The Ballroom by Anna Hope

The Quick Cut: In a mental asylum in 1911, a man and woman connect at the weekly Friday dance.

A Real Review:

 There's a stigma surrounding people with mental disorders, one of weakness. However, that image is one being combated and overturned more each day. Can you imagine how much worse that was in the past? With this story surrounding John and Ella, you get a close up view. 

 The year is 1911 in a mental asylum in Ireland. The men and women are kept separate at all times, but on Fridays they are brought together in the ballroom for a dance. At this dance, John and Ella meet - creating a connection that continues on through smuggled letters to each other. Will their new bond last or fall apart? 

 This book is going to stick with me for a very long time! The story between these two is so powerful and the writing beautiful that it pulls you into their universe. I have never been a big fan of historical fiction, but this one really did nail the storytelling aspect while preserving the integrity of the time period. 

 The book is told from three perspectives: John (a male inmate), Ella (a female inmate), and Charles (a doctor at the asylum). Mental health was in a very dark place and you can feel that truth throughout the story. Charles starts as a good doctor and slowly turns dark, watching his deterioration happen. Patients being forcibly treated when there is nothing wrong with them. These three provide essential perspectives that encapsulate everything occurring here. 

 One of my favorite writing mechanisms used is the letters. The letters between John and Ella are a bright light in a dark place. The letters that Charles writes shows his progress. 

 A powerful book about mental health and finding light in dark places.  

My rating: 5 out of 5