2025 Reading Challenge discussion

This thread is to discuss When the Elephants Dance by Tess Uriza Holthe.

Pages: 368 pages

Length: 1 Month (June)

Participants: SarahKat, Lynn.

Everyone reads at their own pace during a Buddy Read. Because participants can be at different parts of the book at different times, it is extremely important to mark spoilers so that the book is not ruined for someone who is not as far along as others!!!

Mark spoilers by placing {spoiler} before the text and {/spoiler} after the text but use the < and > instead of the { and }.


Happy Buddy Reading!

Hi Lynn! When are you going to start this one? I own it so I can be flexible.

I also own it! I am participating in the Readathon June 3-12, so probably after that? About mid-month? Would that work for you? I am also leading group discussion in June, so it would be good to have time at the beginning of the month to get that started as well as reread the book! :)

Edited to add: I am pulling all planned reads for June into a pile in preparation and momentarily panicked when I noticed the actual title for this is When THE Elephants Dance because I had been thinking of it as When Elephants Dance, but checked just now and breathed a sigh of relief that the book I have is the one listed! LOL :)

I'm doing the readathon too. I hadn't quite decided if I'd try to use this for that or not but it's looking a bit dense so maybe, like you, I will wait until it's over.

The omission of the "the" was probably my fault! I keep calling it When Elephants Dance and probably added it to the spreadsheet that way! I changed the topic title to be correct!

SarahKat wrote: "I'm doing the readathon too. I hadn't quite decided if I'd try to use this for that or not but it's looking a bit dense so maybe, like you, I will wait until it's over.

The omission of the "the" w..."
I'm just being selfish since I already have a couple of bigger books I will be using for the Readathon. (I intend to pre-read 100-200 pages in them prior to June 3!)

I doubt it was that, SarahKat, that caused my confusion. Probably just being old! LOL :)

Hi Lynn, I started the first few pages last night. I've read a lot of WWII historical fiction but most of it has been set in the UK, France, or the US. I think I'll appreciate a different perspective in a different part of the world!

100 pages in. I'm liking it but it is difficult for me to keep the stories straight since there are stories within the story.

The "current story" (view spoiler)[is really terrifying with the Japanese just torturing kids on the street. (hide spoiler)]

I liked the Esmerelda story a lot. (view spoiler)[I liked how all of her "fixes" were actually just sort of an attitude or perspective change rather than the fix they asked for. (hide spoiler)]

I can't think of a specific right now but I've seen a lot of what seems to be Biblical teachings or straight references, which surprises me!

Through Part 2: (view spoiler)[Really loved Aling Ana's story. The only part of these types of books I don't like is after I read the next really intense story I forget all of the earlier ones and only vaguely recall the present day stuff going on.

Ana's story about losing 2 sisters, the anger she feels and taking it out on the wrong people. Her mother's neglect. It was all just very human and very interesting and very sad. But I liked the ending. She found forgiveness for herself and her sister. (hide spoiler)]

SarahKat wrote: "Hi Lynn, I started the first few pages last night. I've read a lot of WWII historical fiction but most of it has been set in the UK, France, or the US. I think I'll appreciate a different perspecti..."
I apologize, SarahKat, for my absence! My best friend has been hospitalized these last 9 days and I have been at her side 8-10 hours each day. And although you might think I could get a lot of reading done, that didn't prove to be true. :( I am her medical advocate and her situation has been critical, so I must communicate with all the medical providers, etc.

That said, I should be able to read this over this coming weekend. I'm so anxious to do so! And now to see your spoilery thoughts once I've read far enough!

I'm so sorry about your friend! It's tough to read when you have a lot going on. I tend to sit and stare into space.

No hurry on catching up! And if you just can't get to this one at all I'll probably forgive you this once😜

SarahKat wrote: "I'm so sorry about your friend! It's tough to read when you have a lot going on. I tend to sit and stare into space.

No hurry on catching up! And if you just can't get to this one at all I'll prob..."
I just barely got started in it last night. Hoping to be able to read it tomorrow, Tuesday!

Just finished the first 16 pages right before going to bed. This is a brutal read, but necessary, IMO.

Thank goodness this is now a different "story" as you refer to the parts of this book. I am enjoying Esmeralda's story. "Papa explains the war like this" reminded me of the brutal scene in The Island of Sea Women. The (view spoiler)[hopelessness and futility of oppression... (hide spoiler)]

I haven't read that but I've seen it around a lot. Should probably add it.

I finished. I will say the last 2 "stories" were really hard for me to remember day-to-day. I need to skim those again and then I'll post a review.

Here's a short review. I find myself with little time nowadays so it might be the best I can do. Looking forward to hearing what you think!

(view spoiler)[
This was pretty hard to read at times. The first sequence just sort of throws you into the horror that is war. It doesn't necessarily get worse as far as graphic-ness but it doesn't really calm down on the awfulness.

I was really compelled by the first half of the book. The stories the main group of people were telling were all very interesting and different, with a mixture of magical realism. A lot of Christian allusions and outright statements. I liked how each story had a theme and a lesson. I loved Esmerelda's story, (view spoiler)[when she is giving remedies for people for what they need not necessarily what they want.

Aling Ana's story was my favorite in the book. (view spoiler)[She loses her twin sister to a sickness as a child. Her mother basically descends into a continued paralytic grief. They adopt another daughter to be raised alongside Ana. Obviously she has some feelings about this, and she takes them out on Corazon. She just hates her, even though the anger should be at her parents for not helping her through this. Or even paying attention to her. Later in life, Cora dies in childbirth and it isn't until after the fact that Ana realizes she's wasted all that time and could have had a friendship with Cora. (hide spoiler)]

The last few stories were hard for me to focus on for some reason. I liked them but I think I kept getting confused as to who was talking.

The main storyline (view spoiler)[confused me sometimes too because I'd forget what was happening while on the story tangents. By the end though I really like how the characters had changed in just the short time we get to know them. It was pretty awful that so many died near the end. This book doesn't pull punches when it comes to presenting it (I'm assuming) fairly accurately. (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

I'm trying to finish this now. So far behind right now! :(

As you now know, I've been sick. I am trying to finish this just as soon as possible. Like you, I have found it to be rather dark...and depressing!

No problem Lynn! When you're sick or stressed you want to read lighter stuff not depressing things! If I happen to archive this before you finish you can always message me :)

SarahKat wrote: "No problem Lynn! When you're sick or stressed you want to read lighter stuff not depressing things! If I happen to archive this before you finish you can always message me :)"
Will do! I'm now reading this in tandem with The Buried Giant so am hoping to finish both within 1-2 days! I recently read my first Ishiguro, The Remains of the Day and absolutely loved it! I have a feeling he may become on of my "absolute favorite authors"!