In Nigeria 1963, Isabel Hammond is an expat and former painter, having followed her husband Nick to Africa as part of the USAID program. While her husband is away for a project, she attends an event at her friend’s house and meets a mixed, charismatic musician named Bobby Tunde. She is immediately entranced and gives into her temptation. For months afterward, her guilt eats at her. Seeking a distraction, she unearths a statue of a dancing woman. She feels connected to the figure and hopes it will help her find balance. But when her night of infidelity threatens to come to light, she has to decide where she stands in that balance. Dancing Woman by Elaine Neil Orr is a historical fiction novel in which Isabel must decide who she wants to be, and how she will achieve it.
Book
Isabel returns to her painting in an attempt to reconnect with her former self. She also longs to immerse herself into Nigerian culture. She befriends local residents in addition to maintaining existing friendships with fellow expats. When unexpected major life events take place, Isabel’s guilt grows and feels as if she is being punished for her infidelity. Meanwhile, the Dancing Woman continues to be a mystery. And she’s not sure if she will ever learn how to balance domestic life with her desire for more.
Review
Orr offers a thought-provoking story with Dancing Woman. While slow-paced, I could connect with Isabel as a character and understood her desire to return to the woman she once was, before following her husband across the world. Infidelity might be a trigger warning (among other spoiler-filled moments) but it is a major plot point. The author also includes significant culture-based themes such as colonialism.
Elaine Neil Orr joins the Cantina Book Club Podcast to talk about how her own experiences as an expat in Nigeria influenced her story. Dancing Woman is available now.
