Piano-centric novel? Partita by Barbara Kingsolver

[ShiroKuro]

I just heard about this book, Partita by Barbara Kingsolver,
https://www.amazon.com/Partita-Novel-Barbara-Kingsolver/dp/B0GNP1MGLY/ref=mp_s_a_1_1

The main character, now middle aged, was a piano student at a music university and music apparently plays an important role in the story.

It looks like the audio book version includes music. From the Amazon page:

Featuring six new recordings of classic works by Frédéric Chopin, Maurice Ravel, Edvard Grieg, Erik Satie, and Johann Sebastian Bach, recorded by Han Chen.

I just got the audio book, so I’ll report back once I start listening.

[AdagioM]

I have this book on my kindle from the library, but I’m finishing something else before I dive in. NYTimes had a nice review.

[ShiroKuro]

@AdagioM I'm especially curious about the music audio, but an admittedly cursory internet search revealed no specific info....

[ShiroKuro]

I changed my search approach and found this:

https://www.musicalamerica.com/news/newsstory.cfm?storyid=69226&categoryid=5&archived=0

the audiobook edition of PARTITA by Barbara Kingsolver features classical recordings from Grammy-nominated pianist Han Chen throughout with a 6-minute recording of “Ondine” from Maurice Ravel’s “Gaspard de la nuit” at the end of the book.

[Mik]

My SIL was friends with her at DePauw. Not sure if they kept in touch.

[ShiroKuro]

@Mik said:

My SIL was friends with her at DePauw.

Interesting!

I don't read a lot of fiction in English, so this is the first time I've heard of her as an author (my mother actually shared the info about the new book with me, which is how I learned of it).

[AdagioM]

The Times review goes over a lot of the plot, so I’m not going to link it. But there’s also an interview with Kingsolver and Yiyun Li, whose new novel “Music Against the Night” is about John Field (nocturnes) and Adelaide Percheron, his eventual wife.

Li is learning to play the piano.

So I’ve put that on hold at the library, too.

[kluurs]

I just finished the audiobook. I liked it. She studied piano - and it comes through. There's a little bit of music interlaced into the audiobook - but not a lot - mostly, very brief excerpts. I recommend it.

[ShiroKuro]

I think I’ll start it tmrw. Thanks for leaving out the spoilers, @adagiom and @kluurs !

[Jodi]

I love Barbara Kingsolver. I haven’t read anything by her in ages. The last book I read by her was Animal Vegetable Mineral. I also loved The Poisonwood Bible (both gardener related). Bean Trees, Prodigal Summer and Animal Dreams are the others Ive read, all when we lived in Idaho in the 90’s! But she’s written tons more. I will definitely check this latest one out. I’ve been using Steve’s new Kindle. I didn’t think I’d like it, but it’s really nice to read from. I may have to get my own the next time they are on sale.