The Upright Piano Player
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Review
'This is a fine, sensitive, moving book - a remarkable first novel' Justin Cartwright.
'[A] beautifully constructed debut' Catherine Taylor, Guardian.
'The menace simmering beneath the surface of its prose is compelling' Hephzibah Anderson , Daily Mail.
'Elegant, rich and gratifying' Claire Beale, Independent.
'It is beautifully written, the sentences polished like gems - but it is the book's substances that sticks in the mind' Anthony Capella.
'[A] beautifully constructed debut' Catherine Taylor, Guardian.
'The menace simmering beneath the surface of its prose is compelling' Hephzibah Anderson , Daily Mail.
'Elegant, rich and gratifying' Claire Beale, Independent.
'It is beautifully written, the sentences polished like gems - but it is the book's substances that sticks in the mind' Anthony Capella.
Product Description
Henry Cage seemed to have it all. A successful business career, considerable wealth, and a reputation for being a just and principled man. But public virtues can conceal private failings, and as Henry faces retirement, his well-ordered life begins to unravel. On the eve of the new millennium he is the victim of a random act of violence which soon escalates into a prolonged persecution, with tragic consequences. Family secrets are revealed, and when his ex-wife Nessa summons Henry to Palm Beach, he realises that there is little time to redress the mistakes of the past. The Upright Piano Player explores with a tender, yet unflinching eye the small but devastating flaws in human nature that can shape our destinies.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
I did enjoy David Abbott's first novel which was easily consumed over two days. The plot revolving round Henry Cage, a man recently retired, who through some unexpected circumstances finds himself a target of physical assault. He is also dealing with family trauma including the dying of cancer of his ex wife. Abbott pulls this altogether into a little page turner which is well written. My problem with the book however, is the lack of character development. Interesting characters are introduced, Jack his ex wife's lover, and Maude who briefly works at Henry's firm. They are written with particular character traits which singularly fail to develop. One wonders whether Abbott's interest in them is sufficient for them to make an appearance at all. A little more development, which in a 229 page novel could easily be managed, would have filled the book out with more interest. As it is, Abbott is clearly a talent to watch and I will certainly look out for his next book.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review
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Henry is recently retired and is struggling to come to terms with the changes to his routine that this brings. In combination with various other traumatic events this develops into an emotional and well written story.
The book made me feel sympathy for Henry. The problems caused by his retirement are described very well and there is a good back story which gives context to the present day of the book.
As usual, I found myself getting frustrated that he was not completely open with the police but I understand his reasons - a large degree of shame is to blame which further enforces the trauma of the retirement.
The structure of the book was interesting. The end of the story is told at the beginning which gives the rest of the book a sadness which is always in your mind when you are reading it.
The fact that this is a first novel is quite astounding. It is a maturely put together book with no signs of the naivety which often identifies a new novellist.
I'll look forward to reading more from this author.
The book made me feel sympathy for Henry. The problems caused by his retirement are described very well and there is a good back story which gives context to the present day of the book.
As usual, I found myself getting frustrated that he was not completely open with the police but I understand his reasons - a large degree of shame is to blame which further enforces the trauma of the retirement.
The structure of the book was interesting. The end of the story is told at the beginning which gives the rest of the book a sadness which is always in your mind when you are reading it.
The fact that this is a first novel is quite astounding. It is a maturely put together book with no signs of the naivety which often identifies a new novellist.
I'll look forward to reading more from this author.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
Life happens all at once, if you blink you may miss it. Such seems to be the message in the Upright Piano Player which in my opinion is one of the best written books I have had the pleasure to read. The novel begins with the aftermath of a horrible tragedy, and what follows looks into the past for each of the characters in a way reminiscent of The English Patient, charting the story of how a fractured family consolidated together after many years apart.
The story focuses mostly on Henry Cage, a successful and wealthy businessman who has just been forced into retirement, without his work he has almost nothing, his family has almost entirely disintegrated, his relationship with his ex-wife ended painfully and he no longer sees his son. The novel tells the story of the disintegration and reintegration with a great deal of care and paints a hugely vivid picture of a fractured family life. The novel is punctuated with beautifully real characters and situations to the extent that I did seriously find it nearly an impossibility to put the book down.
At its heart this book is a tragedy; do not go into it expecting something else. Though I have found this novel to be gloriously well written and in spite of the melancholic tone found it an absolute pleasure to read.
The story focuses mostly on Henry Cage, a successful and wealthy businessman who has just been forced into retirement, without his work he has almost nothing, his family has almost entirely disintegrated, his relationship with his ex-wife ended painfully and he no longer sees his son. The novel tells the story of the disintegration and reintegration with a great deal of care and paints a hugely vivid picture of a fractured family life. The novel is punctuated with beautifully real characters and situations to the extent that I did seriously find it nearly an impossibility to put the book down.
At its heart this book is a tragedy; do not go into it expecting something else. Though I have found this novel to be gloriously well written and in spite of the melancholic tone found it an absolute pleasure to read.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Regrets, i've had a few...
This is a debut novel. Thoughtful and thought provoking. It tells the story of Henry, a man in reflective mood after the death of his grandson, for which his daughter in law partly... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Tom Barry, Author - Upmarket suspense
a fantastic read!
Just finished reading this book. Thoroughly enjoyed every page. Excellently written, beautiful narrative with a proper beginning, middle and end. Read more
Published 2 months ago by M. Harney
Well Written but depressing
The book opens with Henry's Grandson's funeral and steadily gets more miserable from then on. A well written examination of how lonely, regretful and depressed a person can get... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Michelle Routledge
What A Great Debut, Hope His Second One Comes Quicker Than The First
`The Upright Piano Player' has possibly one of the most gripping, horrifying and gut wrenching opening chapters I think I have come across in a long time. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Simon Savidge Reads
The Upright Piano Player
I was very disapointed and I certainly wouldn't recommend this book. I felt it was written in a heavy-handed way and couldn't engage with any of the characters.
Published 13 months ago by lizziebee
Light weight and unbelievable
This short debut novel has a few good moments but seems unable to decide what it is or where it is going. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Paul Holland
Pretty boring and vacuous
My impression from reading Chapter 1, was of a novel focussed very much on the nature of loss, and how this affects us all, a reflection on mortality that each reader could relate... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Sandford
Feeling Henry
When I was reading page 19 I realised with relief that I wasn't Henry, but for the rest of the novel I was being and watching and feeling Henry. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Mac
sensitive and civilised
David Abbott combines a civilised style with a sensitive understanding of some of the more sombre aspects of the human condition. Read more
Published 21 months ago by alun chalfont
Sketches of Pain
I feel a bit mean giving this one 3 stars - It isn't a bad book, it isn't even a middlin' sort of book, it's just that I feel it has the potential to be a four or five star book... Read more
Published 21 months ago by C. CAMPBELL
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