Body & Soul
A Novel
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
This saga of a son of the working class who grows into a piano prodigy is “hypnotically readable . . . The best story I know of in a long, long time” (Vanity Fair).
As a boy, Claude Rawlings looks up through the grated window of his basement apartment to watch the world go by. Poor, lonely, supported by a taxi-driver mother whose eccentricities spin more and more out of control, he faces the terrible task of growing up on the margins of life, destined to be a spectator of that great world always hurrying out of reach. But there is an out-of-tune piano in the small apartment, and in unlocking the secrets of its keys, as if by magic, Claude discovers himself. He is a musical prodigy.
Body & Soul is the story of a young man whose life is transformed by a gift. The gift is not without price—the work is relentless, the teachers exacting—but the reward is a journey that takes him to the drawing rooms of the rich and powerful, private schools, a gilt-edged marriage, and Carnegie Hall. Claude moves through this life as if he were playing a difficult composition, swept up in its drama and tension, surprised by its grace notes. Music, here, becomes a character in its own right, equaled in strength only by the music of Frank Conroy’s own unmistakable and true voice.
Bristling with character and invention, Body & Soul is Dickensian in its range and richness. This is a novel with all the emotional appeal and moral gravity of a classic bildungsroman, but with a tone as contemporary as a jazz riff—an unforgettable achievement by one of the great writers of our time.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Conroy's debut novel, of a young and neglected musical prodigy who is taken in by a music-store owner, was named one of PW's best books of 1993.
Customer Reviews
Excellent book, especially if you enjoy or play music.
Really enjoyed this- a good historical overview of New York , and a terrific story of a poor but super- talented kid in his rise to musical mastery- while hob- bobbing w/ the city’s elite. Beautifully written, great character depth.
Bravo
I wanted the ending to give me one more rush through his performance. Riveting. The way he develops his characters and can leave them aside, go back to them, like a jazz riff taking hold of to heights and lows and grabbing you back to pay attention. Took me 3 days then kept me wanting to slow down, savor this concert of a novel. A great piece of work.
My favorite book of all time.
As a musician, this book really reached me. As a human being, The concept of great struggling leading to great skills and talent was mesmerizing everyone should read this book.