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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
Sean Michaels’ debut novel, Us Conductors, is a fictionalised account of the life of Russian engineer and physicist Lev Sergeyevich Termen (1896-1993) — later known as Leon Theremin — who invented the electronic musical instrument that takes his name: the theremin*. After living in the US for many years, he was repatriated to Russia and imprisoned in a gulag, where he worked in a secret laboratory inventing devices for Soviet espionage.
A book featuring a scientist as the lead character may sound like a strange concept, but it works extraordinarily well, probably because Michaels gives Dr Theremin such a compelling voice — part arrogant, part naive, often bewildered and constantly lovelorn — and adds a few fictionalised elements to his character — he practices kung fu, for instance — which gives the story an almost surreal quality.
I’m going to be completely up front and stake my colours to the mast, or the flag to the pole, or whatever that saying is and confess that this is my favourite novel on this year’s Giller Prize shortlist. It’s the kind of book that takes you on an adventure and is told in such a refreshingly intimate way that I felt slightly bereft when I finished the book (about a month ago) because I did not want the journey to end. And ever since, I’ve been thinking about Lev/Leon and marvelling at his extraordinary life.
To read the rest of my review, please visit my blog.
A book featuring a scientist as the lead character may sound like a strange concept, but it works extraordinarily well, probably because Michaels gives Dr Theremin such a compelling voice — part arrogant, part naive, often bewildered and constantly lovelorn — and adds a few fictionalised elements to his character — he practices kung fu, for instance — which gives the story an almost surreal quality.
I’m going to be completely up front and stake my colours to the mast, or the flag to the pole, or whatever that saying is and confess that this is my favourite novel on this year’s Giller Prize shortlist. It’s the kind of book that takes you on an adventure and is told in such a refreshingly intimate way that I felt slightly bereft when I finished the book (about a month ago) because I did not want the journey to end. And ever since, I’ve been thinking about Lev/Leon and marvelling at his extraordinary life.
To read the rest of my review, please visit my blog.
I find it really hard to describe my reaction to this book. I'm not sure that I could even write a full review and convey my feelings properly. It's not like it's a book full of non-stop excitement, but I could not put it down and was totally mesmerized from start to finish. Sean Michaels just has such an incredible way with words that makes the story and the characters come to life on the page. Everything is interesting - the people, their relationships and the events that shape their lives, the time period, and of course the Theremin itself. It was like no other book I have ever read! I would definitely recommend it.
There seems to be a trend (perhaps inspired by Hollywood) of taking real people and fictionalizing parts of their lives. It was interesting, but the entire second half seemed like an after thought or very disjointed from the first.
Le son du thérémine n'est rien d'autre qu'un pur courant électrique. C'est le chant de l'éclair tapi dans les nuages. Jamais sa mélodie ne vacille ni ne s'épuise; elle persiste, reste, tient, dure, s'attarde. Elle ne vous abandonne jamais. (p. 26)
Je ne lis pas beaucoup de livres traduits de l'anglais vers le français, alors je ne sais pas si c'est Catherine Leroux qui est une traductrice particulièrement aguerrie ou moi qui ai trop lu de mauvaises traductions dans ma prime jeunesse, mais la prose de ce roman m'a semblée si fine & coulante & belle que j'ai encore de la difficulté à croire que je ne l'ai pas lu en version originale. Ah la magie des gens qui font bien leur travail...! Merci Catherine.
Mais pour parler plus directement de Corps conducteurs: on y suit Léon-Lev Thérémine, inventeur de l'instrument du même nom (& d'une panoplie d'autres machines & dispositifs), qui caracole dans une vie à demi-inventée par l'auteur -- laquelle comprend l'Institut physico-technique d'une Petrograd pré-révolutionnaire, le New York des années 20 & 30, une maîtrise certaine du kung fu, un gros orteil savamment trempé dans le monde de l'espionnage, un grand amour (peut-être) à sens unique, Lénine le gentil & Béria le méchant, la Kolyma, la misère existentielle, & de la musique partout, tout le temps, des airs éthérés qui enveloppent les phrases & les alourdissent juste assez, le poids d'une plume sur une joue ou d'une chanson dans le creux de l'oreille, pour qu'elles s'ancrent en nous.
Il y a quelque chose que j'aime beaucoup dans cette idée d'une biographie ré-imaginée: se donner le droit de faire un pied-de-nez à la vérité, peut-être, de jouer avec le basé sur une histoire vraie qui nous poursuit partout. Se permettre d'injecter dans le récit des éléments qui relèvent presque de l'absurde (le kung-fu, pour n'en nommer qu'un) -- mais, en même temps, s'attarder à décrire avec minutie & souplesse aussi bien la joyeuse fébrilité du Manhattan des années folles que l'horreur anxiogène des camps du Goulag. Un équilibre joliment précaire, préservé par une prose vive & élégante.
Quel livre magnifique, vraiment.
Une partie de moi s'étonne que la souffrance puisse exister ailleurs que dans les camps. Manhattan est situé à cent trente-six degrés de longitude de la Kolyma et malgré cela, là-bas, nous avions l'audace de pleurer. (p. 295)
I've never heard much about the guy who invented the theremin, but I've always thought it was a cool instrument. I really enjoyed this book, and now I want to a) build my own theremin and b) read the biography of Theremin recommended by the author.
A great combination of a compelling story and historical interest about life in Russia/Soviet Union in the first part of the 20th century.
OK so 3.5 rounded up to 4.
This is an odd book for a few reasons. I found that because it is based on a true person, true history and then fictionalized, I kept wondering how much was true and what wasn't true. And that detracts from the book for me.
It's the story of Leon Theremin, the inventor of lots of things, most famously the musical instrument the theremin. A Russian scientist, he invents and patents a wide variety of creations, gets invited to tour and ends up living in the U.S. for many years, presumably with the approval of the Russians. According to this book, he virtually gets kidnapped by the Russians in the U.S., convicted of spying for the Americans, sent to the Gulag, back to Moscow and finally released to live a "normal" life.
The book unfolds as a letter he is writing to his long-lost unrequited love, Clara. She took up theremin lessons in New York with Leon and became the person who played and interpreted the instrument the best. Apparently he really did propose marriage to her. She refused and went on to marry someone else.
The first half of the book describes his time in New York mainly with a few descriptions of the tours he had there. While the bare bones of this is true, the author had to imagine the time Theremin spent, making up visits to jazz clubs, dating Clara, meeting influential Americans, and liaising with his Russian handlers. This is all happening in the late 1920s and into the 1930s and 40s.
The second half then describes the horror of his Gulag imprisonment, a la Solzhenitsyn. This part is simply appalling and one that I was able to skim over quickly. Things become better once he is transferred to the "scientist prison" in Moscow but he is still a prisoner. The inhumanity of the Russian prison system is made very clear (not that prisons anywhere are any better).
What did I like? The story is intriguing and I liked the writing. I knew nothing about the person Theremin or his history and next to nothing about the instrument.
What did I not like? I'm not fond of fictionalized history that leaves me wondering what's real and what's not. I also find such obsession with another person, as the author described Theremin to be with Clara to be downright unnerving. I kept saying "get over her for god's sake" constantly throughout the book.
Would I recommend it? Not really. Even with my 4 star rating. As I said, it's odd.
This is an odd book for a few reasons. I found that because it is based on a true person, true history and then fictionalized, I kept wondering how much was true and what wasn't true. And that detracts from the book for me.
It's the story of Leon Theremin, the inventor of lots of things, most famously the musical instrument the theremin. A Russian scientist, he invents and patents a wide variety of creations, gets invited to tour and ends up living in the U.S. for many years, presumably with the approval of the Russians. According to this book, he virtually gets kidnapped by the Russians in the U.S., convicted of spying for the Americans, sent to the Gulag, back to Moscow and finally released to live a "normal" life.
The book unfolds as a letter he is writing to his long-lost unrequited love, Clara. She took up theremin lessons in New York with Leon and became the person who played and interpreted the instrument the best. Apparently he really did propose marriage to her. She refused and went on to marry someone else.
The first half of the book describes his time in New York mainly with a few descriptions of the tours he had there. While the bare bones of this is true, the author had to imagine the time Theremin spent, making up visits to jazz clubs, dating Clara, meeting influential Americans, and liaising with his Russian handlers. This is all happening in the late 1920s and into the 1930s and 40s.
The second half then describes the horror of his Gulag imprisonment, a la Solzhenitsyn. This part is simply appalling and one that I was able to skim over quickly. Things become better once he is transferred to the "scientist prison" in Moscow but he is still a prisoner. The inhumanity of the Russian prison system is made very clear (not that prisons anywhere are any better).
What did I like? The story is intriguing and I liked the writing. I knew nothing about the person Theremin or his history and next to nothing about the instrument.
What did I not like? I'm not fond of fictionalized history that leaves me wondering what's real and what's not. I also find such obsession with another person, as the author described Theremin to be with Clara to be downright unnerving. I kept saying "get over her for god's sake" constantly throughout the book.
Would I recommend it? Not really. Even with my 4 star rating. As I said, it's odd.