The Piano Teacher: A Novel
by Janice Y. K. Lee
|
List Price: Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
(Click here)
Book Reviews of The Piano Teacher: A Novel
Book Review: very unsatisfying saga
Summary: 2 Stars
The story starts out interestingly enough but never gathers enough steam. There is a little bit of a plot and the characters begin to get developed. The characters start out with some real potential but the story falls flat in the end. I won't reveal if there is a happy or sad ending but will say that the ending is not all that intense. It was fun to read about life in Hong Kong during the war, but it wasn't all that extreme. I found the book to be a little bit like everyday life but in a city far away during a different time. There are so many great love stories out there and this was a bit of a waste of time. I was a little annoyed after finishing it. I was reading Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by James Ford at the same time and found that to be delightful. Yes they are different stories that take place at the same time but in different cities, but that book was so much more engaging. I would recommend James Ford's book over The Piano Teacher any day of the week.Book Review: An intricately woven tale with a purpose
Summary: 4 Stars
First, I have to say I'm disappointed by reviewers who give this book a dismal rating without having finished reading the book. Why bother if you only stopped at page 100, etc? Whether you like the story or not, I think the author deserves acclaim her compelling use of subtle devices that lend this story a certain charm. More than anything else, I think this book is really a window into colonial relations in the British Empire, with Hong Kong as its focus. Lee speaks quite clearly and it should be obvious to the reader that she lends a voice to many stories untold during the turbulent years of HK's history. Indeed, some readers may be disappointed by the plot, pace or denouement but therein lies the author's power. Lee decides which story is the most important of all the stories woven into this piece. It is left to reader to determine what that is (the author's agenda) and decide whether they like it. Not everyone can write a book this good.Book Review: Unforgetable characters, fascinating plot
Summary: 5 Stars
Set in Hong Kong, this story alternates between the time of the WW II Japanese invasion and ten years later, after the war is over. I found the interchanging of time periods quite fascinating. Starting in 1952, you meet Claire, a niave young English woman, who comes to Hong Kong with her new husband and is hired by the influential Chen family as their daughter's piano teacher. You find out some of Claire's unique characteristics before the story switches to eleven years earlier. That's when you meet Will, recently arrived from England and his soon to be lover, the highly sought after Trudy, a delightful Eurasian woman, full of life and fun! As the story progresses within the rich culture of Hong Kong, the war looms, the war happens, and all kinds of events affect the characters and their relationships. I had to keep reading! I loved the book!Book Review: Thought-provoking
Summary: 4 Stars
Lots of interesting questions raised about what people would do if their lives are threatened during war and occupation. Is it more cowardly to submit to the indignity of prison, or is it worse to cooperate with the enemy? Do people deserve to be punished for surviving at any cost? Can a person be broken so badly they never recover? Is it right to carry a burden of guilt for the actions of somebody else? And how can some people justify betraying their friends and feel nothing about it at all?
I liked the book well enough even though parts of it seemed to go off on a tangent, and there were unanswered questions, like what prompted that one guy to hang himself at that particular moment, for example. So I would have preferred fewer details early on, and more details towards the end. Still, it was a good story. Worth reading.
Book Review: Major disappointment
Summary: 2 Stars
I chose to read this because the setting of Hong Kong during WWII was intriguing and I love a good love story. I almost stopped reading it in the middle, though, because I was incredibly BORED. The love story was a ridiculous extramarital affair and I really could not figure out why these two liked each other. Claire says over and over that Will acted like he never really loved her. She is attracted to him anyway Lord knows why. That Claire was a kleptomaniac was interesting, but she just quits one day so that story line never went anywhere. The setting was absolutely fascinating and I wanted to know more -- but the characters were so flat that I never cared much about them. The hurry-up get this book wrapped up ending was a cop-out and I felt rather cheated.