dannys_books's review against another edition
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
foggy_rosamund's review against another edition
2.0
I've read one other book by Rose Tremain, Sacred Country, and I was impressed by its subtle power. So I expected much more from The Gustav Sonata. The first section, describing the childhood of Gustav Perle in a small Swiss town in the late 40s and early 50s, is evocative, and captures a strong sense of his character, and enters a child's mild in a believable way. If this had been a novella, describing Gustav's early years, and his precarious situation, with a depressed and cold mother, and a struggle against poverty, and the friendship he finds with the self-involved Anton, it would be a memorable piece of writing. Alas, Tremain goes on to write two more sections which complicate the book and are unconvincing. I felt that she didn't really have momentum for the story after the first section and was searching for how to finish it, but I would not have been so annoyed by the story had she not thrown in subjects that deserve time and care: she writes about Jewish refugees to Switzerland during the second world war in a way that emphasizes only the difficulties of the Swiss, and she uses the Holocaust in a way that's sensational and cheaply emotive, not nuanced or thoughtful. She also writes about Gustav and Anton's sexuality -- they are both queer -- in a way that makes it secondary to their characters and as a point of tragedy, rather than something that deserves to be explored with depth and care. As well as that, her writing about Anton's trauma and mental breakdown feels rushed and shows a lack of any true understanding -- here, love is the solution to all his problems, an answer that rings false and doesn't truly engage with him as an individual. I was really frustrated by this book because I know that Tremain can produce a convincing and thought-provoking narrative, and has a great capacity for empathy, and this tawdry, mediocre story is beneath her.
czarnola's review against another edition
3.0
I don't regret reading this book, but I don't recommend it either. I learnt a couple of things about Switzerland, which is a plus, and got annoyed with the characters' behaviour over and over again, which is a little less of a plus. The setting reminded me a bit of The Book Thief, but the whole thing was definitely more mature. I also didn't expect the author to go in such a direction, but in the end I didn't mind.
kayleebob's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.75
loucadoslivros's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual harassment
Moderate: Xenophobia
debbiecuddy's review against another edition
2.0
Summer bingo-That you want to read because of the cover
I don't usually choose books to read based on the cover art, but this one was on my list and I like pictures of skaters and winter scenes and, in the end, I think I liked the cover better than the story. This book is told in three parts, like a sonata. I enjoyed the first section, but things slowly fell apart and by the third section became disjointed. By the end of the third section, everything was very quickly patched together to make for an all too neat ending. This one wasn't for me.
I don't usually choose books to read based on the cover art, but this one was on my list and I like pictures of skaters and winter scenes and, in the end, I think I liked the cover better than the story. This book is told in three parts, like a sonata. I enjoyed the first section, but things slowly fell apart and by the third section became disjointed. By the end of the third section, everything was very quickly patched together to make for an all too neat ending. This one wasn't for me.
john_bizzell's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
zoelouise_g's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
rlwertheimer's review against another edition
5.0
Deeply emotional. A beautiful and sad capturing of human relationships.