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Rites of Spring
This isn't where we started out. This isn't what we wanted or intended. How did we come to this? Adam and Sasha appear to have it a pleasant home, demanding careers and three bright children. But underneath, the pressures of modern living are taking an unendurable toll. When Adam, under extreme strain, breaks a longstanding promise to his wife, their relationship begins to crumble. Liffy, their innocent, ballet-obsessed thirteen-year-old, is caught in the middle. Her parents are too occupied with their own troubles to notice that she is struggling. Adam battles with grief, while high-flying Sasha tries to juggle her work with caring for her small twin sons. As Liffy finds herself drifting away, the Levys spiral towards tragedy. Somsone has to make a sacrifice, but the cost could be too much to bear...
384 pages, Paperback
Published September 7, 2006
1 person is currently reading
42 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Duchen
14 books35 followersJessica is a music journalist, author and librettist. She contributes to the Sunday Times, the I News and BBC Music Magazine, among others, and was formerly with the Independent for 12 years.
Her latest novel 'Immortal' tells the (probably) true story behind Beethoven's famous 'Immortal Beloved' letter, exploring a tragic secret that was long concealed. "A revelation" (Daniel Hope, president of the Beethoven-Haus, Bonn).
'Ghost Variations' is based on the bizarre discovery of the suppressed Schumann Violin Concerto in the 1930s, with the great violinist Jelly d'Arányi as its heroine. "A thrilling read" (John Suchet, The Daily Mail).
Earlier novels focus on tensions between family generations, including the story of a child prodigy pianist ('Alicia's Gift') and the long-term effects of displacement and cultural clashes ('Hungarian Dances').
Jessica's librettos for composer Roxanna Panufnik include two operas commissioned by Garsington: 'Silver Birch', which was shortlisted for an International Opera Award in 2018, and 'Dalia', which won an Excellence in Music Theatre Education award in 2023. Among other pieces are 'Across the Line of Dreams' for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and Chorus with conductors Marin Alsop and Valentina Peleggi, and a new song cycle, 'Gallery of Memories', which was premiered in Presteigne and Oxford festivals in 2023. More librettos include two youth operas based on Oscar Wilde stories: 'The Happy Princess' with composer Paul Fincham and 'The Selfish Giant' with John Barber.
Jessica creates and presents concert dramas and narrated concerts, with numerous appearances at festivals around the UK, France and Australia. Her non-fiction books include biographies of the composers Gabriel Fauré and Erich Wolfgang Korngold, and a centenary celebration of the London Chamber Orchestra.
She lives in London with her violinist husband and cat.
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/jessicawords...
Her latest novel 'Immortal' tells the (probably) true story behind Beethoven's famous 'Immortal Beloved' letter, exploring a tragic secret that was long concealed. "A revelation" (Daniel Hope, president of the Beethoven-Haus, Bonn).
'Ghost Variations' is based on the bizarre discovery of the suppressed Schumann Violin Concerto in the 1930s, with the great violinist Jelly d'Arányi as its heroine. "A thrilling read" (John Suchet, The Daily Mail).
Earlier novels focus on tensions between family generations, including the story of a child prodigy pianist ('Alicia's Gift') and the long-term effects of displacement and cultural clashes ('Hungarian Dances').
Jessica's librettos for composer Roxanna Panufnik include two operas commissioned by Garsington: 'Silver Birch', which was shortlisted for an International Opera Award in 2018, and 'Dalia', which won an Excellence in Music Theatre Education award in 2023. Among other pieces are 'Across the Line of Dreams' for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and Chorus with conductors Marin Alsop and Valentina Peleggi, and a new song cycle, 'Gallery of Memories', which was premiered in Presteigne and Oxford festivals in 2023. More librettos include two youth operas based on Oscar Wilde stories: 'The Happy Princess' with composer Paul Fincham and 'The Selfish Giant' with John Barber.
Jessica creates and presents concert dramas and narrated concerts, with numerous appearances at festivals around the UK, France and Australia. Her non-fiction books include biographies of the composers Gabriel Fauré and Erich Wolfgang Korngold, and a centenary celebration of the London Chamber Orchestra.
She lives in London with her violinist husband and cat.
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/jessicawords...
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 6, 2010
My Thoughts - When I took this book home I was taking a chance really. I knew. Either I would like it or I wouldn't. I mean, there was no sign of the hot bad boy wooing the pretty innocent lonely girl? so if this was going to keep me entertained it better be good.
As soon as I started it, it just seemed to flow so smoothly which I knew was a great sign! I've read books like Shiver and Jessica's guide to dating on the dark side. Books I have been waiting for so long yet I have felt so let down by. I had the same fear with this one, but hopefully was proved otherwise!
Sasha and Adam have everything they could ever want. The perfect home, the perfect job, perfect family.
It all starts the day Adams mother dies. Adam needs support, he needs Sasha to be there for him, but there's only one thing on her mind. How she’s not been getting enough sex recently. When I heard her moan and mutter around the house I was thinking you insensitive bitch! Seriously, when her father died Adam was there for her. He kept her together, kept her whole, but when it's his turn and he needs her so bad - just to be there all she can think about is herself. I found her pretty ridiculous and couldn't stand the sight of her.
Thirteen year old Liffy wants nothing more but to be a Ballet Dancer like her mother used to be. She knows her mother stopped dancing because of her - because of her being born. Maybe that's why she won't look at her, maybe that's why she doesn't love her. It' during this vulnerable time that she meets "The earth prince" who keeps telling her all these things that she has to do.
From a young age Liffy has had to do everything on her own and be independent since no one has ever really paid much attention to her. She's the responsible one, and has one big imagination. Twins Alex and Matt are not as mature or responsible and are the one's who are always being difficult meaning they always need attention.
This book is a big eye opener. It makes you take a step back and take more notice of those around you. With saying that I couldn't help but feel furious at her parents for being so oblivious, for failing to notice what she was going through.
Rites of Spring teaches us how easy it is to overlook things and the profound affect it can have in doing so. How, just because a family seems happy from afar doesn't necessarily mean that their life is perfect or any better than yours or anyone else's.
As soon as I started it, it just seemed to flow so smoothly which I knew was a great sign! I've read books like Shiver and Jessica's guide to dating on the dark side. Books I have been waiting for so long yet I have felt so let down by. I had the same fear with this one, but hopefully was proved otherwise!
Sasha and Adam have everything they could ever want. The perfect home, the perfect job, perfect family.
It all starts the day Adams mother dies. Adam needs support, he needs Sasha to be there for him, but there's only one thing on her mind. How she’s not been getting enough sex recently. When I heard her moan and mutter around the house I was thinking you insensitive bitch! Seriously, when her father died Adam was there for her. He kept her together, kept her whole, but when it's his turn and he needs her so bad - just to be there all she can think about is herself. I found her pretty ridiculous and couldn't stand the sight of her.
Thirteen year old Liffy wants nothing more but to be a Ballet Dancer like her mother used to be. She knows her mother stopped dancing because of her - because of her being born. Maybe that's why she won't look at her, maybe that's why she doesn't love her. It' during this vulnerable time that she meets "The earth prince" who keeps telling her all these things that she has to do.
From a young age Liffy has had to do everything on her own and be independent since no one has ever really paid much attention to her. She's the responsible one, and has one big imagination. Twins Alex and Matt are not as mature or responsible and are the one's who are always being difficult meaning they always need attention.
This book is a big eye opener. It makes you take a step back and take more notice of those around you. With saying that I couldn't help but feel furious at her parents for being so oblivious, for failing to notice what she was going through.
Rites of Spring teaches us how easy it is to overlook things and the profound affect it can have in doing so. How, just because a family seems happy from afar doesn't necessarily mean that their life is perfect or any better than yours or anyone else's.
March 26, 2011
I've read this book for the first time when I was on holiday in 2008, and the story made me cry and also inspired me to appreciate what I have. I never bothered to write down the title or the author,so when I got home I was heartbroken, not being able to find this book as I wanted to own my own copy. It was last year, that I actually managed to find it, after two years! Managed to google some parts of it that i remembered and bought my own copy straight away.
Still love it!
Had a lot of sympathy for the little girl, and I love the way it showed how a family breaking apart can affect the children.. as well as how much attention they need. Very beautiful story.
Still love it!
Had a lot of sympathy for the little girl, and I love the way it showed how a family breaking apart can affect the children.. as well as how much attention they need. Very beautiful story.
September 7, 2020
Story about a 13 yr old girl and her family that starts with busy and apparently successful family life and lives but the cracks appear and breakdown starts. Theme is around a piece of music and the meaning of the earth prince - endings or new beginnings.
October 14, 2012
A bit trite. An engaging page turner but that's about it.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews