The Piano Shop on the Left Bank: Discovering a Forgotten Passion in a Paris Atelier

I heard an excerpt of this one day on the radio, and from that moment on, I just had to hear the whole thing. I searched high and low, and eventually found an affordable copy on tape here on Amazon! After getting it and converting it to CD, I began what would be one of the most fulfilling and worthwhile journey's. The idea of an audio book appeals to me on a different level to a printed book. What I find in an audio book is a much less intense engagement with the story, and often a less exciting journey through the character's experiences and the life. Normally, I would listen to an audio book to switch off; to quieten or distract my mind. But what I found in this audio book was edge of the seat, 'what's gonna happen next?' type of engagement with the book. Not that it is an active or even mysterious story; I mean, after all, it is about a guy who walks past a piano shop for weeks and weeks before deciding to buy one! But the passion with which it is written and read is phenominal! I am a musician also, so to hear someone speak of an instrument (in this case a piano) as though it were a living thing struck a 'chord' with me from the outset! It is a long story (about six hours), so I found myself trying to fit listenings in around other things, which didn't always work well for the family, but they got through somehow. Interwoven into the story is this amazing appreciation for and vast knoweledge of the history of the piano. The writer holds these instruments in such revere that when the characters of the story sit at a truly great instrument to play even the most basic piece of music, I found my own throat drying and my own heart rate quicken. The telling of this story really does transport you to France, and as a person sits at a Steinway or even a broken down no name upright, you can feel the instrument in the room with you (which is great, because not a note of music is found on the telling!) I'm not going to go into the story, because that's why the book was written (for people to read it (or in this case, hear it) for themselves), but I will say that it is truly an amazing journey of history and modern day music making that takes you with it every step of the way. I look at my own piano with such a different respect and appreciation now than I did before being treated to this amazing story. I know that it came from Germany in 1903, and that it is one of only a handful to come from the 'factory' in Berlin; information I would not have thought to consider before listening to this amazing story! It is highly recommended. If you are a musician of any worth with a love for your instrument, you will get this book (as in understand it) from the first chapter.

This is a book for music and history lovers. After the first chapter I was tempted to not finish the book but being a music lover and somewhat of a musician I found the book very entertaining and interesting. It is a pianist's journey into learning about the instrument that he fell in love with as a child. The author has succeeded in making this journey very enjoyable and interesting and I have walked away with a new understanding and appreciation of the piano.

Lovely story, hit close to home with regards to my experiences with piano. Delightful portrayal of Paris and the lives of folks devoted to music.

Second Reading: 5 stars Some books rate better at the second reading. This is one of those books, and it rates best rather than better. Note that this book need not cater to the reader who can play the piano, read music, or is interested in pianos. But if like me, you happen to be all of the above, then it's highly likely this book will transcend expectations, and resonate with you. I didn't just read along, I tagged along with Carhart as he meandered around Paris, rekindled a passion for piano playing, immersed himself in lessons and master classes in pursuit of a craving to know more, and learn more, and most fortunate of all, admitted entry into that purgatory for pianos, the inner sanctum of Desforges Pianos, where Luc holds court and counsel on most things musical, and contemplates his pianos' different personalities, and decides which pianos deserve another shot and which ones literally end up in the inferno. This is a slow read, but intentionally, beautifully so. It swells somewhere toward the end of the book, when Carhart takes a trip to Italy and visits the Fazioli factory, makers of the much-touted Ferrari of pianos. Reputably better than a Steinway Model D, a Bosendorfer, Pleyel, Gaveau and the Erard! Which now makes it more difficult for me to visualize my dream piano. First Reading: 4 stars Another serendipitous find from Booksale. And timely too, as I started on reading this some days after discovering my family's old piano, a Grotrian-Steinweg upright, was made in 1909 and shipped to Hamburg! The Grotrian is mentioned twice in the book, which is about the world of pianos. Realizing it was a non-fiction piece, I thought it pretentious at first, only to be drawn into Thad Carhart's rediscovery of a childhood infatuation with pianos. And when he makes that decision to study piano again, I empathized with his conditions (no recitals, I choose the pieces) and the joy of freedom at (finally!) getting to play for your own pleasure.

Thad Carhart describes the awakening of his passion for the piano. While the back story is about how Thad meets Luc and re-discovers the piano, the bulk of the text is a review of the history of the piano. Actually, other books cover piano history in better depth, and this is largely a re-statement of that material. The character decriptions are pretty flat. The character of Luc seems pretty mysterious and one dimensional throughout the story, until the end, when we learn that he can tango and is a romantic frenchman after all. Perhaps, some things were lost in translation since the story is told through the Paris and very French experience. At times, Thad seems mostly obsessed with piano construction. The description of the Fazioli piano factory was probably the best part of the book. However, you don't get the impression that his knowledge of the piano literature is really that great. In fact, it's obvious that in spite of several years of lessons, he never advanced beyond the advanced beginner or intermediate level. I didn't get the feeling that he really was connecting emotionally with the music. A much better book for that would be Russell Sherman's "Piano Pieces." Overall, a light enjoyable story of piano and french music without much drama.

アマゾンで中古出品の邦訳版を購入して読み、内容に共感したので、今回、新品の邦訳版とセットでこの原版をプレゼントに利用した。 読み比べて、邦訳版の優秀な翻訳が際立っていた。

And this book is about pianos in France, very interesting. There is a good story to read about the piano business in Paris.

I came across this book whilst searching for something else. I am interested in all things to do with pianos and am an adult learner. I have wanted to learn to play since childhood but my parents couldn't afford lessons but I am learning now so no looking back. I own a black, upright Yamaha but aspire to a french-polished grand. I sit at my piano most days, sometimes for up to 4 hours and don't care what I am doing with it so long as I can be near to it. I do not find scales boring and I enjoy every second I am with my piano. If this sounds like you, you will enjoy this book. It is for anyone who just loves the instrument and wants to talk about it and look at it in whatever form it comes. I also learned quite a bit too.

For a pianist such as myself, it's a glimpse into a piano workshop, with lots of interesting pieces of information. I loved it.

Excellent story. For piano players a must. For non piano players still very entertaining. True story or not you can tell that a lot of research was done to write this novel. All prizes and praises are well deserved. I can relate to Thad's experiences as I too am a U.S. expat that's been living in Europe for many decades.