The Painted Girls by Cathy Marie Buchanan

This story of three sisters is told by two of them - 13 year old Marie and 17 year old Antoinette. The story of the youngest one, Charlotte, is revealed through both older sisters. It is set in Paris. In 1878 suddenly their father dies, leaving them with a drinking mother. Marie quits school and gets a job at Paris Opera, where Antoinette already works as extra. 

Master Edgar Degas is a frequent observer at ballet practices to pick models for his paintings. He notices Marie’s skinny shoulders and asks her to model for him. “Your shoulder blades are like sprouting wings.”

Antoinette, not seeing herself at Opera, gets a job at Theater. She gets cast in a stage adaptation of Emile Zola’s Naturalist masterpiece as theater is “putting on a play about common people and wanting actors from the working class for all but the starring roles.”

Marie becomes one of petit rats – selected group of the Paris Opera Ballet. As she thrives Antoinette disintegrates after the play’s success is over.

The Belle époque of late 19th century Paris comes alive in this story with masterpieces of literature, theater and art gaining recognition. Optimism of the époque is reflected through Marie’s ambitions as Antoinette says “That will of hers, it knocked me over, especially coming from a girl so inclined to doubting herself.” 

This is a story of hope and second chances, showing that taking a different path than the chosen one isn’t necessarily a bad option. It is beautifully written and engrossing.

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