Marianne’s Pick of the Week: City of Night Birds by Juhea Kim

“No matter how great a work of art is, it comes to an end. In fact, in order to be great, it must end.”  Juhea Kim, City of Night Birds, pg. 305

When I was five years old, I wanted to be a ballet dancer more than anything in the world. All my child-sized brain could think about were the gorgeous costumes, the transcendental music, and the marvelous fun it all seemed. Little did I realize the heartbreak, the torture (both physical and emotional), and the sheer inhuman demand placed upon those who lace up their pointe shoes.

Juhea Kim’s sophomore novel, City of Night Birds, gives us with a behind-the-scenes look at the rise and fall of dancers in the cutthroat world of ballet. It is 2019 and world-renowned dancer Natalia Leonova is returning to St. Petersburg to dance Giselle. As she arrives, she reflects on her past. As a youngster living in the St. Petersburg housing projects, she sees that

the shy, unremarkable boy across the courtyard from her is a talented ballet dancer. Natalia, a tough, athletic girl, believes that if Seryozha can jump and spin in the air then she certainly can and do it better.

So begins Natalia’s rise. She auditions and gets into the prestigious Mariinsky School of Ballet where she meets her best friend, Nina. Natalia becomes known for her ability to leap higher than all and to immerse herself into a role. She is dark, deep, and emotional. As her career soars, she meets the both the loves and hates of her life, Alexander and Dmitri.  We travel with Natalia as she rises through the ranks, first as a corps member then as a prima.

After an accident leaves her physically and emotionally damaged, she retires from ballet and becomes dependent on alcohol and opioids. But Dmitri, who betrayed her deeply, offers her the chance to dance again and retire on her own terms. Natalia will do what she must to recover and dance. She has NO choice; the dance calls to her.

This is a story of ambition, the politics of a workplace, fame, and art’s ability to touch the soul. Read this one if you are a fan of Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff or Writers & Lovers by Lily King.