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The Ensemble by Aja Gabel was my real life bookclub read for the month. I wouldn't have finished the book except for really wanting to discuss it, and it did make for a really nice discussion! This book had alternating storylines that mirrored musical collaboration in a string ensemble, which was really intriguing, but the writing did not hold things together for me. This is one of those books that started as a great idea but was poorly executed.
Loved the music stuff but the characters never came alive and felt fully three-dimensional.
slow-paced
This should be a quick, spoiler-free review because I genuinely just thought this book was average as far as adult contemporary novels go. I wasn't particularly drawn in by the story, but I wasn't put off enough to stop reading it entirely. It was just somewhere in the middle for me, which is not something I experience very often when reading.
This novel follows a handful of characters. I say a "handful" because it starts off following the two female perspectives, then both male perspectives, and then the last few chapters are a jumble of all four plus a third female that is married to one of the males. Make sense? If you said no, that's because you're right. The structure of perspectives was specified at the start of each chapter, yet sometimes the Gabel switched whose perspective was in charge halfway through a chapter and then went back to them, and then she added a whole new perspective 50 pages from the end of the book. The writing felt sloppy to me, and I can give the benefit of the doubt because this is a debut, but it felt like there could have been some better organization.
Read my full spoiler-free review here: https://ladykatiereads.wordpress.com/2019/05/24/lets-talk-about-the-ensemble-by-aja-gabel-spoiler-free-review
This novel follows a handful of characters. I say a "handful" because it starts off following the two female perspectives, then both male perspectives, and then the last few chapters are a jumble of all four plus a third female that is married to one of the males. Make sense? If you said no, that's because you're right. The structure of perspectives was specified at the start of each chapter, yet sometimes the Gabel switched whose perspective was in charge halfway through a chapter and then went back to them, and then she added a whole new perspective 50 pages from the end of the book. The writing felt sloppy to me, and I can give the benefit of the doubt because this is a debut, but it felt like there could have been some better organization.
Read my full spoiler-free review here: https://ladykatiereads.wordpress.com/2019/05/24/lets-talk-about-the-ensemble-by-aja-gabel-spoiler-free-review
I love the way this book was written. Lyrical language and musical metaphors galore. Henry, Jana, Brit and Daniel felt real to me - their ambitions, flaws, insecurities and strengths were crystal clear. Loved the humanity of this book.
“Blessed with the kind of talent that guided his life decisions for him..”
“Stories always filled you up.”
“Stories always filled you up.”
3.5 - I recommend the Spotify playlist Shimmering Strings while you read this one. For fans of Meg Wolitzer and Lauren Groff.
This was a surprise and a treat. I read the whole thing in a work day (before work, during lunch, after work) and I think that’s a first for me.
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes