Review by Harrygx3 -- The Dancing Barber by AC Michael

[Harrygx3]

[Following is a volunteer review of "The Dancing Barber" by AC Michael.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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The Dancing Barber by AC Michael is a humorous fiction book. The story takes place in the 1960's; but it also takes the reader years back to introduce him/her further to the characters and their eccentric behaviours. One of the characters is a perfectionist ballet teacher and a terrible barber called Taras. Taras pushes his students to their limits because he wants to achieve the success that he was denied when he was young. Just like his beliefs, his methods of teaching range from funny to painful and outdated. Taras has a friend named Klem who is a former priest and former alcoholic that lives in Taras's house. Klem has some shady connections and a past that he simply can't escape from. These two, along with others, embark on a humorous journey to achieve their own goals while trying to avoid unpleasant surprises.

I will start with the positives of this book. It is packed with so many jokes and funny descriptions that undoubtedly one of them will make you laugh. The story has some funny twists that will keep you wondering what will happen next. There are many characters with their unique and funny way of doing things. The author is very descriptive of their behaviour and actions; so much, that he makes you feel like these characters are real.

Despite all the humor it has, there are several negative traits that may annoy some; while others, like me, won't pay much attention to. One of them is the slow pace of the story. Sometimes it will feel like it takes ages to go from one scene to another; but around the middle of the book the pace becomes a bit faster. Another one is the multiple storyline development. You read about a character; and then it jumps on to another, before going back to the same, making the story feel a bit disconnected.

I had a hard time deciding what rating I should give it. In the end I decided to give it 3 out of 4 stars because despite its flaws I believe it can become a masterpiece with a few tweaks. The story needs to be more concise and/or some scenes to be glued together; to give the reader a stronger sense of continuity and make the story easier to remember. As it is now, I think it will appeal to people aged 40-60, because it needs a bit of patience to read it; but overall it rewards you with lots of laughter. It may seem less interesting to young people because they may find the initial slow pace boring.

In conclusion, the book is a gem that needs some polishing. I wouldn't recommend it right away; but the author's sense of humor makes it an ideal recommendation for people who just want to laugh and don't pay much attention to the flaws.

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The Dancing Barber
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[Donatelloo]

I am loving its cover. Plot seems a nice one to read and enjoy. Very nice review

[Harrygx3]

I am loving its cover. Plot seems a nice one to read and enjoy. Very nice review

I loved its cover too and it was the primary reason why I picked it up. Happy that you enjoyed the review, have a beautiful day/night^^