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mxsallybend's review
4.0
In Counterpoint: Dylan's Story, Ruth Sims gives us two stories for the price of one, contrasting love stories that echo one another across the years. In the first half of the book, we experience the first tentative stirrings of love from a young man infatuated with an older gentleman. In the second the tables are turned, and we instead experience a similar love from the perspective of the older, more experienced suitor.
Over the course of the novel Dylan grows and develops, maturing through his relationships, and sustained by his love for music. A talented, but misunderstood young man, Dylan finds himself musically and emotionally through the efforts of a tutor by the name of Laurence. Self-confident to the point of arrogance, Dylan is determined to redefine the world of music with his compositions. In many ways, he's like a 19th century rock star, ahead of his time, misunderstood by his peers, and a victim of his own success. As much as he may be hard to warm up to emotionally, you cannot help but admire his tenacity in pursuing his dream.
His affair with Laurence does serve to smooth some of his rough edges, and balance out his arrogance, but it also propels him to make some difficult choices . . . and nearly destroys him when the affair comes to an abrupt end.
That brings us to the second half of the story, in which the roles and reversed and an older, wiser, more nature Dylan takes a young violinist under his wing - both musically and romantically. Geoffrey was, for me, the high point of the novel. A child prodigy and a gypsy, he's looked down upon by his peers out of jealousy, and by society out of prejudice. Where Dylan was arrogant and angry, Geoffrey is more naive and vulnerable - much more the typical sympathetic artist. While their relationship mirrors that of Dylan and Laurence, it's not an intentional choice on Dylan's behalf to repair his past.
At times difficult, but also exciting, this is a historical drama, two love stories, and a book about music all at the same time. It's a fascinating tale, and one that hits so hard emotionally because it manages to engage the reader intellectually. Ruth makes the reader both think and feel, which makes it hard to move on when things get dark, but ultimately makes the entire read more significant and satisfying.
As published on Bending the Bookshelf
Over the course of the novel Dylan grows and develops, maturing through his relationships, and sustained by his love for music. A talented, but misunderstood young man, Dylan finds himself musically and emotionally through the efforts of a tutor by the name of Laurence. Self-confident to the point of arrogance, Dylan is determined to redefine the world of music with his compositions. In many ways, he's like a 19th century rock star, ahead of his time, misunderstood by his peers, and a victim of his own success. As much as he may be hard to warm up to emotionally, you cannot help but admire his tenacity in pursuing his dream.
His affair with Laurence does serve to smooth some of his rough edges, and balance out his arrogance, but it also propels him to make some difficult choices . . . and nearly destroys him when the affair comes to an abrupt end.
That brings us to the second half of the story, in which the roles and reversed and an older, wiser, more nature Dylan takes a young violinist under his wing - both musically and romantically. Geoffrey was, for me, the high point of the novel. A child prodigy and a gypsy, he's looked down upon by his peers out of jealousy, and by society out of prejudice. Where Dylan was arrogant and angry, Geoffrey is more naive and vulnerable - much more the typical sympathetic artist. While their relationship mirrors that of Dylan and Laurence, it's not an intentional choice on Dylan's behalf to repair his past.
At times difficult, but also exciting, this is a historical drama, two love stories, and a book about music all at the same time. It's a fascinating tale, and one that hits so hard emotionally because it manages to engage the reader intellectually. Ruth makes the reader both think and feel, which makes it hard to move on when things get dark, but ultimately makes the entire read more significant and satisfying.
As published on Bending the Bookshelf
mollyringle's review against another edition
5.0
This book was beautiful and addictive, and lurked in my thoughts the whole time I was reading it--which turned out to be less than a week, since I kept coming back to it to read more at every opportunity. Though it's highly romantic, it doesn't follow the usual romance formulas. It's more like a historical novel that happens to involve a couple of love affairs. That the characters in those love affairs are gay men adds a good deal to the tension and drama, since (in England, at least) that kind of thing was illegal at the time. The passion runs high, but the love scenes are tasteful, written with beauty and restraint. (I'm not at all opposed to erotica, but wouldn't likely admit to reading it on Goodreads.) ;)
At times the book even felt like a biography, given the real-life characters dropped in on the periphery of the action, such as Gaston Leroux and several Impressionist painters. Sims' historical research, and the smooth way she wove it into the story, impressed me thoroughly, and brought the plot to life with its vivid details, from the gorgeously luxurious down to the miserably squalid. But best of all, I loved the characters, and cheered and grieved for them--stubborn, impatient composer Dylan; gentle, bookish author Laurence; and talented, haunted violinist Geoffrey. Highly recommended for fans of music, history, star-crossed love, and general good writing!
At times the book even felt like a biography, given the real-life characters dropped in on the periphery of the action, such as Gaston Leroux and several Impressionist painters. Sims' historical research, and the smooth way she wove it into the story, impressed me thoroughly, and brought the plot to life with its vivid details, from the gorgeously luxurious down to the miserably squalid. But best of all, I loved the characters, and cheered and grieved for them--stubborn, impatient composer Dylan; gentle, bookish author Laurence; and talented, haunted violinist Geoffrey. Highly recommended for fans of music, history, star-crossed love, and general good writing!
the_novel_approach's review
5.0
There are some books that can only be described as epic and as close to perfection as it’s possible for a book to be. This novel is all that and more. Ruth Sims captures the artistic revolution of the setting in lush detail and brilliant prose.
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avik's review against another edition
5.0
I'd give it a 4.5 if I could, because the writing itself was sometimes choppy, but the emotional journey this book took me on merits five stars. I started reading it on a whim, knowing nothing about it, and finished it in a day because I was so drawn in. It made me cry multiple times, want to scream at the characters practically always (but in a good way), and god am I a sucker for a truly satisfying ending.
msmiz95's review
4.0
Brilliant.....just brilliant. I cannot decide between 4 and 5 but it is certainly 4.5.
nightcolors's review
5.0
Read for m/m team bingo challenge & for the Q4 quarterly gang bang challenge.
jkh107's review against another edition
4.0
Story of a composer and his loves (both musical and human), full of fin de siècle art and music references. Very well-done. I think this is going to get me back into historicals.
verloren918's review against another edition
5.0
Oh, wow. I've just finished this and my mind is swirling with it. I'm afraid my review will be a bit nonsensical, but I'm going to try.
This is... quite simply, beautifully written. The characters are wonderful and so is the language, especially the musical descriptions. While there are point of view changes that aren't warned about beforehand (which I've complained bitterly about before), for some reason it's not jarring here like I usually find it. Unfortunately, I can't even begin to tell you what the difference is between this and all the others that have irritated me so much. The only thing I can think of is that it just flows- all of the narration changes make perfect sense, being exactly where they need to be, and the story travels naturally between the two main characters without disrupting anything or pushing the reader out of the story. That, my friends, takes talent.
Beyond point of view, this book repeatedly broke my heart and sewed it back together again, slowly, stitch by stitch. I can often judge a book by the time I spend away from it. If I'm at work and my thoughts drift to the book and the characters, if I can't wait to go home and bury myself into the words again, it's truly captured my attention in a positive way. By the same end, there are only two reasons I sneak a peek at the end of a book. The first is that the thing is so boring that I'm trying to figure out whether it gets any better and whether it's worth continuing. The second is the one that applies here- sometimes, during the heart-breaking process, I feel the need to know that things will turn out okay in the end, somehow. Reassurance. (I think some part of my brain is secretly an optimist.) This is done simply because I've come to care so much about the character(s) involved, that I'm not sure I can stand to have my heart left broken. Counterpoint, thankfully, didn't disappoint on that score.
If I have to make a criticism, it would be that I would've preferred a bit more background between Laurence and Dylan. Obviously they had known each other for some years- some glimpses into that, even as flashbacks, would've been nice. Though I do understand the choice to not begin earlier, in the interest of keeping the story moving and not going on TOO long with back story. I also prefer Geoffrey to Laurence. I like Laurence, but I felt like I definitely got to know Geoffrey better. This obviously isn't a criticism but a personal preference, though. We all have our favorites.
Overall, this is wonderful and beautiful and whatever other 'ful's' you'd like to dedicate to it. I'll certainly be looking for more from this author.
This is... quite simply, beautifully written. The characters are wonderful and so is the language, especially the musical descriptions. While there are point of view changes that aren't warned about beforehand (which I've complained bitterly about before), for some reason it's not jarring here like I usually find it. Unfortunately, I can't even begin to tell you what the difference is between this and all the others that have irritated me so much. The only thing I can think of is that it just flows- all of the narration changes make perfect sense, being exactly where they need to be, and the story travels naturally between the two main characters without disrupting anything or pushing the reader out of the story. That, my friends, takes talent.
Beyond point of view, this book repeatedly broke my heart and sewed it back together again, slowly, stitch by stitch. I can often judge a book by the time I spend away from it. If I'm at work and my thoughts drift to the book and the characters, if I can't wait to go home and bury myself into the words again, it's truly captured my attention in a positive way. By the same end, there are only two reasons I sneak a peek at the end of a book. The first is that the thing is so boring that I'm trying to figure out whether it gets any better and whether it's worth continuing. The second is the one that applies here- sometimes, during the heart-breaking process, I feel the need to know that things will turn out okay in the end, somehow. Reassurance. (I think some part of my brain is secretly an optimist.) This is done simply because I've come to care so much about the character(s) involved, that I'm not sure I can stand to have my heart left broken. Counterpoint, thankfully, didn't disappoint on that score.
If I have to make a criticism, it would be that I would've preferred a bit more background between Laurence and Dylan. Obviously they had known each other for some years- some glimpses into that, even as flashbacks, would've been nice. Though I do understand the choice to not begin earlier, in the interest of keeping the story moving and not going on TOO long with back story. I also prefer Geoffrey to Laurence. I like Laurence, but I felt like I definitely got to know Geoffrey better. This obviously isn't a criticism but a personal preference, though. We all have our favorites.
Overall, this is wonderful and beautiful and whatever other 'ful's' you'd like to dedicate to it. I'll certainly be looking for more from this author.
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