Body and Soul

Rating:
Summary: amazing book
Review: After reading other reviews, I felt compelled to add my own. This is the best book I have ever read and as a musician, there are things about this book only musicians would understand. yes, you can be six and love to practice, you can turn out normal even if all you do is music, and music is a natural talent. One can develop the talent at a very young age without any guidance. Conroy displays all these traits with his character, Claude, and he does it beautifully. When I was a child, I'd sit at the piano for hours and I did somewhat teach myself how to read music. I didn't have a piano teacher yet but I still figured songs out and loved everything about the instrument. But I want to defend Conroy in that some children truly have a calling and will motivate themselves. Besides my argument, this book is extremely entertaining and when it was over I searched the back to make sure there were no hidden pages.

Rating:
Summary: A story that had potential
Review: Although "Body and Soul" by Frank Conroy was a well written story about the life of an pianist, it was anti-climactic. It contained a setting, a well developed cast of characters, a couple mild struggles, and a conclusion, but without a climax in the plot, the reader tends to wonder why he or she read it upon finishing the book. The main character, Claude Rawlings, endured a fair share of struggles, but the book was reluctant to focus on a major struggle, and that made it difficult for any sort of climax in the plot to develop at all.

As Fredricks pointed out in the book, everything Claude obtained was given to him. From his "God-given" musical talent, his piano lessons, his expensive education, to the big breaks in his musical career, they did not require considerable struggling, if any, to earn. One aspect that did keep my attention were the frequent references to Germany and WWII. It was suspicious enough that the book began on V-day. This aspect could have led to a suitable climax in the plot but concluded instead with Claude's piano teacher, Weisfeild, revealing his tragic WWII experience.

Another theme that could have developed a climax was the mystery of Claude's conception. This secret was pointed out as a big issue in the beginning of the book, then almost totally ignored for the duration of the story until the very end when out curiosity is satisfied, but not Claude's. It was almost climactic, but failed miserably when nothing transpired when Claude met his father.

This story was a book of empty promises. It had a vast potential to develop an intricate and enrapturing major struggle in the plot line, but failed to do so. Thus the story went out without a bang and proved to be no more than the biography of someone's fairly smooth, typical life.

Rating:
Summary: Body & Soul
Review: As a musician of many years, and a concert pianist for some of those years, I picked up a copy of Body and Soul from a friend who had it lying around and had never read it. I opened the pages and my life was expanded. Conroy's breathtaking portrayal of young-to-older Claude Rawlings was a fascinating glimpse into the heart of a musician, with a rich interwoven tapestry of musical knowledge for good measure. While the 3rd section of the book was my least favorite (as it dealt more with Claude on a TV-drama level), it did not diminish my overall satisfaction with the story. I would recommend this to anyone who loves music, or just wants to meet a spell-binding young man who plays the piano.

Rating:
Summary: Poetry in book form
Review: Body & Soul is a beautifully written book - some passages were so descriptive - and painted such a concrete picture - I went back and re-read them many times. One passage I remember is a scene where Claude, obsessing over a big performance, falls asleep and dreams of the many people he knows ... but, he sees them finding their way through musical notes, sitting w/ feet dangling over a note, etc. I really enjoyed this book - and although some of the criticisms that Claude Rawlings might not have reached such heights given his upbringing might be true, I was still moved by the story and more than anything, moved by the beautiful way the story is told by Frank Conroy. I don't believe you need to be a musician to really love this book.

Rating:
Summary: Coming of age tale from a child prodigy's perspective.
Review: Body and Soul tracks the development of a young fellow named Claude Rawlings from the first intimations that this child has a unique musical talent through his childhood and young adulthood as he hones and develops that talent, finally to emerge as a full blown classical piano star.

It's an interesting twist on the conventional coming of age story. Many cite this as the classic "rags-to-riches" tale but, in truth, there is very little of either rags or riches involved. it's mostly about the sort of commitment and dedication--and the lucky breaks- on has to engage in to be a success of this type on this order.

I'm not sufficiently qualified to judge whether the actual "apprenticeship" aspects of the book are realistic--it's been criticized by some on that score--but it all seemed reasonable to me. If it's not truly realistic it's not ridiculously unrealistic either--and no basis for not enjoying the book on it's other merits.

Conroy has a clear, concise and engaging writing style and has the ability to effectively convey mood within the story. The result is a inspiring and entertaining tale that will, for many, open a window onto a world most of us don't know much about.

This is well worth a read.

Rating:
Summary: A good, old-fashioned story
Review: Body and Soul was named best book of 1993 by Publisher's Weekly. There's a good-guy hero, and there's adversity for him to courageously overcome to reach his dream. Director of the Writer's Workshop at the Univ of Iowa, Frank Conroy avoided the easy-out of formula fiction in favor of crafting his novel with straightforward language and careful writing. We meet 6yo Claude, trapped in a NY apartment all day while his mother drives a taxi. He discovers an old piano in his basement apartment and learns to play. As his talent is recognized, interesting people come into his life and help him along the way toward recognition as a prodigy. As a bonus, the story is set in New York in the 30s thru the 60s, so weget a sociology lesson in inner city life of that era.
Also, read Conroy's engaging memoir, Stop-Time.

Rating:
Summary: Oh Frank...almost but not quite!
Review: Claude Rawlings is a pianist. He's been a pianist since he first discovered, in his basement room, the small white console piano with sixty six keys and a mirror over the keyboard.
How Claude progresses from an under-privileged tinkler of out-of-tune piano keys to a fully accredited composer waiting in the wings while his own, original symphony is introduced, to be played by the London Symphony Orchestra, with himself as soloist, is the scope of this novel...and it is a wide canvas, indeed!
Disciples of this author, enthusiasts of his biography, `Stop-time', will recognise incidents, scenes and characters from the earlier work...yet this IS a work of fiction, albeit based on true times and real-life experiences!And again, I HAVE to say it...this man can WRITE!! He does for the English language what Paint-Shop-Pro has done for Web-authoring...he takes images out of HIS mind and places them, vivid and compete, into yours! A master of the short story, he can etch a scene into your mind with a few deft sentences...a rminiscent phrase or two!
A word of warning, though,....if you have NO musical knowledge at all, much of this book will be hard going, since Conroy takes us right through the learning process into the composing stage with no concession for ignorance. I found myself reaching for the music dictionary, at times, and begging friends for early Schoenberg tapes, without which I couldn't really place myself right at the centre of the action. But music afficionardos, especially those who've progressed all the way with the piano, will ADORE this book, especially those committed few who already KNOW how great is the chasm between enthusiastic, competent amateur and the truly accomplished professional.
My other niggle about this book was that everything was made too easy for Claude, especially in the first half of the story. In fact, one of the main characters actually points this out to him, on page 340.

"...Fredericks started counting on his fingers. "First, the essential musical gift. God-given, if you will. I remember as a child how strange it felt in many ways, and I'm sure you felt the same."
He folded a second finger. "The maestro's generosity and his gift of the Bechstein"
A fourth finger. "Leading into lessons with me, the most expensive piano teacher in the world, probably. And I forgot to mention Weisfeld ginving you the basment studio."
A fifth finger. "Your big break with Frescobaldi, which must have felt like sheer luck"
"My scolarship to two good schools, " Claude said.
"The completely accidental but fortuitous fact that your college girlfriend, whom you subsequently marry, is a multimillionaire well able to subsidize your musical activities."
"I agree, I agree," Claude said. "Those things, and other things have been given to me. I am, and always will be grateful."
"I know that, Claude. It's one of the most charming hings about you. A lesser man would resent it."
"Good Lord, no."..............................

Conroy does attempt, in later pages, to have a few rotten things happen to Claude, but the damage, I fear, is done. Somehow this tale just does not ring true.Nor does it progress to a strong, satisfying ending.
And yet, and yet....this author writes so incredibly fluently that there ought to be a masterpiece novel lurking there somewhere, and I'm sure there are others, like me, who've been waiting for it a very long time....26 years, in fact, since `Stop-time burst on the literary scene with its promise of more to come!
What appeared, in between, were the slick, vividly written short stories that publications like the `New Yorker' snapped up, and `Midair' a volume of short stories. And, dare I say it...Fank Conroy should, at least on present showing, stick to what he does really well...the short story.
But if there really IS a plot inside this man's head....if, during the next 26 years, he does pull the great novel out of the proverbial hat, I will be right there applauding him....for, like I said, this man can WRITE!!

So...would I recommend `Body And Soul'.?.....well, Yes....and No!
It's not all I hoped it would be....but if you've passed eighth grade piano...and like a good Mills and Boon....you're going to rank this novel as one of the best book you've read....

I haven't, I don't.....and I can't!
But Gee, I WISH I could!
Robin Knight

Rating:
Summary: Not that much soul
Review: Conroy writes well about music, but fails to add another dimension to the musical genius Claude Rawlins. As mentioned in other reviews, Claude's career is too easy. He meets other musicians, learns from them, and moves on to better things. Life's not really a struggle that way. Therefore, I thought the WOII references were a bit out of place. The main character supposedly had some relational problems, but his girlfriends and wife seemed little more than trophies to me. After all these disparaging remarks, I must confess I still enjoyed reading Body & Soul. It's the good kind of bad.

Rating:
Summary: Fascinating tale about a passion for music.
Review: Frank Conroy, an accomplished pianist in his own right, certainly knows his subject in Body & Soul. Conroy's love and respect for music is skillfully conveyed through his fine writing. He infects the reader with his passion for music. Although I have never studied music, I found the passages on music theory, great composers, and the actual 'craft' of music to be fascinating. Music is the dominant motif in this novel that is Dickensian in spirit and execution (you can't help but think of 'Great Expectations'). The pacing of the book is excellent, as is the presentation of the characters. I have a few minor criticisms (some over-the-top saccharine descriptions of love making) but overall 'Body & Soul' is satisfying, fun, and intelligent reading.

Rating:
Summary: Music in the key of life
Review: Have you ever felt that you were invisible or unable to make an impression on others? Has your life ever felt empty or useless? This is how I felt at some points in my life and that is how Claude (the young artist) felt in the beginning. Then, he discovered the pleasure, power, and passion of music. It brought a little, skinny, poor boy in New York from playing in his mother's cluttered basement apartment to playing in front of thousands in some of the most famous stages in the world and amongst the most influential people. Not so much a rags-to-riches story, but one more about of taking something you love and going as far with it as you can...forgetting the pressures of the world once he touched the piano keys--forgetting where time went when you turn the first page.

This is not a book you'll read...you'll simply feel.

Enjoy the journey!