Congratulations again - wonderful to see how big a success "grand obsession" has become.

Perhaps I should also start writing a book about the piano industry:
how about "grand illusion".......

Norbert

:D

hi, norbert!

Hi Perri:

Actually I'm far more *listening* to books these days than writing them.

My daily *forced listening exercise* unfortunately seems to include same chapters and recitals from forever same book.

"grand delusion"

Norbert

Hi Perry,

Is there a date yet for when the paperback version of "Grand Obsession" will be available? I would like to get a copy for my daughter, and hardback books just don't work for her!

Many thanks and congratulations on a wonderful book.

Octavia

hi, octavia,

the paperback release date hasn't yet been announced, but i do know there will be one. i'm not sure why the delay, but perhaps it has something to do with the award nominations.

how old is your daughter? is she a pianist?

Greetings Peri

I just finished reading your book recently and it resonated with me as I was a returning student of piano at age 43 as well.

I am also on a journey to find the right piano, however my quest has been stalled for various reasons (along with my lessons) which I won't go into now.

Sufficed to say, after reading your book, I have a renewed enthusiasm and determination to continue my piano journey to find and acquire the piano of my dreams and continue my lessons.

Thanks for writing such an inspiring book and all the best.

Kind Regards,

allthumbs

Hi Perri,

Thanks for your reply. I will watch this thread and your website for the announcement on the paperback edition. Yes, my daughter is a pianist (as am I) and also a cellist. It is always such a pleasure to read well-written books on my favorite subject!

Regards,

Octavia

Piqué,

Just finished. Awesome read! This resonates with me on so many levels and in so many particulars--wait, I need to get up and flip over the record--I actually attended a concert by Dr. Manfred Clynes in Sydney when my ship stopped there in 1981. I met him in his office while he was doing his research, at the Consortium for Music. He played the last three Beethoven sonatas. How divine is that? Thank you so much for giving us such a wonderful memoir! And thanks especially to your husband for letting you go full leash.

Craig

Pique:

I had no idea you wrote Grand Obsession, but I am so glad I read your book (today's project). I too am an obsessed owner of a Grotrian 192.

It's been a long time since I have posted on Piano World, and in fact, it's been a long time since I even spent time at the site. A consequnce of job changes and relocations, I guess.

Along with enjoying, and certainly understanding the quest for that magical sound, the one that resonates with each individual's soul, I appreciated the reminder that the love of pianos is so much sweeter when shared, and you have brought me back to Piano World.

Thank you for your book, and for reminding me that I need not feel alone here in Port Clinton when it comes to piano love affairs.

Dave

craig,
i've passed your appreciation on to mr. pique, who is bemused, because the idea of him having me on a leash of any sort, short or long, is hilarious.

how amazing that you got to hear and meet clynes. what do you remember of his performance and of him?
(those of you who want to learn more about him can see a link to his website on my web page's "links" page).

thanks for your kind words. if you haven't already done so, would you be willing to express your impressions of the book at amazon.com?

hi, dave,
welcome back after your long absence! yes, love of pianos is very sweet when shared. a sweet way of putting it. one of the best things for me about writing the book is how it has connected me with so many kindred spirits, both while writing it, and then after publication, meeting people at events and parties. i find it pretty intoxicating to be around all that piano energy.

glad you enjoyed the book, and i hope you'll find your way to some local piano parties soon.

I love your book!! I am currently reading it right now and my love for pianos has grown even more!

Thanks soo much for writing that book!

This is by far one of the best books ive ever read!

Frank,
I just saw the picture of you next to the picture of Richard Dreyfuss. At first I thought you just posted two pictures of yourself - LOL.

wow, piano dreamer, that is high praise. thanks for the feedback. i hope you continue to enjoy it.

this weekend i'm one of the many presenters at the montana festival of the book. we had readings yesterday, and today i'm on a panel discussion about writing memoir.

tonight, tom mcguane is the big draw at the finale reading in the historic wilma theater.

here's the link to the festivities:

2008 montana festival of the book

last weekend, i had the honor of reading from "grand obsession" in between performances of all kinds of music, some serious, some wacky, at the university of montana school of music's "pianissimo!" piano extravaganza. that was loads of fun, and we had a huge crowd--probably 300 people in the hall, as just about every seat was taken.

people seem to really get off on the reading/piano performance combination, and it draws very big audiences. i think the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

the organizer of that event has agreed to be my piano teacher, quite a privilege!, and so i am now studying piano at the music school. i am thrilled.

we're working quite intensively on getting my basic skills up to speed, using the royal conservatory of toronto method (the teacher is a graduate of their program). i am learning so much!

What an amazing book, pique. I just bought it today and I'm having a hard time putting it down!

thanks for letting me know. i hope you continue to enjoy it.

Hey,
has anyone seen this?

http://www.musicouch.com/Genres/Classical/Showing-Virtuosity-in-60-Seconds.357351

It reminds me of the book, enjoy

I haven't read a story book for quite sometime, it must be "something" that drawn me to pick this off shelf. Just as i thought piano books are all technical and musical stuffs. This is something different, It speaks brillantly at some similar situation of mine which i doubt i can express myself. I'm finishing soon and more than excited to know the fate of Marlene. Oh no what to read next? :rolleyes:

More superlatives about the book. Much enjoyed. We had a surprisingly similar experience, but without the level of articulation or determination. Was quite a relief, a big PHEW to find we were not alone in having had a taste of, losing it, and the semi-elusive search for that hard to word something, I called it magic, liquidity, fluidity, involvement.

I don't want to do a spoiler, or ruin the punchline for those who have not read the book, but (isn't that a loaded word...?) is there a list of tuners who can do the particular style that hit the spot for you?

Thanks.

hi, ongaku,

to answer your question:

a list of tuners? no.

but, (spoiler alert!) there is a school of tuning that tends to create this sound. when i was in germany, i heard many pianos in the shops there that have a sound that is similar.

tom, my regular tech, says the style of tuning is more like how it was done back when he was in school, some 30 years ago or more. it's a quieter tuning, less excitement in it, than what is commonly done today.

if someone, however, wants to experience what i experienced, they'd have to use the same tuner, and a piano of about the same size. the string scale design is an important component of the sound. i've played a steinway d with this tuning on it, and it doesn't sound the same.

so, if you have a piano in the neighborhood of 6' long, you can get a sound like this. it's a tuning that works best with more harmonics, less fundamental.

otherwise, marc recommends that you have your technician tune and re-tune and re-tune. the more you tune the piano, the more refined it gets, and then it crosses over into something....

davinci,

thanks for your kind words. i hope you continue to enjoy the story.

(btw, my piano teacher describes "grand obsession" as "the davinci code for piano lovers.")

I am now in the middle of the book. So far quite interesting.

Hello,

I enjoyed the excerpts very much. I would like to give it as a gift to my child but won't have time to read it in it's entirety before Christmas. Is it OK for a ten year old?

Thanks!

there's nothing offensive in there, if that is what you mean, piano.mania. maybe a couple of "bad" words in the dialogue, but i think i'd have to rate it G, PG at the absolute worst.

i don't know if a ten year old would find it accessible, but i'd certainly be very interested to know if yours does!

NEWS FLASH

"grand obsession" was just named one of the "best books of 2008" by the washington post!

best books of the year

Wow Pique', How Cool is That? !!
And rightly so.

Congratulations!

Piano.mania, I like the book very much but I think most of it is not for children, (I have children.) I think much of it is beyond their life experience. I think adults who have come to various forks in the road in life can better appreciate it. I enjoyed the book but found a couple parts hard to relate to because I do not have hearing sensitivity described within. I think it will go over their heads for the most part, especially a chapter on sound theory and philosophy. I think it is a lovely book but not accessible for elementary school children.
There is so much classic children's literature to explore. Then there are some contemporary series that my children enjoy: A Series of Unfortunate Events, The Sisters Grimm, the Cronus Chronicles by Anne Ursu, The Lightning Thief series by Rick Riordan, the updated Peter Pan volumes. Though I am not able to think of a good music book, maybe a biography of a composer or player. There is a book 88 Keys, The Making of a Steinway that your ten year old might enjoy especially if they are mechanically inclined. It depends on whether they prefer action vs fantasy vs non fiction.

i would have to concur that it would be over the head of your average ten year old. but i don't know if the ten year old in question is average or not. if they have an interest in physics and in things mechanical, or an especially philosophical bent of mind that is precocious for their age, it might be a fit.

otherwise, probably not.

Thank you for all the suggestions!

It will be interesting to see the reaction and I will definitely let you know how it goes after the holiday. Either way, I think I will enjoy it very much based on the excerpts. I will definitely check out some of the other books suggested as well. Thanks again!

i thought about the age question some more. i think ten is young, unless it is a very unusual ten. but 11 or 12, especially 12, would be a good age for the book. at least, the 12 year old that i was (passionate about music and ideas) would have loved it.

and i think *any* child *older* than 12, if they have an interest in music or ideas, would enjoy it.

not to mention the adventure aspect of the story, i think the adventure/detective story aspect is probably what would hook a younger reader first.

i will be interested to know how it goes, piano.mania. please do report in after the holidays.