memoirs

There is a class of books- of which this is one- that are neither great works of literature nor of great historical, philisophical or scientific import, yet are so delightful that you gladly make a place for them in your library. Books like Lawrence Wechsler's "The Museum of Jurassic Technology", Rinker Buck's "Flight of Passage" or John McPhee's "Oranges", that take a little corner of the world and tell a story in vivid detail.

This is, nominally, a book about a little piano shop in Paris, and the author's rediscovery of his love for pianos and piano music. Pianists and musicians in general will understand, but you needn't be either to appreciate it- any more than you'd need to be a pilot to enjoy "Flight of Passage" or an orange to enjoy the McPhee book. Carhart paints such a vivid picture of the places and people he encounters that you may well find yourself imagining that you, too, are sitting in that atelier one Friday afternoon.

This is a wonderful book for anyone who loves music, and in particular, piano, as well as traveling, even if not particularly in France. The author gives a genuine and sincere account of his feelings about his life in Paris, as well as the realities of living in a foreign country, of foreign ways of doing business, forming relationships, and of course, his love of music and the piano.

These loves of music and the piano are so evident, so full of life. Some people might be bored or distracted by Carhart's details regarding pianos, however, as a music lover, but one who do not even play piano, I loved reading about the details involved with the instrument.

As a lover of travel, and a person who has spent considerable amounts of time in a number of foreign countries (although France is not one of them), partially so that I could learn others' ways of living, I also thoroughly enjoyed reading about real-life details of living in another country.

I also enjoyed that unlike "A Year in Provence," "Under the Tuscan Sky," "A Cottage in Portugal" and many other books such as these, Carhart does not spend the entire book writing of the difficulties of getting anything done in these countries (even though it's true!). It was nice to read about other aspects of living abroad.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves music, piano and other culture's and their idiosyncracies.

My piano teacher recommended that I get this book. I had seen it on Amazon's website, but I didn't feel that I wanted to order it. I am so glad that I did. As others have said-it is an easy read. However, Thad Carhart captures the joy that I , and I'm sure others, have felt regarding pianos,music,composers,music history, and taking piano lessons.

If you love playing the piano as much as I do you will enjoy this book. I even put a quote from the book on the back of the recital program for my students. -"I was again struck with how deeply satisfying it was to play any kind of music at all on my piano. Emotionally, physically, intellectually, spiritually; its satisfactions were limitless, its impact on my life profound."
I can't say it any better than that. Lovely book!!