Friday 29 September 2017

Audible Book Review - The Piano Tuner by Daniel Mason #PanMacmillan

TITLE - The Piano Tuner

AUTHOR - Daniel Mason

READ BY - James Frain

RUNNING TIME - About 3 hours

BUY LINKClick here

SYNOPSIS

An extraordinary first novel that tells the story of a British piano tuner sent deep into Burma in the nineteenth century.

In October 1886, Edgar Drake receives a strange request from the British War Office: he must leave his wife and his quiet life in London to travel to the jungles of Burma, where a rare Erard grand piano is in need of repair. The piano belongs to an army surgeon-major whose unorthodox peacemaking methods—poetry, medicine, and now music—have brought a tentative quiet to the southern Shan States but have elicited questions from his superiors.

On his journey through Europe, the Red Sea, India, and into Burma, Edgar meets soldiers, mystics, bandits, and tale-spinners, as well as an enchanting woman as elusive as the surgeon-major. And at the doctor’s fort on a remote Burmese river, Edgar encounters a world more mysterious and dangerous than he ever could have imagined.

Sensuous, lyrical, rich with passion and adventure, this is a hypnotic tale of myth, romance, and self-discovery: an unforgettable novel.


This was my very first audible book I had actually "read" from start to finish. I thought I'd give it a go as my Husband is a big fan of audible books. I decided to listen to it on my way to and from work as I have about an hours journey each way.

I was a bit dubious as to whether I'd be able to immerse myself into the book with someone else reading it. Well I needn't have worried as the narrator James Frain completely drew me into the book. What a lovely voice to listen to. He managed to bring the story alive with the sights and sounds being vivid and filling my imagination. Obviously it helped that the author had written a very descriptive book. I was able to follow his journey through Europe and into Burma. I think some audible editions have a different narrator.

Edgar, the main character got a bit more than he bargained for when he was summoned to Burma to tune and repair the Piano of an army Surgeon Major. He was made to do things he never dreamt he'd ever be doing, and it was quite some adventure. 

I liked Edgar, and found him an interesting and dedicated person but then got a bit annoyed with him in the end as found his strength of character wavering, but who knows, that is how it may have been for people in the time of war and discord.

The Author made the area of Burma both haunting, frightening and beautiful, all rolled into one. I was very surprised how easy I was hooked into listening to someone read to me. This was a haunting read and I recommend it, whether you choose to buy Audible, Tree Book or E-book.

It was my first full journey into an audible book and it won't be my last. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

From Wikipedia.
Daniel Mason (b. ca. 1976) is an American novelist. He was raised in Palo Alto, California. He received a BA in biology from Harvard University in 1994, graduating at the top of his class. He later graduated from medical school at the University of California, San Francisco. He wrote his first novel, The Piano Tuner, while still a medical student. The book became a bestseller and was published in 27 countries.[citation needed] Mason's second novel, A Far Country, was published in March 2007.

Sadly I have not been able to find any social media links or a blog for the author. 

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