Scan barcode
melissadoe1's review
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
5.0
I was excited to read this book and was not let down. However it might not be as interesting to non piano players/non musicians.
dollythornton's review
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
3.75
dorothygrace's review
hopeful
inspiring
slow-paced
2.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Cancer, War, and Murder
taotoo's review
5.0
While the technical details of piano playing could be tough to understand for a non-musician, I enjoyed the manifesto on the value of amateurism and hobbies and the narrative of trying to explore his own pursuit, both in making time for it and in delving into the hobby itself. Easy to get past the name-dropping if you can enjoy it as a story of intellectual and creative curiosity geeking out in an unfamiliar field. Can't explain why, but the book feels unapologetically British.
louissb's review
4.0
Rusbridger does an impressive job of turning an inherently boring process - the tedious grind of learning a difficult piano piece - into a fairly coherent narrative that underpins an ebbing-and-flowing musing on the place of (classical) music and its surrounding culture in modern lives. One of the highlights is his enviable address book, which makes for fascinating and educational interviews along the way. His musical skill is evidently greater than his self-deprecation will let on, but the sense of boyish amateurism (mostly) saves the book from pretension, especially as it contrasts with the real world demands of a very busy period for journalism.
In general Rusbridger balances the subject of the book with the backdrop well, although occasionally the focus on his work strayed into self-indulgent (or even self-righteous) territory - I imagine the vast majority of readers will be drawn principally by the musical element. But overall an easy and entertaining book.
In general Rusbridger balances the subject of the book with the backdrop well, although occasionally the focus on his work strayed into self-indulgent (or even self-righteous) territory - I imagine the vast majority of readers will be drawn principally by the musical element. But overall an easy and entertaining book.