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thebadenglishmajor 's review for:
The Weight of a Piano
by Chris Cander
Since I've been reading dense non fiction lately, I decided to give myself a break with some good 'ol historical fiction. I was intrigued by the synopsis from the moment I read it, but after seeing that Cander was a fellow Houstonian, I had to get my hands on it. As a book polygamist, It is rare that I start and finish a book in one go. But let me say, this book was one of the rare ones.
SYNOPSIS
This masterpiece follows the multi-decade timeline of Katya and Clara, both bound -emotionally and physically- to a Blüthner piano. Katya, a Russian immigrant in the 70’s, looses her beloved Blüthner piano during the move to the U.S. and now must navigate her abusive husband and precarious situation without the one thing that gives her joy. Clara is a modern day mechanic that moves around with her Blüthner from relationship to relationship, unable to let go of the only thing her father gave her before her parents tragic death. This story shows the emotional and physical weight the piano both women are unable to load, all while navigating through, abusive relationships, overcoming loss, and coming into ones own.
VERDICT
To start, Cander decides to tell her story from the perspective of her two leading ladies: Katya and Clara by alternating between them with the chapters. I really admired this move because just as I was ending one chapter, I would be left with a cliff hanger that I had to follow through the next two chapters to resolve. This format kept the story moving and kept both her characters fresh in your mind.
Next, I have to highlight her research: A+ all across the board. Since this books story relies on the Russian language, intense knowledge about pianos, and detailed mechanic lingo, Cander had to step up to the plate. Her readers could tell if she did not do this properly. But she went above and beyond, you could tell that her - and more importantly her characters - knew exactly what they were talking about. This level of research made her story a step above the rest.
Overall this book is a breath of fresh air. Cander's story telling, intense research, and character development transformed this historical link story into a heart wrenching path of coming into ones own.
SYNOPSIS
This masterpiece follows the multi-decade timeline of Katya and Clara, both bound -emotionally and physically- to a Blüthner piano. Katya, a Russian immigrant in the 70’s, looses her beloved Blüthner piano during the move to the U.S. and now must navigate her abusive husband and precarious situation without the one thing that gives her joy. Clara is a modern day mechanic that moves around with her Blüthner from relationship to relationship, unable to let go of the only thing her father gave her before her parents tragic death. This story shows the emotional and physical weight the piano both women are unable to load, all while navigating through, abusive relationships, overcoming loss, and coming into ones own.
VERDICT
To start, Cander decides to tell her story from the perspective of her two leading ladies: Katya and Clara by alternating between them with the chapters. I really admired this move because just as I was ending one chapter, I would be left with a cliff hanger that I had to follow through the next two chapters to resolve. This format kept the story moving and kept both her characters fresh in your mind.
Next, I have to highlight her research: A+ all across the board. Since this books story relies on the Russian language, intense knowledge about pianos, and detailed mechanic lingo, Cander had to step up to the plate. Her readers could tell if she did not do this properly. But she went above and beyond, you could tell that her - and more importantly her characters - knew exactly what they were talking about. This level of research made her story a step above the rest.
Overall this book is a breath of fresh air. Cander's story telling, intense research, and character development transformed this historical link story into a heart wrenching path of coming into ones own.