Genre: Biography
Publisher: The New Press, 2005
Pages: 117
Rating: Do Not Recommend
Synopsis: Ravel is a beguiling and original evocation of the last ten years in the life of the musical genius Ravel, written by novelist Jean Echenoz.
The book opens in 1928 as Maurice Ravel - dandy, eccentric, curmudgeon - cross the Atlantic aboard the luxury liner the SS France to begin his triumphant grand tour of the United States. A "master magician of the French novel: (The Washington Post), Echenoz captures the folly of the era as well as its genius, including Ravel's personal life - sartorially and socially splendid - as well as his most successful compositions from 1927 to 1937.
Illuminated by flashes of Echenoz's characteristically sly humor, Ravel is a delightfully quirky portrait of a famous musician coping with the ups and downs of his illustrious career. It is also a beautifully written novel that's a deeply touching farewell to a dignified and lonely man going reluctantly into the night.
Review: I don't know why the shortest books are often the longest to read. At only 117 pages, I should have been able to blow right through this novel, but no. It took a week at a chapter a day. There were interesting parts, and even parts that made me giggle, but as a whole, boring. Why?
I found this during a rare opportunity to browse library bookshelves. Typically I request books online, and just stop at the library's front desk to pick up my latest stack of holds.
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