I keep my visions to myself: a "The Looking Glass" review
My favorite books are the ones that take you on journeys. Some are emotional, some transport readers to exciting new worlds, and others take place in a world like the one we inhabit. What's always fascinating is when authors blur the lines between these journeys and create something otherworldly yet steeped in reality, hard-hitting yet sweet. Janet McNally seemed to be going in that direction when the first synopsis for The Looking Glass was released. From ballet to a road trip to find a missing sister to modern day fairy tale girls appearing in everyday life, complete with a Fleetwood Mac soundtrack, I was on board, especially after recalling how lush McNally's prior writing had been in her debut novel and poetry book. I eagerly pre-ordered the novel and completely dismissed my TBR pile just for the sole purpose of reading it.
I was not disappointed in the slightest. The Looking Glass is a ruminative and gorgeous book centered around the magic of fairy tales, sisterly devotion, and one girl's journey to forging her own identity outside her sister's while still clinging onto the enigma left behind. Not only is McNally's gorgeous prose front and center among the pages of this story, there are wonderful characters, great jokes, potent fairy tale and song allusions, and scenes that feel so intensely visualized that they're happening around the reader. Reading this novel was an absolute treat, and watching its slow lyrical cadence weave its way through interesting plot points made it all the more invigorating. It's safe to say that McNally is one of my favorite writers now, and I can't wait to see what she writes next. I hope it is just as magical as this.
Sylvie Blake has been her sister's shadow all her life. A ballerina dancer just about to hit the level where dancing becomes her full-time profession, she finds herself wondering if she'll ever be able to follow in Julia's footsteps. Julia, seven years older than her, left home a year ago after a tragic accident led to painkiller addiction, and before that, she was one of the best professional dancers in New York. Now that she's gone, Sylvie finds herself pressured to fill in the spot Jules left behind and become a star that burns as bright as her. But Sylvie is unsure if she'll hit that point. One day, a package with Julia's handwriting gets delivered to her by her favorite dance teacher, and within it is a copy of Grimm's fairy tales with the title rewritten just like it was when the girls were young: Girls in Trouble. Suddenly, Sylvie's world becomes filled with the modern-day adaptation of ladies she grew up reading about, and it fuels her desire to find her sister. Accompanied by her best friend's older brother, his Volvo, and everyone that's part of classic rock band Fleetwood Mac, the road trip begins. With detours along the way, and Jack breaking down his guard to show sides of him Sylvie never knew existed, will Sylvie be able to find her sister? Will she learn to carve her own space out for herself? Or will she forever be the damsel in Julia's vacancy?
Like I mentioned before, this story is shown through absolutely breathtaking prose. McNally has such a lyrical way of writing, and much like with Girls in the Moon, it really comes into play when it comes to details and descriptions. Despite ballet merely being a backdrop here (which will probably make the readers who are interested in ballet sad), McNally intricately weaves it in throughout the novel, referencing dance moves, the power of gravity, and how effortless it must look for something that requires so much effort. It's also impressive how imaginative her fairy tale girl interpretations are here, and how they're crafted really showcases the fine line between reality and magic. The descriptions and dialogue follow this format as well, and I couldn't help but relish in it all as I kept turning the pages. It's truly the stuff of legends.
The cast in this book carries this amazing quality too. I really enjoyed all of the characters here. Sylvie isn't as snarky as McNally's last protagonist Phoebe, but she carries some great humor and a wistfulness that reflects the fairy tales she grew up reading. It bounced off well with her best friends Sadie and Tommy, the former a bubbly girl who always looks out for her and the latter a company ballerina that looks on the bright side of things and wouldn't mind finding a prince in the meantime. The banter these three share throughout the book is hysterical. I also loved Sylvie's growing relationship with Sadie's older brother Jack, and their romance by the end of the book was endearing and truly something special. I love my slow burns.
Additionally interesting was how Julia was portrayed. The road trip consists of several stops where Sylvie follows a list of people Jules left in a flower at the back of the fairy tale book (including the eldest Blake child, Everett, a comic artist with a dystopian New York series that sounds amazing). Their perspectives on Julia related on their closeness to her and Sylvie's perceptions of her sister overlap to create this image of a young woman who loved dancing and would do anything to make sure she was following her dreams. The other detours shape the narrative just as much because other characters, both major and minor, get development and their own little time to shine. A few even directly reference Fleetwood Mac, which was greatly appreciated because Fleetwood Mac is a great band with some wonderful albums.
So at the end of the day, The Looking Glass is an awesome novel. Luminescent prose, awesome characters, and clever allusions make a compelling story that unfolds slowly and perfectly for a road trip book that isn't just about a road trip. Sisters, best friends, love, dancing, music, and fairy tales are here too, and they provide just as much of an anchor as the aforementioned trip. If you love writing that feels like the beating heart of a beautiful song, Fleetwood Mac references, or looking for a YA contemporary complete with magical realism, pick this title up. You won't regret it or forget it.