A review by bitterindigo
Us Conductors by Sean Michaels

3.0

Kind of on the fence about this one. Despite my general dislike of fictionalized accounts of actual historical figures and events (which I seem to have thrown to the winds anyway), I enjoyed learning more about the life of Lev Termen. The writing was quite lovely, but I felt more like I was observing a series of beautifully-shot cinematic scenes than following a plot with any narrative energy - and I like a little narrative energy. I found the romance with Clara really annoying too; it was like he met her and just decided to be in love with her for no apparent reason, and then spoke about her like a besotted romantic without ever detailing WHY, exactly, he was in love with her. For all I know, though, this is the way it really happened - I hated the way Hemingway and his wife called each other cutesy nicknames in The Paris Wife too, but I understand this is based in historical fact, so what can you do? All in all, I'm glad I read it, but I wish I hadn't bought it.