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A review by ladydewinter
Verismo by E.M. Lindsey
3.0
This was a bit of a bumpy ride - or read- for me. Compared to her more recent books, the writing is a lot more uneven, and some things really didn’t work for me the way they probably were supposed to - but the things I liked, I liked a lot.
Nicolas is a genius composer and pianist looking for someone equal in talent to him so they can play his Magnum Opus, a piano duet, together. Cedric has a very special musical talent, but hasn’t been able to play the piano for years when the two of them meet...
I found the beginning both too confusing and somewhat odd in tone. It sounded like a fairytale of sorts, but the problem with that kind of narration is that is tends to keep me distanced rather than pull me in. I also think it might have helped to have dates at the beginning, because I had no idea whether these things were happening at the same time or not.
I didn’t find the idea of Isaak’s internalized homophobia and the way he expressed it all that odd (if sad), but there was too much telling for me to really believe it? I don’t think “believe” is quite the right word - but it felt too superficial for me? I don’t know. I think - the best way to put it is that when it works, I tend to be afraid with the characters as they’re doing something the other character will hurt them for (for example), but something stopped me from feeling that way here. Anyway, the biggest issue I had was with his name - Nazis or Nazi sympathizers naming their child Isaak seems odd.
But! So many other things I loved a lot - everything involving music and Nicolas and Cedric, basically, and Alessio, Rémy, Emmaline and all others of Cedric’s friend. I also liked that it didn’t really feel like a romance novel. It definitely has its weaknesses, but you can see the potential here (it helps knowing that she has gotten better), and it had me hooked until the end.
Nicolas is a genius composer and pianist looking for someone equal in talent to him so they can play his Magnum Opus, a piano duet, together. Cedric has a very special musical talent, but hasn’t been able to play the piano for years when the two of them meet...
I found the beginning both too confusing and somewhat odd in tone. It sounded like a fairytale of sorts, but the problem with that kind of narration is that is tends to keep me distanced rather than pull me in. I also think it might have helped to have dates at the beginning, because I had no idea whether these things were happening at the same time or not.
I didn’t find the idea of Isaak’s internalized homophobia and the way he expressed it all that odd (if sad), but there was too much telling for me to really believe it? I don’t think “believe” is quite the right word - but it felt too superficial for me? I don’t know. I think - the best way to put it is that when it works, I tend to be afraid with the characters as they’re doing something the other character will hurt them for (for example), but something stopped me from feeling that way here. Anyway, the biggest issue I had was with his name - Nazis or Nazi sympathizers naming their child Isaak seems odd.
But! So many other things I loved a lot - everything involving music and Nicolas and Cedric, basically, and Alessio, Rémy, Emmaline and all others of Cedric’s friend. I also liked that it didn’t really feel like a romance novel. It definitely has its weaknesses, but you can see the potential here (it helps knowing that she has gotten better), and it had me hooked until the end.