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bellatora's review
1.0
In two words: horrendously tedious.
Mason has no idea how to create compelling characters or provide information in a non-clumsy way. He seriously provides a complete "briefing" on the history of Burma in the story (the character is given this document by the army). If I wanted that, I would read a history book (or go on Wikipedia). The point of historical fiction is to give readers a sense of place/history by bringing the past ALIVE through characters' interactions, not insert several pages of a straight-up history textbook excerpt.
Also, I have already read this story. It is called [b:The Jewel Trader of Pegu|1820304|The Jewel Trader of Pegu|Jeffrey Hantover|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1266903091s/1820304.jpg|2926539]. I hated that book, too. But at least it had the decency to be short. In both novels, there is a bland Westerner (in this case Edgar Drake, a middle-aged piano tuner) who is sent to Burma (here it's by the British army, on the demands of an eccentric army officer/surgeon who holds a strategically vital outpost). Westerner falls in love with the Burmese culture but never meets a Burmese person who is actually a three-dimensional character (possibly because the author is incapable of writing characters with any depth or warmth to them, possibly not). Westerner has a weird and boring love affair ("love" is used loosely here). Then at the end. Is this shit seriously the only historical fiction out there set in Burma? Why can't authors find a better story there?
This book is filled with long and pointless lectures on history, etc., told in excruciating detail. Mason explains how to tune a piano. IN DEPTH. Guess what, Mason? I don’t give a fuck. Just because you did all that research does not mean you have to prove it to the class. No one likes a show-off.
Even Dr. Anthony Carroll was only wasted potential. He was the brilliant, possibly mad, army officer/surgeon who first demanded a piano and then a man to tune it. He has won the respect of both his men and the local Burmese and the British higher-ups may think he's eccentric, but they know how important he is. There is a suggestion he has gone native. Or that he is a traitor and spy for a foreign power. He is the kind of character who is supposed to be dangerously charismatic and deviously clever. Instead he is nothing but sound and fury.
Mason just doesn’t know how to use characters in interesting ways. Their only purpose seems to be to meander between info dumps.
You know, I will forgive an entertaining book almost anything but will forgive a boring book almost nothing. It is hard to overlook this book’s many, many flaws when I wanted to fall asleep every time I opened it.
Mason has no idea how to create compelling characters or provide information in a non-clumsy way. He seriously provides a complete "briefing" on the history of Burma in the story (the character is given this document by the army). If I wanted that, I would read a history book (or go on Wikipedia). The point of historical fiction is to give readers a sense of place/history by bringing the past ALIVE through characters' interactions, not insert several pages of a straight-up history textbook excerpt.
Also, I have already read this story. It is called [b:The Jewel Trader of Pegu|1820304|The Jewel Trader of Pegu|Jeffrey Hantover|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1266903091s/1820304.jpg|2926539]. I hated that book, too. But at least it had the decency to be short. In both novels, there is a bland Westerner (in this case Edgar Drake, a middle-aged piano tuner) who is sent to Burma (here it's by the British army, on the demands of an eccentric army officer/surgeon who holds a strategically vital outpost). Westerner falls in love with the Burmese culture but never meets a Burmese person who is actually a three-dimensional character (possibly because the author is incapable of writing characters with any depth or warmth to them, possibly not). Westerner has a weird and boring love affair ("love" is used loosely here). Then at the end
Spoiler
he diesThis book is filled with long and pointless lectures on history, etc., told in excruciating detail. Mason explains how to tune a piano. IN DEPTH. Guess what, Mason? I don’t give a fuck. Just because you did all that research does not mean you have to prove it to the class. No one likes a show-off.
Even Dr. Anthony Carroll was only wasted potential. He was the brilliant, possibly mad, army officer/surgeon who first demanded a piano and then a man to tune it. He has won the respect of both his men and the local Burmese and the British higher-ups may think he's eccentric, but they know how important he is. There is a suggestion he has gone native. Or that he is a traitor and spy for a foreign power. He is the kind of character who is supposed to be dangerously charismatic and deviously clever. Instead he is nothing but sound and fury.
Mason just doesn’t know how to use characters in interesting ways. Their only purpose seems to be to meander between info dumps.
You know, I will forgive an entertaining book almost anything but will forgive a boring book almost nothing. It is hard to overlook this book’s many, many flaws when I wanted to fall asleep every time I opened it.
cheerssteph's review against another edition
4.0
Fun adventure story with a high blood pressure ending! The writing is very pretty too.
elygreen's review against another edition
4.0
Probably one of my favourite books of all times! The book had such a radiant warmth to it, and every page was vibrant and coming to life with sparkling, deep and vivid characters bringing it to a whole new level of writing.
The difference in worlds between cold, grey London and rich, wild Burma, was startling and not a bit less-an ending that leaves you gasping in surprise...
The difference in worlds between cold, grey London and rich, wild Burma, was startling and not a bit less-an ending that leaves you gasping in surprise...
carola_janssen's review against another edition
3.0
Degenen die in de contreien van het boek geweest zijn, vonden het boek aanmerkelijk mooier dan zij die er nooit waren. De beschrijvingen van natuur en cultuur zitten dan in de weg. De verwikkelingen met de piano in de jungle zijn ook niet altijd geloofwaardig en soms gezocht. Een laatste achtervolgingsscene lijkt verzonnen met de film al in het achterhoofd.
brynbarton's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
cozyreads_fruityteas's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
3.5
the_naptime_reader's review against another edition
3.0
Burma (Myanmar) is definitely a part of the world I am not at all familiar with, so I was thankful for this book loan from a friend and a broadening of my understanding of the British Empire. The beginning captivated me, but parts of the middle really plodded along, and then out of the blue an explosive ending.
lauren_endnotes's review against another edition
4.0
In many ways I found this book similar to Graham Greene's _The Quiet American_: Both take place in Southeast Asia as Europeans begin to colonize the region; the culture and the people of the region are examined, as well as the impact of the colonizers on the people. _The Piano Tuner_ has a beautiful, exotic tone, and while there were some parts that felt a little "long" to me, it was still a pleasure to read.
Edgar Drake is a London piano tuner, who is commissioned by the Royal Army to tune the piano of an army doctor stationed in Burma (the lower Shan states, to be more precise). Edgar encounters many interesting characters, and sees first-hand the amazing culture and people of Burma. One of my favorite parts of the book was Edgar's tour of the street theatres in Mandalay.
Mason's descriptions are lovely, and one can easily imagine the beauty of the setting. Mason actually researched the novel in Burma (modern-day Myanmar) while studying malaria on the border with Thailand.
Edgar Drake is a London piano tuner, who is commissioned by the Royal Army to tune the piano of an army doctor stationed in Burma (the lower Shan states, to be more precise). Edgar encounters many interesting characters, and sees first-hand the amazing culture and people of Burma. One of my favorite parts of the book was Edgar's tour of the street theatres in Mandalay.
Mason's descriptions are lovely, and one can easily imagine the beauty of the setting. Mason actually researched the novel in Burma (modern-day Myanmar) while studying malaria on the border with Thailand.
bookengulfer's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5