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3.52 AVERAGE
3.52 AVERAGE
2022: I overall would not recommend this book.
I saw this book in a Little Free Library and I immediately wanted to read it, as I have also broken a bone by having a piano fall while moving it. Not something that everyone can say about themselves! If you do not share this unique quality with this book, I'm not sure it something you need to go out of your way to try and find a copy of. The storyline had a promising premise, but it did not live up to the summary on the back of the cover.
I started this book thinking that our narrator Clara was actually the annoying, callous one (which she is) and I ended this book wondering how on earth Greg managed to make enough bad choices to somehow end up even WORSE than Clara. When Clara first arrives at Death Valley, I was totally #TeamGreg. Clara stole his camera and was messing up his whole shoot! She was reneging on every single promise she had made and was being overall super annoying. Objectively, following someone for a 5 hour drive and then messing up what they are doing is crazy behavior.
Then, Greg goes and takes the cake by making very forward moves towards Clara, saying that they need to bone because they are bonded by tragedy. Really? THEN, they both jump into bed with each other, and when I say bed, I mean a pile of blankets in the back of a moving van in the middle of the desert at dawn. I wish I was kidding. I did not believe ANY of the attraction that these characters were meant to have for each other. Essentially, Greg was like "Oh hi, let me tell you about how your father was actually having an affair with my mother. Yes, it did break up your parents' marriage, but I think what the universe is trying to tell us is that we need to fuck right now." And you're telling me that WORKED for Clara?!
There were a number of things that were also factually suspicious - for example, when Greg is driving into Death Valley and the question is asked, "How did Greg know where he was going?" .... there is like one main road in Death Valley. I'm sure he was just following that one? Also, according to the NPS website, you need a permit to do photography at this level. ALSO, you cannot just leave a piano in a National Park! It is considered litter! This is why you can't have drones at NPs, because if they crash and break, they hurt all of the habitats!
PS: if you're looking to check off a non-human narrator on your reading challenge this year, the piano also narrates the story at the end. Really the cherry on top of the whole book.
I saw this book in a Little Free Library and I immediately wanted to read it, as I have also broken a bone by having a piano fall while moving it. Not something that everyone can say about themselves! If you do not share this unique quality with this book, I'm not sure it something you need to go out of your way to try and find a copy of. The storyline had a promising premise, but it did not live up to the summary on the back of the cover.
I started this book thinking that our narrator Clara was actually the annoying, callous one (which she is) and I ended this book wondering how on earth Greg managed to make enough bad choices to somehow end up even WORSE than Clara. When Clara first arrives at Death Valley, I was totally #TeamGreg. Clara stole his camera and was messing up his whole shoot! She was reneging on every single promise she had made and was being overall super annoying. Objectively, following someone for a 5 hour drive and then messing up what they are doing is crazy behavior.
Then, Greg goes and takes the cake by making very forward moves towards Clara, saying that they need to bone because they are bonded by tragedy. Really? THEN, they both jump into bed with each other, and when I say bed, I mean a pile of blankets in the back of a moving van in the middle of the desert at dawn. I wish I was kidding. I did not believe ANY of the attraction that these characters were meant to have for each other. Essentially, Greg was like "Oh hi, let me tell you about how your father was actually having an affair with my mother. Yes, it did break up your parents' marriage, but I think what the universe is trying to tell us is that we need to fuck right now." And you're telling me that WORKED for Clara?!
There were a number of things that were also factually suspicious - for example, when Greg is driving into Death Valley and the question is asked, "How did Greg know where he was going?" .... there is like one main road in Death Valley. I'm sure he was just following that one? Also, according to the NPS website, you need a permit to do photography at this level. ALSO, you cannot just leave a piano in a National Park! It is considered litter! This is why you can't have drones at NPs, because if they crash and break, they hurt all of the habitats!
PS: if you're looking to check off a non-human narrator on your reading challenge this year, the piano also narrates the story at the end. Really the cherry on top of the whole book.
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The opening scene of the novel was beautiful, and I am disappointed that the same level of prose wasn't carried through the rest of the book.
Overall I think the story lacked emotional depth for me. I like the premise, I think it had potential, but something fell flat. I wish we heard more from Katya, she was electric and Clara was bland. I was also extremely dissatisfied and frustrated with the course that Clara and Greg's relationship took.
Overall I think the story lacked emotional depth for me. I like the premise, I think it had potential, but something fell flat. I wish we heard more from Katya, she was electric and Clara was bland. I was also extremely dissatisfied and frustrated with the course that Clara and Greg's relationship took.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Physical abuse, Death of parent
Moderate: Alcoholism, Suicide, Abandonment
Minor: Fire/Fire injury
This was a great read. It's not subtle, the book is called The Weight of Piano, and it about the physical and psychological weight of a piano as a metaphor. Despite this it is not heavy handed,perhaps because it is so well written, with characters that are likeable, flawed and interesting. I notice when I'm reading books that are clumsily written I highlight passages. there was none of that here - the dialogue is smooth flowing, the descriptions of scenery beautifully done and appropriate and the plot moves at just the right pace.
I was very happy, after I finished the book, to find out that Chris Cander has already published some other novel, which i am looking forward to reading.
I recieved this as an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was very happy, after I finished the book, to find out that Chris Cander has already published some other novel, which i am looking forward to reading.
I recieved this as an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
It can crush us, that weight we carry. Maybe it’s our mother’s entire life’s belongings. Maybe it’s those family secrets or secret family members that seem to float out of their hiding places when your parents die. Maybe it’s the weight of a piano like in this sweeping saga. This tragically beautiful story reminded me it is perfectly okay to let of what holds you down. Cander’s gorgeous prose pulled me in and wouldn’t let me go. She spoke to my story, all the while weaving this musical of grief and redemption and even grace. It would have been the perfect read it not for the cringy ending. I still loved it, and the cathartic cry I had.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
medium-paced
Absolutely stunning book - it had me from the very first pages, describing the piano's birth, so to speak. Then it went back and forth, between current-day and the past, until the two ultimately meet. I found myself looking up images from areas they were traveling/had traveled, to make it even more real in my mind, but the author's descriptions were very true to life.
I was provided an ARC from First to Read and Penguin Books for my honest review.
I could not put this book down. This was my first experience reading Chris Candor and I really enjoyed his writing. The characters were well developed and the scenes were vivid. I could picture myself experiencing the story along with the characters. I really enjoyed how the piano was the main tether keeping it all together. I would recommend this book to others.
I could not put this book down. This was my first experience reading Chris Candor and I really enjoyed his writing. The characters were well developed and the scenes were vivid. I could picture myself experiencing the story along with the characters. I really enjoyed how the piano was the main tether keeping it all together. I would recommend this book to others.
I loved the opening chapter. How the two stories overlapped was interesting. I haven’t been able to figure out what I didn’t like the sections out in the desert with Greg. I preferred the parts that Katya and Claire narrated their stories and would have enjoyed more of Katya’s story. I wanted to love this book more than I did.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced