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POSTED: 25 JULY 2009

Salley Vickers, Dancing Backwards

(Fourth Estate, 260pp paperback, $27.99)

Personally, an ocean cruise sounds like self-inflicted torture. For Violet Hetherington, a six-day Atlantic cruise from England is opportunity to muse on her life and past relationship with old friend Edwin, whom she is meeting at the other end in New York.

Parted for many years after events ended their closeness, Vi spends the cruise reflecting on the past while meeting an array of interesting and varied characters. Over the course of the six days we glean the full tale, and are led on several ‘dances’, so to speak, about the fellow travellers Vi encounters.

Naturally, the passing of time blurs, distorts and over-emphasises certain memories. As Vi interacts with her new acquaintances, she is provided fresh perspectives on her remembrances.

Apart from the usual slightly clichéd characters (the retired sea captain, the solicitous steward, the fey old lady), Vi meets Dino, the ship’s dance host. Although also fairly standard in his vanity and ulterior motives, Dino does teach Vi to dance — and a deceit allows her to envisage the possibility of moving on.

Each day is sectioned, cleverly prefaced with some seafaring definitions. I actually learned something about the origin of several well-known phrases — especially that “footloose” is not just a Kenny Loggins song!

Salley Vickers writes with an easy flow, and her insight, although not exactly revelatory, is wise and comforting.

“… there are moments given to us in life when in sparing others we ourselves may be spared.” Too right. If nothing else, Dancing Backwards is a bright and easy read, with enough intelligence and perception to elevate it beyond a beach — or indeed, ocean-cruise — novel.