Read this during my MA about 8 years ago and decided it was worth a reread as I remembered enjoying it at the time but couldn't remember it clearly. Apt depiction of teenagers at the Gaeltacht set among the back-drop of the Troubles. Not much happens but the characters are all so well drawn that I felt pulled through the entire narrative. Spot-on observations about Irish life. ( )

It is 1972: a a group of teenagers, some from Dublin, some from
Derry, are spending a month in a Donegal Gaeltacht, learning Irish language
and culture from their teachers and from the local people they are boarding
with. Liberated for the first time from the restricting reins of parental control,
they respond to the untamed landscape of river, hill and sea, finding in it
unnerving echoes of their own submerged - and now emerging - wildnesses.
In this richly complex novel, Eilis Ni Dhuibhne, one of Ireland's most exciting
and original writers, uses the experiences and emotions of girls on the cusp
of womanhood to explore dangerous territories of sex, politics, class, and Irishness.

It's the summer of 1972, and a group of teenagers from Dublin are traveling to west Ireland for "Irish College" - a time when they are immersed in Irish language, food and culture. The Dancers Dancing is a coming of age tale for most of the characters, but it's young Orla who grows the most during this summertime adventure.

Orla and her friend, Aisling, are staying together with two older girls in a country cottage where they walk to the school house for lessons. The idea is to wholly submerge the students into Irish culture. They are not allowed to speak English, and by staying with families along the countryside, they are immersed in the pastoral lives of their fellow Irishmen and women. However, Orla is already on familiar ground. Her family is from the same village, which she tries to hide from her classmates, and Orla spends most of the summer trying to avoid her crickety aunt.

The Dancers Dancing is not a fast-paced, complex novel. It moves steadily with little dips and curves, like a river twisting through the countryside. My frustration with reading The Dancers Dancing has nothing to do with the writing or story; it's my lack of knowledge about the plights of Ireland. I didn't follow the significance of why the teens were being immersed in Irish culture, or fully understand the struggles between the Catholics and Protestants. Dhuibhne assumes her readers have an understanding of these intricacies, but sadly, I do not. Additionally, there was a lot of Irish language in the novel, with not enough context to interpret what was going on. A glossary would have been helpful for this reader.

None of this is the book's fault. I just wish I had more historical and cultural information to more fully appreciate this novel. Despite my frustration, The Dancers Dancing was an enjoyable read. Dhuibhne writes beautifully, especially about the landscape surrounding the students. Shortlisted for the Orange Prize in 2000, The Dancers Dancing is a light treat for fans of literary fiction. ( )

This was an interesting novel in some respects. I loved the setting at the Irish College and the summer program in Irish language. It was such fun to read about. I loved the integration of the Irish language. I took one semester of Irish and realized that there is not much I remember beyond the familiar look of the language.

I heartily wish that there was a glossary given in the back. I am not sure why there wouldn't be. Certainly the author must have imagined that her readership might include some people like myself who aren't fluent in the language but would still like to know what all that dialogue translates too. It was a constant source of frustration to me. I googled some of it - but the sheer volume of it made that a daunting task.

Otherwise - it was a fine book - not a page turner but light and an interesting enough snapshot of a really interesting place at an interesting time. ( )

Great coming of age story. Pitch perfect writing - plot slightly tapered off at the end. Also wanted to know more of this mother who was actually English. ( )