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amandall's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It’s a very slow read and I learned a lot but I wouldn’t say a good book. It makes you think and I learned and thought a lot about music. I think a music student would appreciate it far more than me.
waggeldoris's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
3.25
ridgewaygirl's review
3.0
Loosely based on the myth of Orpheus, whose musical ability saved the Argonauts and almost allowed him to rescue his lover from Hades, Orfeo tells the story of Peter Els, a talented but obscure composer who has taken up amateur genetic manipulation in retirement. Things go terribly wrong when someone spots the home lab and a government agency arrives to confiscate his equipment and question him.
This portion of the story is very much just a background to the larger story of Els' life. He's talented, but not able to take responsibility or make decisions for himself. His life path is determined by a girlfriend, his divorce by his inability to forge his own path or to take his life seriously. I was frustrated by the character, who came across as less of a valiant hero and more as a guy who just goes wherever the wind takes him. Had he been younger, he would have been the classic slacker dude, just wanting to make his music and letting a series of disillusioned girlfriends make the big decisions.
Els has one good friend in his life, although at the time the book opens they have not spoken for eighteen years, a hot-headed choreographer who pushes Els to greater accomplishments, even as his blowhard style causes them to constantly fall out.
There is a great deal of music described in this book. Music, like visual art, is difficult, if not impossible, to describe with words if the reader hasn't experienced those works for themselves. I wish there had been a way for Richard Powers to communicate the deep love and understanding Els has for music without the detailed descriptions, which made up a large portion of the book. Maybe he should have gone further and incorporated the music into the text somehow (shouldn't this be possible with an ebook or an audiobook?). There was a theme of our shrinking attention spans, which is echoes in Powers' use of brief snippets of Els' thoughts to break up the book into segments instead of chapter breaks.
I can see why Richard Powers has the reputation he does and why the Booker Prize committee has put Orfeo on their long list. But my appreciation of his skill remains more theoretical than actual. I'm glad I've read something by this author, but I don't have any plans to renew the acquaintanceship.
This portion of the story is very much just a background to the larger story of Els' life. He's talented, but not able to take responsibility or make decisions for himself. His life path is determined by a girlfriend, his divorce by his inability to forge his own path or to take his life seriously. I was frustrated by the character, who came across as less of a valiant hero and more as a guy who just goes wherever the wind takes him. Had he been younger, he would have been the classic slacker dude, just wanting to make his music and letting a series of disillusioned girlfriends make the big decisions.
Els has one good friend in his life, although at the time the book opens they have not spoken for eighteen years, a hot-headed choreographer who pushes Els to greater accomplishments, even as his blowhard style causes them to constantly fall out.
There is a great deal of music described in this book. Music, like visual art, is difficult, if not impossible, to describe with words if the reader hasn't experienced those works for themselves. I wish there had been a way for Richard Powers to communicate the deep love and understanding Els has for music without the detailed descriptions, which made up a large portion of the book. Maybe he should have gone further and incorporated the music into the text somehow (shouldn't this be possible with an ebook or an audiobook?). There was a theme of our shrinking attention spans, which is echoes in Powers' use of brief snippets of Els' thoughts to break up the book into segments instead of chapter breaks.
I can see why Richard Powers has the reputation he does and why the Booker Prize committee has put Orfeo on their long list. But my appreciation of his skill remains more theoretical than actual. I'm glad I've read something by this author, but I don't have any plans to renew the acquaintanceship.
jenmarta's review
5.0
Wonderfully written. The lyricism of the prose was odd at first, but delving into the story deeper, it fit perfectly with the characters and themes. As soon as I was finished, I wanted to read it again.
slnewman89's review against another edition
3.0
I thought this was definitely an interesting read, especially given my dual love of classical music and microbiology (but conversely to Peter Els, microbiology is my career and music is a hobby). I learned a lot and I liked the narrative that took us through his life. While I enjoyed this book, I'm not sure that I would recommend it to others, mostly because although interesting, it on the whole wasn't all that compelling.
lbcaterson's review
5.0
This is one of the most beautiful and intense books ever written.
Powers is incredible and the brilliance he possesses is on full display here, anyone who rates this less than 4 stars did not understand it.
Powers is incredible and the brilliance he possesses is on full display here, anyone who rates this less than 4 stars did not understand it.
amycrea's review against another edition
3.0
My rating of this varies throughout the book. There are some spots I'd rank 5 stars. Powers is an incredible writer. This tale of an elderly man, avant-garde composer and chemistry enthusiast, who finds himself the subject of a Homeland Security-type search after his attempts to discover music in bacteria are misinterpreted, has some hypnotic moments and wonderful characters. It also has some intensely long, deep segments about composing, which were waaaaaaay over my head. Powers also not only used one of my pet peeves--no quotation marks--he upped the ante by having all dialogue in italics. Which served no purpose that I can see.
Still, I'm glad I read it, as the parts that I would have ranked 5 stars were well worth the read.
Still, I'm glad I read it, as the parts that I would have ranked 5 stars were well worth the read.
anitawerner81's review against another edition
2.0
I don't know what to think of this book. I did not really like it but at the same time I wanted to finish and know what the ending was all about. At the end I feel that I really didn't get it! Very good writing maybe just not for me.
aleffert's review
3.0
Definitely lesser Powers. Some of the passages really sing, but as a story it's nothing. The protagonist sucks. I don't just mean he's a bad person though he is, but he's also boring. In theory he's obsessed, and this book is interested in artistic obsession, in the pursuit of the genuinely new, a topic dear to my heart. But then he'll go like two decades just kind of dicking around doing nothing. If he were less incompetent he wouldn't have had to make such dumb life choices that were supposed to be dramatic. I suppose you could look at it as a tragedy, but I don't think that's how it played. This also results in a skipping stone of a narrative that's hard to hold onto.
Also, I've heard a lot of avant-garde music and I'm sorry like I know avant-garde people get excited about it, but wow it didn't help me care
Also, I've heard a lot of avant-garde music and I'm sorry like I know avant-garde people get excited about it, but wow it didn't help me care