When I was a girl, in the stone age, I took ballet for 15 years. It was hard work but I loved it so much, I never wanted to stop. When I told my school guidance counselor that I wanted to dance for a living, she shook her head and said maybe I should be a nurse! I did not grow tall enough, so eventually had to abandon my dream, (and no I did not become a nurse either), but I never forgot how it felt to be on stage. It was worth every ache, pain and tear. That said, I was excited to receive this book by Zippora Karz, "The Sugarless Plum". Zippora studied hard and became a professional ballerina with the New York City Ballet Company, living her dream. The practice, pain and fears were all worth it for her. Years of trianing, injuries and backbreaking work was paying off,when she began to lose weight, and feel weak. Zippora went to a doctor who initially diagnosed her with Type 2 diabetes. Unwilling to accept her diagnosis and thinking she could handle her illness and continue dancing, in the competitive world of profession dance, Zippora changed her diet, and attempted to manage it herself. As her world began to spin out of control. Karz struggled for years before finally accepting and learning to control her misdiagnosed, Type 1 diabetes with insulin and monitoring.
I admired her perseverance, and wanted to applaud her success, as well as weep for her problems.
Even if you are not a ballet fan (and what little girl isn't?) this is such an uplifting story, and you will find it well worth your time.
I received this book from Caitlin Price at FSB Associates, and thank her for the opportunity to read, and enjoy it.
