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jenna_ezz's review against another edition
2.0
there were probably 50 pages about Beethoven. the rest were about WWII & the people who cut his hair.
billmc's review against another edition
3.0
This is an entertaining, well-written combination of European history and Beethoven's life.
wonderwhimp's review against another edition
3.0
Learn about Beethoven and his life and death through DNA testing of his hair.
jenniferstringer's review against another edition
3.0
"Seriously, mama? You are reading a book about a ratty piece of hair." Grace Stringer
guk's review against another edition
4.0
This was a fun mystery interspersed with biographical material on the great musician. I wasn't surprised by the outcome of the DNA analysis on the hair samples but the mystery of how the artifact made it to Denmark during WWII was fascinating. I was also impressed with the modern day owners of the hair and how they turned their obsession with Beethoven into a world class museum at San Jose State.
janellejoy's review against another edition
4.0
I have to admit, I really enjoyed this book. After reading a friend's review, I wondered if I should even finish it. I would agree this book isn't for everyone. Looking through other reviews, I would say you either love the book or hate it. The history of the Danish people helping the Jews during WW2 was fascinating to me. I also loved hearing about Beethoven's relationship with other composers. I have played much of their music, but didn't know anything about them. Following Beethoven's hair around the world finally ending in Tucson, Arizona made for an interesting read. So, sorry to my good friend who read the book after I said I was interested in it. Maybe next time we will be on the same page.
rachelevolve's review against another edition
1.0
I was excited to read this book, but it was quite boring. I got through it out of sheer curiosity to see what ultimately ended up happening to the sample of his lock. still, not interesting enough to have to read an entire subject about it. The book focused more on the history of the ownership of the hair, rather than the actual hair DNA, which is what I was in search of.
thehappybooker's review against another edition
4.0
Interesting and heartbreaking, but dragged a bit in places, or else I was just too distracted at the time I read it to pay enough attention.
blackorwa's review against another edition
4.0
An extraordinary story of the journey taken by a lock of Beethoven's hair snipped by a young musician at the death of the maestro.
clintonchanges's review against another edition
1.0
I love classical music, I love Beethoven, and I love reading. I hated this book.
First, the existential issue: as other reviewers have noted, there’s not enough material here for a full length book. Martin himself seems to know this, why else the endless repetitions and forays into areas unrelated to the book’s subject? The core narrative of the book is worth telling, but an editor might have suggested not just trimming the length of this book but its reworking into a magazine article or an appearance in a scholarly journal.
Just one other complaint worth mentioning: why does the author insist on the awkward use of the pluperfect tense in his historical narrative? It’s maddening. The constant use of HAD HAD HAD for no reason whatsoever is enough to make you quit reading entirely, and I assume many readers did.
Save yourself the trouble and read Lockwood’s “The Music and the Life”, my favorite Beethoven biography. Do better next time Mr. Martin!
First, the existential issue: as other reviewers have noted, there’s not enough material here for a full length book. Martin himself seems to know this, why else the endless repetitions and forays into areas unrelated to the book’s subject? The core narrative of the book is worth telling, but an editor might have suggested not just trimming the length of this book but its reworking into a magazine article or an appearance in a scholarly journal.
Just one other complaint worth mentioning: why does the author insist on the awkward use of the pluperfect tense in his historical narrative? It’s maddening. The constant use of HAD HAD HAD for no reason whatsoever is enough to make you quit reading entirely, and I assume many readers did.
Save yourself the trouble and read Lockwood’s “The Music and the Life”, my favorite Beethoven biography. Do better next time Mr. Martin!