Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
This is an fictionalized story of scientist Lev Termen, inventor of the theramin and countless other electronic devices. Termen was also a Russian spy who spent about a decade in the US. The story is as intriguing and eerie as the instrument, moving from the 1920s dance halls of New York to the Siberian gulag. Michaels succeeded in threading both parts of the story beautifully, evoking tremendously powerful images. Highly recommended, and worthy of a reread.
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
An unusual but moving story. He did a great job of speaking with the voice of a Slav who has seen much.
Impressive debut novel about the life of Leon Termen, inventor of the theremin. Heavily fictionalized and written in two parts, the first part reminiscent of Dostoevsky and the the second part reminiscent of Solzhenitsyn. I don't have sufficient interest in physics and engineering to be fully engaged in this novel, but I couldn't abandon it either.
This was a fascinating read, based on the life of Lev Termen: brilliant physicist, musician, Soviet spy, romantic, and inventor of the theremin. Sean Michaels tells Termen's story in a way that is both sweeping in its vastness and intimate in its details, all set within a grand love story. Highly recommended for musicians and scientists, in particular!
I don't read much fiction these days, but this one was rather enjoyable, mainly because the author pens fantastic prose and has some really unique and delicious turns of phrase.
The author notes that this is a very liberal mashup of fact and utter fiction about the fascinating life of Léon Theremin (http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%A9on_Theremin), but like a "gateway drug," this book has encouraged me to explore his life in more detail and re-watch my copy of " Theremin - An Electronic Odyssey."
The author notes that this is a very liberal mashup of fact and utter fiction about the fascinating life of Léon Theremin (http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%A9on_Theremin), but like a "gateway drug," this book has encouraged me to explore his life in more detail and re-watch my copy of " Theremin - An Electronic Odyssey."
Weirdly enough my second time this year (and it's only been three months) reading a book that was a little bit too long/not edited down to the extent that it could have been, and also felt like it was trying to thread together two different parts that did not compliment each other that well. The second story begins and you're weary from making it through the first part, you know?
There was some great lines in this book though, for sure, and an interesting period of history. I did not fact check as I read, since the author was upfront about the loose use of historical details.
Overall, it was a good book. And that is all.
There was some great lines in this book though, for sure, and an interesting period of history. I did not fact check as I read, since the author was upfront about the loose use of historical details.
Overall, it was a good book. And that is all.
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I've been fascinated by the theremin for many years: it's that ethereal, otherworldly instrument that became a mainstay of 1960s sci-fi shows, and was the subject of a great documentary in the early 90s, a sound very much like the one used in Good Vibrations and the Doctor Who theme song, even though both used fake versions of what the theremin instrument actually was. I remember going to see that movie and instantly being drawn to the story. Now Sean Michaels takes it and draws so much more from the story of Lev Termen, the Russian man who created music by waving one's hands above a bunch of vacuum tubes, and Clara, the woman he falls in love with. I found the book a little tough to get into, especially since, as he admits more than once between the book's covers, it's largely made up, so I wasn't sure exactly what was real and what wasn't. After a while, it didn't matter. There are a few moments where the story slows a little too much, but it's more than made up for in some truly exquisite passages, such as his description of Charlie Chaplin curling up into a frightened ball on his couch when someone came to his house to demonstrate the sound of the instrument up close. And yet, very little of this book is actually about the theremin, and more is about Lev's love of this much younger woman, his struggles against being a Soviet but longing to be an American, and this book is one long love letter to Clara, who created more beautiful sounds from this instrument — and its creator — than anyone else ever did.