As the story opens, Lily, the heroine of Timothy Findley's Victorian-Gothic-style novel as seen through the narrative of her son Charlie, is ending...
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Oct 26, 2007
Lorraine
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What I found most intriguing about this book is it's narration. As a whole, it is narrated by the grandson of the "Piano Man" but he tells the story based on what he learned from his (grandson's) grandmother and mother (the title character) and his own observations. So the story really spans three generations.
I can't articulate what it was about this book that made me enjoy it. I chalk it up to a well-written and unique story with interesting characters. It's not difficult More...
I can't articulate what it was about this book that made me enjoy it. I chalk it up to a well-written and unique story with interesting characters. It's not difficult More...
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Oct 22, 2011
Dianne
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This novel was a little slow starting but once it got going it was fascinating. I found it a bit muddled at first, what with the switching back and forth from one time period to another and from one character's life to another. Written with a detachment that it took awhile to get used to, it was a strong story once I got adapted to the style and got everybody sorted out. Somewhere in Section Two, I was hooked.
I must confess that I have started making lists of characters as I read so th More...
I must confess that I have started making lists of characters as I read so th More...
Aug 19, 2008
Sara
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For those who like historical fiction about families with a skeleton in the closet this book will not disappoint. The three generation drama is set in Ontario, Canada and begins during the early part of the 20th century. How various characters react to the inherited madness of the person referred to in the title makes it is hard to put the book down. The beautiful writing creates time and space for the illumination of the reader's own understanding of family values.
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May 08, 2008
Megan
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I found this book a lot more... readable than I thought I would. Not because Findley's confusing, or anything, but because I often find his books excellent but too dark to read all in one sitting. This one was considerably lighter.
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Jan 19, 2011
Angelou
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There were part I liked, parts I didn't--that's usually how it is for all books, though.
I don't know where to start with this review.
I want to mention though, that I love love love Lily and Charlie. I didn't feel much for everyone else. The characters felt flat and two dimensional. The symbols of the 'songs' and the fire really resonated with me after finishing the novel and though it was slow in some areas, I'm glad I finished it.
Due to the back and fourth type More...
I don't know where to start with this review.
I want to mention though, that I love love love Lily and Charlie. I didn't feel much for everyone else. The characters felt flat and two dimensional. The symbols of the 'songs' and the fire really resonated with me after finishing the novel and though it was slow in some areas, I'm glad I finished it.
Due to the back and fourth type More...
Jan 06, 2010
Mollie
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This was an interesting read. It felt a bit convoluted at first but after the first few chapters it cleared for me. It was an interesting look into the mind and family of a mentally ill woman who also suffered from epilepsy. It made me want to read more from the person suffering seizures. Can they really feel them coming on? Do they have a certain amount of awareness during - even an unreal awareness?
The setting was interesting the telling was unique and the story was moderatel More...
The setting was interesting the telling was unique and the story was moderatel More...
Oct 10, 2008
Lisa
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couldn't put it down. will read again and i don't ever read anything twice.
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Jan 19, 2009
bookczuk
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My feelings are mixed on this book. It took me a little while to get into it, but that was not the author's fault. The writing is beautiful, the characters compelling. But for some reason, the initial time I picked it up to read was not the right time for me. I put it down, determined to get back to it shortly. It took me several months to pick up again, but once I did, there was no stopping me.
There are a multitude of stories in this book. But ultimately it is about family and abou More...
There are a multitude of stories in this book. But ultimately it is about family and abou More...
Jan 21, 2009
Abbyb1
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The fact that I took so long to read this book has absolutely nothing to do with how well written it is (or isn't) nor does it say anything about the story itself. Instead, it says a lot about my real life and how I tend to get sidetracked a great deal.
The characters in this book are sad searchers, but what they are searching for never comes off as trite or monotonous. At first, I thought Charlie's desire to know his father was cliche and that I'd soon find myself bored to tears, bu More...
The characters in this book are sad searchers, but what they are searching for never comes off as trite or monotonous. At first, I thought Charlie's desire to know his father was cliche and that I'd soon find myself bored to tears, bu More...
Sep 06, 2009
Julia
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This is the 3rd Findley book I've read and each one is entirely different from the other. This book is so well written as it deals with mental illness within a family. Some individuals are inclined to want to hide the fact that a family member suffers from the odd and embarrasing behaviour and others seek to support and love these people. The narrator is the son of the woman who was having seisures and irratic behaviour. He spent many years searching for clues to the identiy of his father, b
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Sep 30, 2011
Simone
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A beautiful, heartbreaking book. I love Lily, she has such courage in the face of adversity - the misunderstanding of her mental condition, the people who fear her, who shun her and who take advantage of her. Her son, the narrator, is honest and paints a beautiful picture of a woman he himself barely understood. I am re-reading it right now and remember all the reasons I loved it in the first place. Timothy Findley needless to say is a wonderful story-teller, I love the various voices and writin
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Jan 02, 2012
Caleigh
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I started reading this a couple of weeks ago, but partway through got to a section that I found a little too disturbing for my taste ... seeming to foreshadow something rather "Flowers in the Attic"-ish ... so I set it aside. I'm relieved to report that while there were misdeeds done, they were nothing of this magnitude and I was able to finish the book without shutting my eyes or skipping ahead.
The Piano Man's Daughter is the fifth or sixth Findley book I've read, and prob More...
The Piano Man's Daughter is the fifth or sixth Findley book I've read, and prob More...
Feb 12, 2008
Nancy
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There are a multitude of stories in this book, but the main story is that told by Charlie, the son of Lily, who is the Piano-Man's Daughter. He starts the story upon Lily's death in a mental asylum, and from page one the story carried me away so that I got absolutely nothing done all day but reading this novel.
Lily was conceived & born in the same field, in the late 1880s, raised on a farm in Canada and touched the lives of all of those around her. But Lily had an illness, seizures, More...
Lily was conceived & born in the same field, in the late 1880s, raised on a farm in Canada and touched the lives of all of those around her. But Lily had an illness, seizures, More...
Nov 12, 2011
Susan
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Mr. Findley wrote a disturbingly honest story of how Edwardian family dynamics were altered by the presence of epilepsy and schizophrenia...Lily's demons arrived at her birth, and ultimately died with her...leaving the reader to wonder whether any managed to escape and find new life in Lily's granddaughter, Emma...
Definitely a good read!
Definitely a good read!
Jun 09, 2010
Jessica
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I read this in highschool as part of an independent study which included other books by Margaret Laurence and Carol Shields. At the time I did not enjoy reading any of the books very much - but feel that I should go back to this one because the story appeals more to me now. I think that I might grow to love it.
Jan 17, 2011
Daniel
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This is a book that specializes in dreamy: the story, the settings, the characters -- they all seem to dance through this book, which flows as easily as a rural stream on a spring day. In some ways, it's an odd and unexpected read...but like a warm drink, it goes down extremely well.
Nov 21, 2009
Kirstin
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An interesting historical fiction on life in Eastern Canada/Ontario in the early twentieth century, particularly for women. Very well written, although I enjoyed the early years of the life of the main character (which coincides with the first part of the book) much more than the later years/end of the book.
Apr 06, 2011
Elizabeth
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While I love Timothy Findlay I had some trouble getting into this one. I think I had too many books on my plate and didn't give it my full attention. Findlay always did a superb job depicting instances of insanity as it appears in family stories.
Oct 05, 2009
This is a great read! I learned about the word of epilepsy and how those who fear such things can treat those who suffer from the condition. The book is extremely well written and I would recommend it to all.
Jan 22, 2011
CynthiaA
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The book is about family secrets and finding our own place in the world in spite of them -- finding our own place in the world having learned from them.Its a wonderful book. One of my favorites by Findley.
May 26, 2009
Taylor
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While this is a very well-written, well-conceived book, it didn't move me the way I hoped Findley would manage to. It was interesting, but I didn't care much about the characters, which are the absolute core concern of this, and caring about them is the key for turning this book from servicable to amazing.
Apr 17, 2010
Andrea
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What a beautiful and lyrical book. I'm sorry that Timothy Findley is no longer around. He was definitely one of Canada's best writers and an inspiration to me as a writer.
Aug 10, 2011
Debbie
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Loved this. If you have trouble with some of Findley's work like Not Wanted on the Voyage or Pilgrim, this is a much more "normal" story and a great one it is!
Apr 14, 2011
Amanda
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It took me awhile to get into this book, I picked it up several times. It
was worth reading I enjoyed it in the end.
was worth reading I enjoyed it in the end.
Jun 19, 2011
Marjie
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I haven't read any Timothy Findley for a long time. I enjoyed this -- not as much as "Headhunter", but it was an interesting, well-written saga of a family in turn of the 19th-20th century Toronto and environs.
Dec 30, 2007
Z
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The CBC made a really good miniseries of this book, which Becca and I came across completely randomly while channel-surfing one night, and didn't even realize was based on a Findley book until later. I've had a used copy of the novel kicking around for a year or so but haven't gotten around to it just yet; I like Findley's ideas but his style can occasionally be impenetrable (viz. Not Wanted on the Voyage).
ETA: finally picked it up in Cuba, could not put it down and read it in a day More...
ETA: finally picked it up in Cuba, could not put it down and read it in a day More...
