nicoleisalwaysreading 's review for:

The Ensemble by Aja Gabel

2.0

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the way this books describes music and the way those who play it get lost inside it, or found in it, is beautiful. but overall, I think it's overwritten, sacrificing singular moments of enlightenment for a "literary" feel with lots of rolling, sweeping descriptions. when there is a poignant moment, it sinks amongst the flowery sentences surrounding it.

i really contemplated not finishing and would note that this novel really only hits its stride in the last third.