Read The Weight of a Piano A novel Chris Cander 9780525654674 Books
Read The Weight of a Piano A novel Chris Cander 9780525654674 Books
Download As PDF : The Weight of a Piano A novel Chris Cander 9780525654674 Books
For fans of Ann Patchett's Bel Canto, Annie Proulx's Accordion Crimes, Amanda Coplin's The Orchardist
A tour-de-force about two women and the piano that inexorably ties their lives together through time and across continents, for better and for worse.
In 1962, in the Soviet Union, eight-year-old Katya is bequeathed what will become the love of her life a Blüthner piano, built at the turn of the century in Germany, on which she discovers everything that she herself can do with music and what music, in turn, does for her. Yet after marrying, she emigrates with her young family from Russia to America, at her husband's frantic insistence, and her piano is lost in the shuffle.
In 2012, in Bakersfield, California, twenty-six-year-old Clara Lundy loses another boyfriend and again has to find a new apartment, which is complicated by the gift her father had given her for her twelfth birthday, shortly before he and her mother died in a fire that burned their house down a Blüthner upright she has never learned to play. Orphaned, she was raised by her aunt and uncle, who in his car-repair shop trained her to become a first-rate mechanic, much to the surprise of her subsequent customers. But this work, her true mainstay in a scattered life, is put on hold when her hand gets broken while the piano's being moved--and in sudden frustration she chooses to sell it. And what becomes crucial is who the most interested party turns out to be. . .
Read The Weight of a Piano A novel Chris Cander 9780525654674 Books
"I think Chris Cander writes beautifully. For some reason, however, I could not get involved in this story. I just couldn't connect with the characters."
Product details
|
Tags : The Weight of a Piano A novel [Chris Cander] on . <b><b>For fans of Ann Patchett's </b><b> Bel Canto</i></b><b>, Annie Proulx's </b><b> Accordion Crimes</i></b><b>,Chris Cander,The Weight of a Piano A novel,Knopf,0525654674,Domestic fiction.,Piano;Fiction.,Pianos;Fiction.,AMERICAN CONTEMPORARY FICTION,FICTION / Family Life / General,FICTION / Literary,FICTION / Women,Fiction,Fiction-Literary,Fiction/Family Life - General,Fiction/Women,General Adult,MARKETING PROMO 1,United States,Women's Studies,car mechanic;mechanic;Russian;novels about Russia;historical novels;orphan;photographers;photography;road trip;California;family mystery;suicide;Russia;desert novels;USSR;novels about music;piano;literary fiction;family;women's fiction;gifts for women;novels;fiction;gifts for her;fiction books;women;literature;books fiction;realistic fiction books;women gifts;romance;historical;art;love;romance books;drama;saga;relationship books;friendship;magical realism;relationships;romance novels;wwii,car mechanic; mechanic; Russian; novels about Russia; historical novels; orphan; photographers; photography; road trip; California; family mystery; suicide; Russia; desert novels; USSR; novels about music; piano; literary fiction; women's fiction; gifts for women; gifts for her; fiction books; literature; women gifts; realistic fiction books; books fiction; drama; art; saga; family; novels; fiction; women; friendship; relationships; love; relationship books; romance; historical; romance books; magical realism; romance novels; wwii
The Weight of a Piano A novel Chris Cander 9780525654674 Books Reviews :
The Weight of a Piano A novel Chris Cander 9780525654674 Books Reviews
- What a rich tale, so unexpected. I could picture and feel the emotions, the action as it unfolded, the landscapes, the pain.
The alternating chapters between characters could be confusing, but the story that slowly unfolds is enchanting. - I was drawn to this story because I have been a professional pianist for many years. I found the story to be intriguing, but found my interest pulled more toward the fate of the piano rather than the characters. Many metaphors and parallels throughout this interesting story. Unlike a previous reviewer, the fact that Spanish and Russian words/sentences were used, it did not detract from the story as either an English explanation followed, or the descriptive paragraph allowed for the reader to draw a logical conclusion as to the foreign words. My favorite part was the end... sad, yet satisfying. One thing really stood out in this story, at least for me- regardless of the various main characters portrayed, each with significantly different personalities, each one had passionate obsessions beyond the norm!
- “The Weight of a Piano†follows the life of a Bluthner piano as it changes hands. The metaphor of the piano as a tie to the past, a weight, a burden or a gift, works beautifully. The story line is interesting with rich details. Excellent book. Cander is a talented new voice, and I hope other engaging books follow.
- If you like piano's read this book. If you like tender love stories with twists and turns along the way read this book.
- I really liked the story idea. A bit too romance novely for me, but overall it was a fun read.
- I think Chris Cander writes beautifully. For some reason, however, I could not get involved in this story. I just couldn't connect with the characters.
- Great book , great price .
- Although initially pulled in by the stunning opening pages, by the end of the book I was less enthused. The story reminds me a little of The Goldfinch with its Russian influence, and Vegas (Death Valley) settings, but instead of a tiny painting there is a wonderful classic piano playing a central role. I loved the beginning of The Goldfinch too, but was exhausted and annoyed by the end as the classical and riveting aspects became cold and harsh. With this book I especially loved the musical references, and since I know and love piano music, I could hear those parts in my mind and was elevated by the beautiful descriptions of them, but while the music was warm and lyrical, the characters were cold and unappealing. I didn't care what happened to any of them. The same detail that described the music well did not translate to the people. And speaking of translating, I thought it annoyingly pedantic that with one exception, the Russian and Spanish language bits were not translated, giving the impression the author felt she was above that. I know a bit of Russian and Spanish and could figure things out, but it broke any flow I'd achieved in reading, which should not be any writer's goal. In fact, due to the perpetual shift between the story's main characters, I never felt submerged in the story at all. I did finish the book, interested to know the outcome so that's a good thing. It is an unusual story.
Comments
Post a Comment