Declare About Books Body and Soul
| Title | : | Body and Soul |
| Author | : | Frank Conroy |
| Book Format | : | Paperback |
| Book Edition | : | Anniversary Edition |
| Pages | : | Pages: 464 pages |
| Published | : | June 8th 1998 by Delta (first published January 1st 1993) |
| Categories | : | Fiction. Music. Historical. Historical Fiction. Young Adult. Coming Of Age. Literary Fiction |
Frank Conroy
Paperback | Pages: 464 pages Rating: 4.32 | 2790 Users | 352 Reviews
Chronicle Supposing Books Body and Soul
In the dim light of a basement apartment, six-year-old Claude Rawlings sits at an old white piano, picking out the sounds he has heard on the radio and shutting out the reality of his lonely world.The setting is 1940s New York, a city that is "long gone, replaced by another city of the same name." Against a backdrop that pulses with sound and rhythm, Body & Soul brilliantly evokes the life of a child prodigy whose musical genius pulls him out of squalor and into the drawing rooms of the rich and a gilt-edged marriage.
But the same talent that transforms him also hurtles Claude into a lonely world of obsession and relentless ambition. From Carnegie Hall to the smoky jazz clubs of London, Body & Soul burns with passion and truth--at once a riveting, compulsive read and a breathtaking glimpse into a boy's heart and an artist's soul.
Particularize Books Conducive To Body and Soul
| Original Title: | Body and Soul |
| ISBN: | 038531986X (ISBN13: 9780385319867) |
| Edition Language: | English |
| Setting: | New York State(United States) |
Rating About Books Body and Soul
Ratings: 4.32 From 2790 Users | 352 ReviewsCritique About Books Body and Soul
This is a beautifully written and researched book, containing detailed descriptions of what goes on in the mind of a musical prodigy as he learns, thinks about, responds to, or plays music. It is also a coming-of-age story, telling about the life of Claude Rawlings from the time he is a very small boy until he is an established adult talent. I found the book very engrossing and gorgeous in detail and desciption. I can't wait to give it to my daughter, who is a pianist also. Highly recommended.I can see why Body and Soul received the BEST BOOK award in 1993 by Publishers Weekly. Its the coming of age story of 6 year old Claude Rawlings. He lives in a basement apartment in NYC with his taxi driver mother. He's home along most of the time and watches the people's feet as they walk by the living room window. He starts playing the piano and that's when this story and his life begin. There are several places where he really "gets into it", his music where only musicians would understand
I really liked this book - in fact I read it until 4:00 in the morning. The author was head of the Iowa City Writer's workshop. It's fascinating I think to anyone who likes music and not just someone like me who has studied music. Takes place in Brooklyn and at age 6 is in the apartment alone while his mother drives a cab. His loneliness compels him to explore the piano in his bedroom and that is just the beginning!
Reviewed on ww.readallday.org (and can be viewed on goodreads under my page). A wonderful book about a musician, about America in the mid-twentieth century, about resilience. For music lovers, lovers of musicians, and book lovers.
A friend lent me this book, describing it as grotesquely uplifting. The style is very casual and easy to get through, reading like a novel directed towards teens, and does not generally stray into philosophical insight too often. However, I find a great number of the ideas useful, but to what is likely a minority audience. To me, the most important aspects are lessons that Claude Rawlings, the main character, has with his piano teachers. As a pianist, I am intrigued at how these may be applied
This was last months #mahangirlsbookclub book, and I just finally finished it today. It was crazy slow. Technical. Musical. Sad. Amazing. Fascinating. I needed to finish it, but it really was one I needed to read and take a break and read and take a break. Lets be clear. The story is really cool. Honestly. It is. The writing is great. Setting. Characters. Loved them all. But, this is not some exciting story filled with twists and turns and action. It is a story of talent. Molded. Breaks given. A
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