- Hardcover: 640 pages
- Publisher: William Heinemann Ltd; 1st Edition edition (6 Mar 2003)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 043401060X
- ISBN-13: 978-0434010608
- Product Dimensions: 24 x 16.2 x 5.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 555,136 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
The Time of Our Singing: A Novel
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle .
Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
Product details |
More About the Author
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Richard Powers' novel The Time of Our Singing has had the kind of pre-publishing hype that few literary novels enjoy. "One of the greatest American novels ever written" is the sort of praise that has been laid at the feet of this one, but this enthusiasm for the work of Richard Powers is nothing new. In books such as Plowing the Dark, Powers has shown himself capable of a remarkable balancing act: his books have had a strong scientific underpinning, carefully balanced with allusions to classical art and couched in narratives that have the sweep of the great nineteenth-century novelists. Here, the complex plot manages to take in the demands of artistic talent, familial conflict and a nation divided by racism.
The central character is Jonah Strom, a highly talented tenor of mixed-race born to Jewish physicist David Strom (who has fled Germany) and Delia Dailey, a middle-class black opera singer. The relationship of Jonah's parents began at the famous recital given by the great black soprano Marion Anderson when she was rejected by the classical music establishment. David and Delia are very different people, but their love of music becomes central to the lives of their sons; the singer Jonah and his younger brother Joseph, who becomes a pianist and accompanies his brother. While Jonah struggles for the acceptance of the white establishment, his rebellious younger sister Ruth takes a different path and confronts the issues of race in her life by marrying a Black Panther and taking on her enemies. It is left to Joseph to find an accommodation somewhere between these two extremes.
While all the younger characters here are drawn with the kind of lucid detail that is Powers’ particular speciality, the real skill of the narrative lies in the parents David and Delia. The former is, in fact, the most richly drawn character, with his humanity and intellect triumphantly brought to life. The discursive narrative needs careful attention from the reader, and this is not a book for those seeking undemanding reading. But the rewards here are many: this is a biting and exuberant novel that isn't afraid to tackle many uncomfortable issues. --Barry Forshaw
Glenn Collins, Pan Bookshop
'...a work of genius...'
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Suggested Tags from Similar Products(What's this?)Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I rate this as one of the best books I have ever read, and I'm not young, nor an infrequent reader. It affected me deeply and took me to places in myself that are rarely touched.
The surface appearance is of a novel about racism and the difficulties it creates for those of mixed race. Even here, where one might expect little that is new, I feel that fresh insights and perspectives were offered. But underneath that surface is an examination of the very roots and resonances of identity, the relationship of an individual or group with artistic experience and cultural heritage, and a deep examination of what America is (as distinct from what it pretends or sometimes aspires to be) and of the threads of racial, cultural and religious arrogance which continue to inhabit American thinking.
It is a demanding read and one which probably benefits from a few years of life experience. There is much allusion to classical music, which while it does not require knowledge does demand patience with one's lack of it and the same might be said of the occasional scientific references. It is long book, but in my view not remotely "saggy" as one reviewer describes it. Its richness derives in part from taking the time to examine many facets and present the story (although narrated by one voice) from several character's perspectives.
I am not black, but would think this is a "must-read" for anyone who is, and perhaps for anyone who is of any form of non-white or mixed heritage (whether racially or culturally). Though maybe I shouldn't have said that, because this is fundamentally about being human and finding or recognising one's identity, and about what identity might mean to others. So just a must-read for human beings then.
I should not close without mentioning that the writing itself is quite beautiful, filled with poetic crystallised expressions and that the understandings of music and science are woven in with illumination and meaning. I am astonished that Richard Powers is not more widely acclaimed and that I discovered this book only by accident. I will be reading more of him.
The surface appearance is of a novel about racism and the difficulties it creates for those of mixed race. Even here, where one might expect little that is new, I feel that fresh insights and perspectives were offered. But underneath that surface is an examination of the very roots and resonances of identity, the relationship of an individual or group with artistic experience and cultural heritage, and a deep examination of what America is (as distinct from what it pretends or sometimes aspires to be) and of the threads of racial, cultural and religious arrogance which continue to inhabit American thinking.
It is a demanding read and one which probably benefits from a few years of life experience. There is much allusion to classical music, which while it does not require knowledge does demand patience with one's lack of it and the same might be said of the occasional scientific references. It is long book, but in my view not remotely "saggy" as one reviewer describes it. Its richness derives in part from taking the time to examine many facets and present the story (although narrated by one voice) from several character's perspectives.
I am not black, but would think this is a "must-read" for anyone who is, and perhaps for anyone who is of any form of non-white or mixed heritage (whether racially or culturally). Though maybe I shouldn't have said that, because this is fundamentally about being human and finding or recognising one's identity, and about what identity might mean to others. So just a must-read for human beings then.
I should not close without mentioning that the writing itself is quite beautiful, filled with poetic crystallised expressions and that the understandings of music and science are woven in with illumination and meaning. I am astonished that Richard Powers is not more widely acclaimed and that I discovered this book only by accident. I will be reading more of him.
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A fabulous, almost overwhelmingly inventive piece of writing, rich in metaphors and ideas. One of the best, and most interesting books I have read in a long time. This is much more accessible and lyrical than DeLilo, and more inventive in its use of language, without being obscure. Powers tells the story well of the two brothers trying to defend themselves against the disharmony of the world, and of the relationships within their family, with the harmony of their music. Also, an interesting document of the American Civil Rights movement.
Reservations - sometimes the writing is almost too dense. I found myself wishing from time to time for a simple description rather than clever metaphors and allusions. And can anyone please tell me why it is that all (and I think it is nearly ALL! - DeLilo' Underworld, Atwood's Oryx and Crake, Roth's Sabbath's Theatre, for example, among my recent reading) modern American authors seem unable to write a story that starts at one point in time and follows a more or less straight line towards its conclusion, rather than constantly looping back upon itself? I guess it makes for a more interesting story line.
All in all though, a must read book. Brilliant.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A thoroughly enjoyable and gripping read with a brilliant a superb structure that interweaves the story of different generations easily. However, the tales of late 60's racism in America is shocking for someone spun the tales of American multi-culturism and freedom.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Brilliant Research, Depressing Story
An impressively researched but deeply depressing story about a mixed-race family in New York during and after World War II. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Kate Hopkins
pretentious and boring
I agree with one of the reviewers in describing this book as pretentious and boring. I started reading it yesterday and however much I've tried to like it, it's beyond me. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Rinconete
One of the greatest books I've ever read...
I've had this book for a good few years now and I've never before been able to get into it. I've picked it up, read a few pages, put it down again and found something else. Read more
Published 17 months ago by C. Ball
Is Powers a polymath?
As a 63 year old English man with a considerable academic background I was truly over-whelmed by this book. Read more
Published on 10 Aug 2008 by Chris Purnell
Lyrical brilliance
The very structure of this book reveals the complexity of thought behind this poignant, perceptive and riveting account of a family of extraordinary talent, seen through the eyes... Read more
Published on 31 Mar 2008 by M. C. Morison
One of the best books I've ever read.
A lap breaking book about racism, classical music and the theory of relativity. It didn't really sound like my cup of tea to be honest. Read more
Published on 30 Jan 2008 by S. J. Vaux-nobes
MORE VALLEYS NEEDED?
It's very difficult not to be impressed with this novel. Depth, breadth, some highly affecting writing about the emotional power of music, a complex,satisfying structure, trenchant... Read more
Published on 22 Mar 2007 by annwiddecombe
not a perfect novel, but a brilliant one nonetheless
This novel actually changed the way I think about race and, to a lesser extent, about twentieth century American history. Read more
Published on 10 Jan 2007 by W. Drew
Poetic and moving
'The Time of our Singing' hardly needs more commendation than it has had in other reviews here. There is one theme I wanted to comment on specifically. Read more
Published on 17 Dec 2006 by S. Harland
Brilliant, simply, brilliant!
This has been first book to capture me so completely in a long long time. Yes it's long and demands your full concentration, but it's without a doubt worth it (if you're in for a... Read more
Published on 21 Jun 2005 by "allybug82"
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
![[Start the discussion]](http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/02/x-locale/communities/discussion_boards/start-new-discussion-sec._V192198663_.gif){kind=small}
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
