Book Review Friday - Slow Dance in Paris

If you're looking for a gentle lesbian romance story, this is it.

Mary Wright's Slow Dance in Paris follows the adventures of Sophie, an unsophisticated young American fresh from high school in the early 1970's. Confused about a sexual liaison she has with a hippie after smoking hashish, unsure if she's been raped or not, Sophie puts everything behind her. She's finishing a grand tour of Europe when she meets a pair of charming lesbians. At their invitation, she goes to her first ever gay bar, where she dances with Genvieve, a fascinating woman who captures her imagination.

Is Sophie gay? She's had attractions to girls before, but has also chalked up two boyfriends in her past. Although unsure about her orientation, every time she's with Genvieve the young American heroine finds herself drawn closer to the exotic world of lesbianism. However, just after they begin a tentative relationship Sophie must move to another town where her school is located.

Separated by kilometers and the restraints of job and school, Sophie is drawn closer and closer to the idea of being a lesbian, even as the differences between having a girlfriend as opposed to a boyfriend become embarrassingly clear. People who were friends treat her differently, and she finds herself restricted in ways unexperienced by straights. It makes her uncomfortable, but she soon forgets everything when held in the strong arms of her new lover.

Eventually everything builds to a head as Sophie deals with an unwanted pregnancy, a mail strike, and massive guilt over her choice to have an abortion. Will her burgeoning relationship with Genvieve continue to grow if the Parisienne learns the truth, or will Sophie's choices lead her back to the world of heterosexuals and so called normality?

Slow Dance in Paris is an easy, gentle read, one that takes you into the mind of a young woman during a time when women's liberation and gay pride were still in their infancies. The city of Paris, and the surrounding landscape are artfully captured by the author, who deftly weaves them into her story as characters in their own right. If you're looking for a lighthearted romantic story, spend some lazy afternoons curled up with Mary Wright's Slow Dance in Paris. You won't be sorry.