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The Idiot Played Rachmaninov
The year is 1986. Westland, New Zealand, is the far back of sheep in the valleys, moonshine and deer in the mountains, and rugged people with an intense dislike of authority. They want to be left alone. But thorium is replacing uranium as the world's nuclear fuel and when rich deposits are discovered on a Westland beach, the authorities move in and the resistance begins. Colin Renwick brings in his brutal paramilitary 'specials' to root out the resistance. But local farmer Mal O'Hara inspires a brilliant campaign of public ridicule. Something has to give. In the midst of it all is the game-changer, Rosa young, beautiful, mentally damaged, but a passionate genius on the piano. She is the face of the resistance.
Hardcover
Published January 1, 1989
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About the author
Michael Brown
8 books4 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
from Amazon.com
Michael was born in the remote Chatham Islands of New Zealand in 1948. His philosophy is the result of recovering from trauma experienced as a child and young man, including forced committal to a psychiatric hospital. To take back control of his mind he began a long, intense and often painful search for understanding of how the universe works. The search included a degree in physics and a journey into the Andes to find a secret monastery. Michael believes we all have a hibernating memory of what existence is about, who we really are and why we're here. His interest is in how to wake that memory, and with it the creative powers inherent in us all. He believes there is immense peace and joy in that waking. From one of his fictional characters: “Through many lifetimes your mind has nurtured a desire to re-connect with your expanded self, like a carefully tended ember in the deepest recess of the cave. Now it’s time to bring the ember forward and blow on it.” He is a consultant in executive presence, presentation skills and news media skills, specializing in how to handle difficult public issues. He was a reporter, director and presenter of news and current affairs programs for Television New Zealand and has also worked on secondment to the BBC. He is married with four children and lives in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Other interests: Quantum physics; mountain hiking; chess; piano; flying; sailing; scuba diving; dancing; do-it-yourself home renovations; psychology (and the powerful influence of the conscious mind on the engine room of the subconscious).
Publications Novels: The Weaver's Apprentice, Finding the Field, The Idiot Played Rachmaninov.
Travel books: The Weaver and the Abbey, The Taming of the Crew.
Training resource books: Media Easy and Speaking Easy (Media Associates).
Academic B.Sc. (Hons) degree in Physics; post-graduate Dip Journalism; Dip Teaching; Coastal Yachtmaster; Ocean Yachtmaster (Navigation).
from Amazon.com
Michael was born in the remote Chatham Islands of New Zealand in 1948. His philosophy is the result of recovering from trauma experienced as a child and young man, including forced committal to a psychiatric hospital. To take back control of his mind he began a long, intense and often painful search for understanding of how the universe works. The search included a degree in physics and a journey into the Andes to find a secret monastery. Michael believes we all have a hibernating memory of what existence is about, who we really are and why we're here. His interest is in how to wake that memory, and with it the creative powers inherent in us all. He believes there is immense peace and joy in that waking. From one of his fictional characters: “Through many lifetimes your mind has nurtured a desire to re-connect with your expanded self, like a carefully tended ember in the deepest recess of the cave. Now it’s time to bring the ember forward and blow on it.” He is a consultant in executive presence, presentation skills and news media skills, specializing in how to handle difficult public issues. He was a reporter, director and presenter of news and current affairs programs for Television New Zealand and has also worked on secondment to the BBC. He is married with four children and lives in Christchurch, New Zealand.
Other interests: Quantum physics; mountain hiking; chess; piano; flying; sailing; scuba diving; dancing; do-it-yourself home renovations; psychology (and the powerful influence of the conscious mind on the engine room of the subconscious).
Publications Novels: The Weaver's Apprentice, Finding the Field, The Idiot Played Rachmaninov.
Travel books: The Weaver and the Abbey, The Taming of the Crew.
Training resource books: Media Easy and Speaking Easy (Media Associates).
Academic B.Sc. (Hons) degree in Physics; post-graduate Dip Journalism; Dip Teaching; Coastal Yachtmaster; Ocean Yachtmaster (Navigation).
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 1, 2018
Thorium is the new plutonium, and when large deposits of the element are discovered on Westland’s beaches, the government seeks to cash in. But when the locals discover there’s a goldmine on their doorstep, they set out to get their share of the profits.
When the first thorium dredge is blown up by a terrorist group calling itself “The Little Red Hen,” para-military “Specials” are dispatched from the capital to deal with the subversives.
A cat and mouse game ensues, and the Specials soon learn not to underestimate their ingenious local adversaries.
The idiot of the title is Rosa Driscoll, the beautiful, gifted pianist who has the body of a woman but the mind of a child. Rosa’s haunting melodies act as an eerie soundtrack as the conflict escalates and the politicians in Wellington and their troops on the ground become ever more desperate.
The Idiot Played Rachmaninov is a humorous, at times hilarious tribute to New Zealand’s often overlooked West Coast and its colourful cast of inhabitants. A great read.
When the first thorium dredge is blown up by a terrorist group calling itself “The Little Red Hen,” para-military “Specials” are dispatched from the capital to deal with the subversives.
A cat and mouse game ensues, and the Specials soon learn not to underestimate their ingenious local adversaries.
The idiot of the title is Rosa Driscoll, the beautiful, gifted pianist who has the body of a woman but the mind of a child. Rosa’s haunting melodies act as an eerie soundtrack as the conflict escalates and the politicians in Wellington and their troops on the ground become ever more desperate.
The Idiot Played Rachmaninov is a humorous, at times hilarious tribute to New Zealand’s often overlooked West Coast and its colourful cast of inhabitants. A great read.
January 9, 2021
A top-class New Zealand novel about resistance by communities in the isolated Westland of the South Island to thorium mining of the beach sands vital to the country’s economy. A rather fascist PM sends a special unit to stop the sabotage but the locals fight back by humiliating the occupiers. The central figures, particularly the emotionally disturbed young woman of the title, are expertly rendered, as is the countryside in a narrative which is impressive despite some unexplained aspects of the initial scenario. 4.5 stars
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews