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cator_and_bliss's review against another edition
3.0
A curious mediation on integrity, art and Power-with-a-capital-P. Above all, on fear. More a vortex of thoughts than a traditional novel, the book invites the reader to inhabit Shostakovich's mind and sit among his desires, neuroses and self-loathing across distinctive, but connected periods of his life.
mariekes2001's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
bps's review against another edition
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
alexisscerise's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
This book sounds like it was written by an edgy middle schooler, and it gives Shostakovich fanfiction. It took me back to my wattpad days and it quite literally destroyed my Kindle algorithm and made me seriously reconsider my desire to pursue post-graduate musical studies. I cannot begin to express how much I hated the fact that I had to read a specific word regarding male anatomy in a text that was assigned for an academic course. This book way dryer than a piece of Cracker Barrel corn bread. 0/10 would NOT recommend.
sillychicken's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.0
ilovegravy's review against another edition
3.0
I’ve seen so many quotes from this book. They moved me. I had friends recommend it to me as “something I would definitely enjoy”. I was intrigued. But I read the book, read the quotes in the context of the whole story and I don’t feel moved or intrigued.
Charmed at best.
Charmed at best.
csweet49's review against another edition
4.25
Fascinating story. Captures the impact of oppression on the individual. A warning about the times to come.
bella_boileau's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
leseratte97's review against another edition
informative
reflective
4.0
A tricky one. It is a well written book, but I doubt it will stick with me. Maybe because I didn't really learn anything new?
No, wait, that's not true! I learned that, no matter how much I enjoyed reading the novel, I think I would prefer to read a biography rather than a fictionalised account of a real person's life (and the same goes for films). There's just something about it that rubs me the wrong way - only the person themselves would have known what they were thinking and feeling at any given point in time. Putting somebody else's words in their heads (no matter how well researched) feels a bit strange.
No, wait, that's not true! I learned that, no matter how much I enjoyed reading the novel, I think I would prefer to read a biography rather than a fictionalised account of a real person's life (and the same goes for films). There's just something about it that rubs me the wrong way - only the person themselves would have known what they were thinking and feeling at any given point in time. Putting somebody else's words in their heads (no matter how well researched) feels a bit strange.
s__tu's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0