather have had five hours of homework per night than admit any interest in the theatre or dance. I really, really wish Rumer Godden had written this book years before, in adult and/or child's version. As it is, it is a beautiful and hopeful novel, ultimately joyous. Kudos to Virago Press for reissuing it.

Set in London, England in an undesignated time, (though clues point to late 1960s or early 1970s), Thursday's Children is a double narrative of two young dancers, Doone and his older sister Crystal. Crystal is the much-doted upon daughter of the middle-class Penny family, the long-desired girl following four older brothers; Doone is her younger brother - an unwelcome "afterthought" child - decidedly unplanned for and viewed with bemusement and a shade of resentment by Maud ("Ma") Penny, whose family yearnings were more than fulfilled by Crystal's appearance. Turns out that Ma was once a dancing chorus girl; her ambitions for Crystal are much grander - nothing but ballet lessons with the "Russian" Madame Tamara (who incidentally started out life as plain old English Minnie Price) will do. Doone, dragged along by an unwilling Crystal to her Saturday morning dance classes, falls in love with the music and the movement, and away our story goes on its predictable little track.

Rumer Godden proceeds to work her charms with the material at hand. Doone is almost too good for belief; not only is he a piano-playing prodigy and a natural dancer, he is a thoroughly sweet, sensitive, and likeably nice child as well, despite his family's dual neglect and bullying. Doone, unsupported by his own family in his quest, is providentially blessed with a series of understanding artsy unrelated adults who instantly recognize his budding genius and smooth his path at every turn. I find that though his dogged "goodness" occasionally annoys, in general I quite like Doone; he shows occasional flashes of wit and bad temper which redeem him from total Little Loud Fauntleroyism.

Crystal, on the other hand, is a far from likeable child. Vain, fickle and scheming, she manipulates everyone in her little world, especially her besotted mother. Jealous of Doone's recognition by their shared teachers, Crystal actively plots his thwarting, though her schemes are immediately recognized by those omnipotent adults as the two siblings rise through the ranks to their eventual placements in the exclusive Royal Ballet School.

The characters are allowed to develop in a reasonably natural way, and they surprise us occasionally by their responses, which keeps things interesting though in the main our predictions prove to be correct. Crystal is eventually allowed her chance at redemption; rather a Rumer Godden specialty - she does go to some lengths to allow her characters to show multiple personality facets.

Rumer Godden herself had a life-long involvement with dance, as a long-time dance student who returned to England to train as a teacher, eventually running her own dance school in Calcutta, so all of the technical talk rings true. Many of the figures in the novel are inspired by actual personages in the British dance world; Yuri Koszorz is a direct take-off of Rudolf Nureyev, and the author has dedicated the book to the legendary Ninette de Valois.

This is a novel in which nothing much happens; the characters are important mostly to themselves and their adventures are the small adventures of ordinary people, but as a simple story competently told it can be counted as one of Rumer Godden's more satisfying minor novels.

Så mycket känslor. Fin berättelse

Very original story.

One of my all time favorite books. I'm a sucker for a story that really digs into the experience of the misunderstood child.

I read this book years ago, before I even started ballet. The title stayed with me to this day, so I think that tells you something about the impact it had.

An old favorite.

one of my most favorite books of my childhood

I am not a ballet fan , and have never had a ballet lesson but I loved this book
Fantastic mix of triumph and sadness

Books about ballet I read whenever I find them, and this one, I simply inhaled. I don't know why I didn't come across this one years ago--but then Rumer Godden has not always been a easy find in this country; by the time I was cruising the library shelves, a lot of her books had gone the way of the library discard and weren't replaced.

The upside is the delight when I do discover them, and this book I read cover to cover in spite of a headache. I shouldn't have been reading at all, but I couldn't resist this tale of Doone Penny, a boy obsessed with ballet, and his complicated sister Crystal, who is groomed from babyhood to be the family star.

Nobody is a two-dimensional white or black hat, and the extremely competitive world of ballet is examined unflinchingly, and yet with not only passion, but insight into what drives artists of any kind to make the choices they do.

Beautiful story of perseverance and courage to children

I REALLY LOVED THIS BOOK! OMG it was so incredible!