The Piano Teacher in 100+ Books in 2025

Mar 24, 2016 Claudine DiMuzio / Just Jane 1813 added it

I loved this story because I found reading about this time period very interesting and the characters were very compelling to learn about, since the story took place in Hong Kong and described how the British and the residents of Hong Kong were affected by numerous world events.

The up close and personal story of the piano teacher, who must come to terms with her life and the state of her marriage, is a personal journey that many women can relate to on one level or another.

There are some slow p ...more

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Mar 22, 2012 Dolly rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: relationships, canada, hawaiiana, china-chinese, cooking-recipes, 2012, the-netherlands, italy-italian-roman, historical-fiction, england-english

One of the ladies in my local library book club recommended this book to our little group and lent it to us each in turn. I thought it was interesting that both this book and the book we are "officially" reading for the book club in April, Miss Timmins' School for Girls: A Novel, have British colonialism as a fairly large influence in the story. They are very different books, but I appreciated the similar nuances. I think the two books will make for a very interesting discussion.

This was such a One of the ladies in my local library book club recommended this book to our little group and lent it to us each in turn. I thought it was interesting that both this book and the book we are "officially" reading for the book club in April, Miss Timmins' School for Girls: A Novel, have British colonialism as a fairly large influence in the story. They are very different books, but I appreciated the similar nuances. I think the two books will make for a very interesting discussion.

This was such an intriguing and poignant story. I was warned that the first third of the book was a bit slow and hard to get through, that the tedium of the parties of the elite and wealthy would be somewhat irritating. And I found that to be very true. But once I finally got into the meat of the story, I didn't want to put it down until I finished it.

The story of Hong Kong's experiences during WWII was a complete unknown to me before I read this book and I feel like my eyes were opened wide to the historical and cultural background just before, during, and following the end of the conflict. It was difficult to read about the atrocities, the torture, the rape and the wanton killing, but it's a part of human history and it really wasn't all that long ago.

Overall, I thought this was a heartbreaking, yet important tale to tell. The concept of survivors during wartime and the sacrifices, horrors, and compromises that are made are so hard to comprehend during peacetime. And even sixty years later (I thought it was quite fascinating that Queen Elizabeth is celebrating her Diamond Jubilee this year and her coronation is mentioned in this story), it seems like the wounds are still raw to some extent. The effects of British rule, Japanese occupation, and now the reversion back to Chinese rule have all occurred in a mere blip of time in the span of history. I know that this book doesn't tell the whole story, but I do appreciate having the opportunity to read it.

interesting quote:

"If we aren't together in the future, please don't think of me with hatred. Think of me kindly or forget me. I always try to do that. Think with kindness and don't judge. And know the entire situation." (p. 130) ...more

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Aug 06, 2009 eve rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2009, historical-fiction

Ultimately, this book is a love story. An illicit love affair between tardily blooming English rose, Claire, and the sarcastic yet enigmatic English expatriate who has seen and experienced it all, Will. Their affair was shadowed by ghosts from the past: the war and a hauntingly infamous beauty who shared man with Claire a decade ago. The setting is Hong Kong in its crowning glory during British government. It went back and forth from the year before, during and after World War II. None of the ch ...more

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Sep 06, 2010 Nicole rated it it was ok

Shelves: historical, 2010, asia

Sometimes I think I just don't read book descriptions very well as I was expecting a book of intrigue and a piano teacher who was sleeping with the enemy to help a greater cause. Instead I got horrific descriptions of prison camps during WWII and a book filled with characters that I didn't like. ...more

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Mar 02, 2009 Kate rated it really liked it

Shelves: chicklit

While the characters are not entirely likable, what I appreciated about this book is that I was transported to another place. I could smell the aromas and I could feel the breeze on my face. And I have never been to Hong Kong!

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