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The Next Step in the Dance: A Novel Audiobook
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(3.15) - 211 listener ratings
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Paul Thibodeaux is a handsome young man married to Colette, the most beautiful woman in the small Louisiana town where they grew up. For Paul, life is complete: a wife he loves, machines to repair, and a lively local dance hall. But Colette wants more, and when she sets off for California in search of something better, Paul follows her there and back, waiting to see if she'll change her mind about him and about their life together. In the meantime, the oil bust of the eighties has destroyed their hometown, and Paul and Colette must salvage not only their marriage but their livelihoods. How they do this, and come to realize the importance of home and marriage, makes for a novel that is at once an adventure, a love story, and a moving portrait of a place and a culture rarely explored in contemporary fiction.
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"I read this in college b/c it's set in Louisiana - where I'm from, and I loved it then. That was over 10 years ago, and I have grown much since then, in what I enjoy reading. Therefore, I have no idea if this book is good literature or not, but I greatly enjoyed the story at that time in my life."
— Erika (5 out of 5 stars)
The Next Step in the Dance Listener Reviews
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" Good characters, good pacing, great read. He's an engaging storyteller. "
— Cynthia, 12/12/2013 -
" A little slow to start, but by the halfway point I couldn't put it down and finished in one sitting. "
— Melanie, 10/26/2013 -
" Simplier style than later novels. Good story! "
— Lee, 7/28/2013 -
" Enjoyed thios book, would read more by this author. "
— Diana, 7/8/2013 -
" Really loved this book because the settings and characters are so familar. Love Southern Lit. "
— Dianne, 5/5/2013 -
" Not often a story draws a tear to the eye. "
— Yvonne, 5/1/2013 -
" An early work by an author whose work I've come to love. The characters come from a singular place in America, and their experience trying to live elsewhere is universal, as is their struggle in relationships. "
— Aaron, 3/12/2013 -
" This book is wonderful! The story keeps you interested and there is a winsome sweetness in all the characters. It's very real and a fun read, but with depth. Enjoy! "
— Aileen, 3/10/2013 -
" This book was okay. I loved the patois of the minor characters, and the setting was great. But the central relationship left me a bit cold. I felt the wife was completely unsympathetic and I couldn't like the husband as much as I wanted because he went along with her craziness. Overall, average. "
— Truthmonkey, 2/4/2013 -
" Read this in English 101, while attending Nicholls State. Very good book!! "
— Jessica, 9/30/2012 -
" Fun, quick read. It made me homesick for Louisiana. Gautreaux nails the lingo, culture and people. "
— Maria, 9/24/2012 -
" I read this based on the strength of his short stories and was kind of disappointed. I think if I read this first, I would have liked it -- his short stories are just amazing "
— Hank, 9/18/2012 -
" A great read with a wonderful sense of place. My relatives come from southern Louisiana and the language,the close knit family ties, and isolation of the area are spot on. "
— Jane, 9/12/2012 -
" Best Gautreaux yet, don't know why I passed it up earliier, thanks to Lee for re-recommending it "
— Scott, 5/15/2012 -
" It was a creative, entertaining book about a love that never gives up. The setting was in the bayou in Louisiana which I found very interesting. "
— Ashley, 1/6/2012 -
" A very unique plot that was engaging and memorable. This book deals with sacrificice and trade-offs, key themes for me. "
— Audrey, 12/2/2011 -
" A little slow to start, but by the halfway point I couldn't put it down and finished in one sitting. "
— Melanie, 5/20/2011 -
" Simplier style than later novels. Good story! "
— Lee, 5/25/2010 -
" Descriptive and evocative writing combine with a story propelled by an excellent narrative — "
— Marginalia2, 3/3/2010 -
" A great read with a wonderful sense of place. My relatives come from southern Louisiana and the language,the close knit family ties, and isolation of the area are spot on. "
— Jane, 2/10/2010 -
" Fun, quick read. It made me homesick for Louisiana. Gautreaux nails the lingo, culture and people. "
— Maria, 1/30/2010 -
" An early work by an author whose work I've come to love. The characters come from a singular place in America, and their experience trying to live elsewhere is universal, as is their struggle in relationships. "
— Aaron, 1/19/2010 -
" Really loved this book because the settings and characters are so familar. Love Southern Lit. "
— Dianne, 6/18/2009 -
" Really great book. Loved the Louisiana setting and Cajun culture. "
— Mrs.Sasser, 3/19/2009 -
" Good characters, good pacing, great read. He's an engaging storyteller. "
— Cynthia, 2/2/2009 -
" Paul and Colette are married and descended from long lines of Frenchmen on Tiger Island, LA. Wonderful descriptions of the landscape, food, people, relationships, bars, and the poverty. Life lessons learned: family, home, and culture are most important. <br/> <br/>Couldn't put this down. "
— Jennifer, 1/17/2009 -
" Another brilliant book - once again giving a great snapshot of Louisianan culture/poverty with very sympathetically portrayed characterisation, lots of humour and a great story of overcoming adversity. "
— Tricia, 10/14/2008 -
" I read this based on the strength of his short stories and was kind of disappointed. I think if I read this first, I would have liked it -- his short stories are just amazing "
— Hank, 8/1/2008 -
" This book is wonderful! The story keeps you interested and there is a winsome sweetness in all the characters. It's very real and a fun read, but with depth. Enjoy! "
— Aileen, 7/23/2008 -
" It was a creative, entertaining book about a love that never gives up. The setting was in the bayou in Louisiana which I found very interesting. "
— Ashley, 6/17/2008 -
" A very unique plot that was engaging and memorable. This book deals with sacrificice and trade-offs, key themes for me. "
— Audrey, 2/20/2008 -
" Enjoyed thios book, would read more by this author. "
— Diana, 9/21/2007
About Tim Gautreaux
Tim Gautreaux is the author of three novels and two earlier short story collections. His work has appeared in The New Yorker, The Best American Short Stories, The Atlantic, Harper’s, and GQ. After teaching for thirty years at Southeastern Louisiana University, he now lives with his wife in Chattanooga, Tennessee.