Read more about this book and follow the tour here.
Glenn Gould: Sketches of Solitude by Anne Kaufmann
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Before reading this book, I believe I had heard of this prodigious musician, but I could not have told you anything about him. Maybe I would have remembered that he was a classical pianist, but I cannot guarantee it. I can now say with certainty that I know who he was, and to a degree, I understand a part of his philosophy and character. Don’t let the brevity of this narrative cause you to think that it is not well-written nor insightful. The author has done a brilliant job of finding pivotal moments from Gould’s life, and she even delves into the relatively unknown psyche of this man.
I was delighted to read selected stories that truly gave me a picture of the genius and often eccentricity of this musician. I applaud his willingness to not allow fame and fortune to keep him from what he believed his purpose was in this life. His legacy cannot be denied, and the comparisons between his talent and Mozart’s make perfect sense. I myself am a music teacher, so this was a joy to read from beginning to end, and I sincerely hope that the author will write more books about lesser known musicians that are just as insightful and informative. And by the way, there was nothing inappropriate within the book (Thank you, Anne!)
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.