false 2 0 false false Mon Jun 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Fri Jun 26 03:04:26 -0700 2009 Fri Jun 26 03:04:53 -0700 2009
And his writing is quite ordinary. Which always made sense in the context of his earlier novels, but in here there's no real excuse for a middle-aged musician to talk so plainly unless he's kind of... plain? I get the feeling these stories are very considered and carefully balanced, but what I'm getting out my end is... kind of flat.

The overall message is quite bleak: love dies, people change. There's an obvious thread running through the five stories. Music and change. It's not too subtle, unless there's something I'm missing.

While I didn't feel like I was wasting my time, this had very little of the mystery and layering I love this author for. One story had me in fits of laughing. At least two I really didn't like.]]>