Selected as one of Oprah.com’s 20 Tantalizing Beach Reads
Selected as a New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice
Is... read full description
Selected as a New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice
Is... read full description
reviews
Jun 08, 2009
Heather
rated it: 
This is a brilliant piece of literature: eloquent and completely engrossing.
The reader follows Isabel through her tour of Europe and the people she runs into, a la The Portrait of a Lady. This novel is set in modern times, and this Isabel is a classical pianist on a concert tour. She meets a man full of political passion and falls in love with him, bringing questions of the meaning of live, music, and death into our minds.
Woven throughout the novel are entries from Journa More...
The reader follows Isabel through her tour of Europe and the people she runs into, a la The Portrait of a Lady. This novel is set in modern times, and this Isabel is a classical pianist on a concert tour. She meets a man full of political passion and falls in love with him, bringing questions of the meaning of live, music, and death into our minds.
Woven throughout the novel are entries from Journa More...
Oct 02, 2009
Kat
rated it: 
This is a novel of ideas. And also a book about music. Since I don't really understand music on this level, this aspect of the book was a bit hard to follow, but I am sure musicians would relate to it. The ideas are art, beauty, history, freedom/independence, culture, etc. For me, the most vivid and moving parts of the book are the exchanges about cultural/historical differences between American, European and Chechen characters. I often found myself, like the heroine, quite unable to respond to
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May 23, 2010
Becky
rated it: 
Isabel Merton, an American, world-class concert pianist is passionate about the power of music. But she has become restless & dissatisfied with the itinerant, though privileged, life of a performer. These feelings leave her open to a chance(?) relationship with a Chechen exile/activist whom she meets on a European tour. Anzor is also passionate, but his passion takes the form of rage (violence?) over his country survival and the injustices it has suffered. The encounter challenges Isabel’s feel
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Oct 10, 2009
Renee
rated it:
This unconventional novel follows the parallel passions of Isabel Merton, a renowned concert pianist, and Anzor Islikhanov, a Chechen political exile driven by a powerful desire to avenge his people, with whom she becomes involved. Anzor is a frankly unappealing character, whose interminable lectures are a reminder that terrorists make for uncomfortable dinner parties.Other than Isabel, the characters in the novel seem one dimensional; still the writing was very good,and I would read another nov
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Oct 20, 2011
Andrea
rated it: 
Somehow I thought this book might be a good quick read. I was thinking of Mr. Elfriede Jelinek's (Nobel Prize for Literature), The Piano Teacher. It felt like it was a "wanna be" and indeed it did not hold up. Expected too way too much for sure but I like books about people obsessed by their craft and talents and it some ways Ms. Hoffman provided that except for the very unbelievable and ill thought love story. Falling for a terrorist? (Well, I think he could be classified as a ter
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Sep 29, 2010
Marvin
rated it:
This is one of the richest, most ambitious novels I've read in a while--and it's not even very long. It's the story of an accomplished, sensitive, innocent concert pianist on a tour of Europe who meets & engages in an intimate relationship with an angry, vengeful Chechen rebel representative. It takes place over just the few weeks of that tour & its aftermath. It's one of those books where the political is intensely personal. It's set on an international scale with big social/political/intellect
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Dec 26, 2011
Jenny
rated it:
This book is more of the 4.5 stars variety for me. The story is about Isabel Merton, a concert pianist, who ends up in a relationship with a man involved in the politics of volatile Chechnya. The amazing part of the novel isn't the story, but how the writer has capture the emotions of music in words. There are portions where various thoughts of people attending Isabel's concerts are written in streams overlaying each other, as well as Isabel's own thoughts while she plays and I wanted to shou
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Nov 12, 2009
Karen
rated it:
An engrossing journey into the soul of an artist. A gifted pianist, Isabel Morton, is caught up a a whirlwind affair with a mysterious Chechen revolutionary during a European concert tour. You know it's not going to end well, but it does, eventually, as she learns to incorporate the lessons of her life into her art. I thought the descriptions of her thoughts while playing the piano offered a fascinating look into the workings of an artist's mind.
Mar 12, 2010
Carolyn
rated it:
Concert pianist Isabel Merton begins her European tour dissatisfied with the comfort and rationality of her life. The mystery and passion encountered in a mysterious Chechen freedom fighter draw her into a search for truth and meaning with explosive consequences. This novel portrays the conflict of self-fulfillment, world politics, and music.
Jul 01, 2009
Janice
rated it:
This interesting story is told in the first person by a famous American concert pianist on tour who meets and begins a relationship with a mysterious Chechian exile. The pianist is single minded on her art while the political exile is just as strongwilled regarding the political clime in Chechnia. I found this hard but very worthwhile reading.
Jul 06, 2009
Allyson
rated it:
exquisitely moving meditation on love, infatuation, music, and politics. Only a little stumble with some of the dialogue between Isabel and Anzor but so profoundly engrossing in her discussion of music and feeling. I read it in a single day and was very disappointed when it ended.
gorgeous and very sad.
gorgeous and very sad.
Sep 16, 2009
Mxmaloney
rated it:
I love music, romance, and international intrigue, and that's why I like this book. It has all this, and it's beautifully written to boot. It was a very fast, escapist read. At the same time, it was very thought-provoking about the different ways people express their passions.
Jul 12, 2009
Anna
rated it:
I like the theme of this book, with the protagonist shaken into a search for meaning. What I didn't like were the characters. Isabel is so naive and so unsure of herself, I wanted to reach into the book and shake her. Her lover, Anzor, is a condescending ass with anger issues, and for about the middle third of the book, I was questioning why she continues her relationship with him.
The author does a pretty decent job on the music-side of things (although once referring to a flute p More...
The author does a pretty decent job on the music-side of things (although once referring to a flute p More...
Nov 17, 2009
Mom
rated it:
A little heavy but beautifully written novel about the power of music. Also deals with current European politics and, of course,a love story. Makes me want to read more Eva Hoffman.
Oct 19, 2009
Dagmar
rated it:
It's about music, about infatuation and terrorism. In the end, decency wins. My favorite quote by a wine merchant " Wine is extremely important in times of decline"
Mar 06, 2010
Joan
rated it:
Boring. I wish I knew more about music. I am sure I could have had a different experience.
Jun 06, 2010
Christina
rated it: 
music is beauty, beauty is love, love is music. (Repeat ad infinitum)
(Insert plot device) Love interest is Chechen/terrorist who travels as much as protagonist versus predictable academic ex who provides less passionate love than Chechen. (Insert random drama). (Repeat) Anti-climactic ending.
END
(Insert plot device) Love interest is Chechen/terrorist who travels as much as protagonist versus predictable academic ex who provides less passionate love than Chechen. (Insert random drama). (Repeat) Anti-climactic ending.
END
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May 04, 2010
Lillian
rated it:
really boring read, I cannot recommend it to anyone who is not a musician - maybe even only to a professional musician or composer. Thankfully I was able to borrow it from the library and it was fairly short.
Jun 29, 2009
Elizabeth
rated it:
I had a hard time finishing this novel of ideas through two too contrived and not fully-developed characters. The juxtaposing of the world of clasical music vs. the political in the guise of a Chechnian terrorist just wasn't believeable to me. I sped-read through much of it - espcially the sections of audience members thoughts while the pianist plays and the journal entries of her former mentor.
Oct 17, 2011
Tanyatomkins
rated it:
So far loving this. I already loved EEva Hoffman's Lost in Translation. This new book gets inside the performing musician's mind in an amazing way. I hear there is espionage coming up in it, too! More later.
Yes, this is a wonderful book- especially for musicians or anyone who knows musicians....
Yes, this is a wonderful book- especially for musicians or anyone who knows musicians....
Nov 23, 2009
Tuck
rated it:
author does a good job on the philosophical aspects of the "frivolous" west and the murderous other. and super good descriptions of classical music and what that music does to the player and the audience. fairly old fashioned writing style.
Sep 30, 2009
Sarah
rated it:
Gorgeous, thoughtful book about Polish professional pianist unknowingly involved with a Chechen terrorist. The passages about studying and performing classical piano music are particularly beautiful.
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