- Hardcover: 256 pages
- Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC (3 July 2006)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0747580898
- ISBN-13: 978-0747580898
- Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 15.5 x 3.3 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,139,080 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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More About the Author
Product Description
Sunday Telegraph
Williams takes us to the heart of the creative condition…He writes intelligently and sensitively about music and the musical world.
Review
Praise for SEX & GENIUS by Conrad Williams, published by Bloomsbury, 2002: 'A gripping piece of work, written with style and panache.' Sunday Telegraph 'Enthralling compelling An accomplished debut, bringing ideas about principles into the ultimate modern day setting.' Big Issue 'Absorbingly interesting, tense The Hollywood grotesques provide darkly comic relief, their brittle world drawn convincingly and colourfully.' TLS 'Gripping, intelligent and highly enjoyable' The Times
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The Concert Pianist chronicles the mid-life crisis of a famous pianist. The writing is mostly good and very descriptive. In places it is really beautiful, particularly in its descriptions of music and the emotions it creates. The descriptions of sound here are the best I've found, really capturing the brilliance of a great classical piece in words. The emotional descriptions are also good.
However, it is rather heavy going in places, perhaps because of its largely introspective subject matter. The arrival and role of a stunningly attractive, young, intelligent and sympathetic agent stretches credibility rather too far and detracts from the overall integrity of the story.
The central character, Philip, is believable enough and the descriptions of what it takes to be a top class musician are interesting. Some of the other characters are interesting and credible, and the parts describing the tragedy which haunts Philip's life are quite moving.
Musicians and performers will particularly appreciate the musical elements of the story. However those with little knowledge of or interest in classical music may find the pages devoted to descriptions of pieces very dull.
However, it is rather heavy going in places, perhaps because of its largely introspective subject matter. The arrival and role of a stunningly attractive, young, intelligent and sympathetic agent stretches credibility rather too far and detracts from the overall integrity of the story.
The central character, Philip, is believable enough and the descriptions of what it takes to be a top class musician are interesting. Some of the other characters are interesting and credible, and the parts describing the tragedy which haunts Philip's life are quite moving.
Musicians and performers will particularly appreciate the musical elements of the story. However those with little knowledge of or interest in classical music may find the pages devoted to descriptions of pieces very dull.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
For me, The Concert Pianist is about a man reflecting on the potential of a life not lived. His life has led him down a path that has been rewarding professionally but as he struggles to see off rivals, cope with a tragedy and his own mortality, he reflects on what he may have experienced if he had taken a different road.
I found it a moving story and found the sex more joyful than gratuitous - as he reconnects with his world- although I did find some of the painstaking descriptions of complicated musical passages so laborious, that I skipped quite a few.
But overall, this book stayed with me after I had closed it - and I like that!
I found it a moving story and found the sex more joyful than gratuitous - as he reconnects with his world- although I did find some of the painstaking descriptions of complicated musical passages so laborious, that I skipped quite a few.
But overall, this book stayed with me after I had closed it - and I like that!
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is well written. The author's writing is always clear and direct. His musical descriptions are interesting, particularly for those who love the classical piano.
The opening chapters, describing the fairly horrific life of the concert pianist are a splendid read and make those of us who play the piano for enjoyment glad that we never took it too seriously. They also make us grateful to those who did and, as Mr Williams points out, sacrificed so many other pleasures of life.
Unfortunately the book then descends into woman's magazine psychology. Parenthood, Mr Williams, suits the majority of people but it is not a panacea. There are many people who go through life without children and still lead happy, fulfilled and interesting lives.
The end of the book then contains gratuitous scenes of sex - quite unnecessary to the character of the tale and the style of the book. Pity.
Thanks for the first half, anyway!
Roger Derek Williams
The opening chapters, describing the fairly horrific life of the concert pianist are a splendid read and make those of us who play the piano for enjoyment glad that we never took it too seriously. They also make us grateful to those who did and, as Mr Williams points out, sacrificed so many other pleasures of life.
Unfortunately the book then descends into woman's magazine psychology. Parenthood, Mr Williams, suits the majority of people but it is not a panacea. There are many people who go through life without children and still lead happy, fulfilled and interesting lives.
The end of the book then contains gratuitous scenes of sex - quite unnecessary to the character of the tale and the style of the book. Pity.
Thanks for the first half, anyway!
Roger Derek Williams
Most Recent Customer Reviews
What winners lose
In many professions there are sacrifices to be made to reach the top and stay there. This book begs the question - are they worth it? Read more
Published on 1 Sep 2008 by jeannie-bee
Literary highlight of the year
In The Concert Pianist, Conrad Williams has pulled off a complex balancing act with great style. He has written a compelling portrait of an ordinary man with an extraordinary... Read more
Published on 6 Jan 2007 by M. Roberts
A Masterpiece
THE CONCERT PIANIST By Conrad Williams
Reviewed by David Sherwin - Writer of `If....'
This novel is a masterpiece. Read more
Reviewed by David Sherwin - Writer of `If....'
This novel is a masterpiece. Read more
Published on 27 Aug 2006 by Mr. David N. Sherwin
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