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School of Velocity
Shortlist, Vine Awards 2017
Shortlist, Kobo Emerging Writer Prize 2017
Finalist, Frank Hegyi Award for Emerging Authors 2017
Guardian/Observer Best Books 2016
Amazon Rising Stars 2016, for Best Debuts
CBC Books Best Canadian Debuts 2016
"A hugely impressive first novel about music, friendship and obsession. Gripping and emotional." —David Nicholls, bestselling author of One Day
"Both tender and truthful in its evoking of the canyon that lies between the openness of youth and the dangerous restraint of middle age, this is a luminous, quiet storm of a novel that resounds long after its heartbreaking coda." —Diana Evans, The Guardian
"De Vries's final confrontation with Dirk is a tragic, Gatsby-like meditation on the impossibility of reliving the past, however much we cling to our memories." —Financial Times
A wrenching and spare novel about an electric friendship that slowly reveals itself as a deep and lifelong love.
Jan de Vries is a virtuoso pianist who would be in the prime of his career but for the crippling auditory hallucinations that have plundered his performances and mind. As the disorder reaches its devastating peak the walls Jan has built around himself start to crumble, and he's unable to repress the trove of memories and unspoken words that linger between him and his childhood best friend, Dirk Noosen, with whom he lost touch long ago. He is faced with only one recourse: to head home and confront Dirk.
With a masterful balance of emotional resonance and restraint, Eric Beck Rubin tells the story of Jan's obsessive friendship with the charismatic, irreverent Dirk as the reader breathlessly awaits their reunion. This is a story about music, repression and regret; about adolescence, sex and friendship; and, ultimately, about the kind of love that lasts a lifetime.
Shortlist, Kobo Emerging Writer Prize 2017
Finalist, Frank Hegyi Award for Emerging Authors 2017
Guardian/Observer Best Books 2016
Amazon Rising Stars 2016, for Best Debuts
CBC Books Best Canadian Debuts 2016
"A hugely impressive first novel about music, friendship and obsession. Gripping and emotional." —David Nicholls, bestselling author of One Day
"Both tender and truthful in its evoking of the canyon that lies between the openness of youth and the dangerous restraint of middle age, this is a luminous, quiet storm of a novel that resounds long after its heartbreaking coda." —Diana Evans, The Guardian
"De Vries's final confrontation with Dirk is a tragic, Gatsby-like meditation on the impossibility of reliving the past, however much we cling to our memories." —Financial Times
A wrenching and spare novel about an electric friendship that slowly reveals itself as a deep and lifelong love.
Jan de Vries is a virtuoso pianist who would be in the prime of his career but for the crippling auditory hallucinations that have plundered his performances and mind. As the disorder reaches its devastating peak the walls Jan has built around himself start to crumble, and he's unable to repress the trove of memories and unspoken words that linger between him and his childhood best friend, Dirk Noosen, with whom he lost touch long ago. He is faced with only one recourse: to head home and confront Dirk.
With a masterful balance of emotional resonance and restraint, Eric Beck Rubin tells the story of Jan's obsessive friendship with the charismatic, irreverent Dirk as the reader breathlessly awaits their reunion. This is a story about music, repression and regret; about adolescence, sex and friendship; and, ultimately, about the kind of love that lasts a lifetime.
200 pages, Hardcover
Published August 23, 2016
5 people are currently reading
279 people want to read
About the author
Eric Beck Rubin
4 books18 followersERIC BECK RUBIN is a novelist, cultural historian and lecturer. SCHOOL OF VELOCITY is Eric's first novel. TEN CLEAR DAYS is his second.
For current news about the author and book, visit ericbeckrubin.com.
For current news about the author and book, visit ericbeckrubin.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
August 6, 2024
Considering the wealth of praise from reviewers around the world it would almost seem arrogant to imagine, or try, to add anything useful to what has already been said. So I will only echo it, this is a lovely and moving tale that, in its denouement, reminded me of Simon Mawer's 'The Fall' (another book I totally loved and would recommend). The failure to recognize, understand, or realize soon enough what adolescent friendship and love might mean is at the heart of both books, but neither can be simplistically reduced to that alone. School of Velocity is not a long book but it packs a significant amount into its brief length. Although another reviewer on this site has complained that the book did not move him as expected I can assure you that this reviewer was emotionally knocked for six by this novel.
December 1, 2016
What can I say? Such a sad, moving story about the failed love between two young men. It gets to you right from the start and does not loosen its grip till the last page. Thank you, Eric.
June 19, 2018
Jan and Dirk are teenage boys when they meet in the Netherlands. Jan is studying the piano and dreams of a musical career. Dirk has already had a career as a child actor. Jan is a quiet boy, while Dirk is flamboyant and outgoing. Jan soon is obsessed with Dirk and follows him everywhere. To his surprise, Dirk seems to want to be with him and they soon become fast friends, with sleepovers where they watch porn. They lose touch when Dirk goes to America to find his way to stardom and Jan stays in the Netherlands to go to music school. They don’t see each other again until Jan becomes ill and reaches out to Dirk.
OK, I have to admit that I was turned off by the beginning of this book. Dirk’s language and topics of conversation were sometimes a bit offensive and while young boys may think of only one thing – sex – it isn’t my preferred reading material. Dirk’s character seemed to go quite a bit over board with his rebellious spirit although the adults unbelievably took it all in stride. But I’m very glad I stuck with this book. It really turned around after they each went off to pursue their adult lives and I became engrossed in the book. It’s a beautifully written story about male friendship and quite sad. I also enjoyed the author’s description of a musician’s life and the total absorption in the music. The book leaves open quite a few questions and that’s fine with me. I didn’t need this type of book wrapped up nicely. It’s a powerful, emotional read and I don’t even want to start another book yet as I want to give this one some more thought for a while.
Recommended.
This book was given to me by the publisher in return for an honest review.
OK, I have to admit that I was turned off by the beginning of this book. Dirk’s language and topics of conversation were sometimes a bit offensive and while young boys may think of only one thing – sex – it isn’t my preferred reading material. Dirk’s character seemed to go quite a bit over board with his rebellious spirit although the adults unbelievably took it all in stride. But I’m very glad I stuck with this book. It really turned around after they each went off to pursue their adult lives and I became engrossed in the book. It’s a beautifully written story about male friendship and quite sad. I also enjoyed the author’s description of a musician’s life and the total absorption in the music. The book leaves open quite a few questions and that’s fine with me. I didn’t need this type of book wrapped up nicely. It’s a powerful, emotional read and I don’t even want to start another book yet as I want to give this one some more thought for a while.
Recommended.
This book was given to me by the publisher in return for an honest review.
June 11, 2016
Minimal. Graceful. Tender. Rousing. Quiet. Confident. I loved "School of Velocity."
Like the stirring notes of a concerto, there are such subtleties to Eric Beck Rubin's prose. There is a natural, lyrical ease to it, and reads like a mashup of "A Little Life" and "Hausfrau" – two of my favourite books from 2015. Music plays an important role in its story, further reflected by The Soundtrack curated by Rubin for his characters, Jan and Dirk. I'm writing this review as I listen to the very diverse selection of songs, and it honestly adds more depth to the characters. I'm placed into their surroundings - from a room in the Netherlands as they bond in their youth, to being at the other end of the line of an awkward long distance phone conversation with Dirk, or to the seat at a piano as Jan performs in a concert hall. Who they are as individuals is put into perspective in understated ways. You sense how very opposite yet magnetic they are to each other.
The melodies from the playlist ring in my ears in tandem to the words off the pages in my head. It's a highly recommended layered experience from a fresh voice in the Canadian lit scene, one that makes "School of Velocity" and its Carl Czerny composition namesake all the more unforgettable.
Like the stirring notes of a concerto, there are such subtleties to Eric Beck Rubin's prose. There is a natural, lyrical ease to it, and reads like a mashup of "A Little Life" and "Hausfrau" – two of my favourite books from 2015. Music plays an important role in its story, further reflected by The Soundtrack curated by Rubin for his characters, Jan and Dirk. I'm writing this review as I listen to the very diverse selection of songs, and it honestly adds more depth to the characters. I'm placed into their surroundings - from a room in the Netherlands as they bond in their youth, to being at the other end of the line of an awkward long distance phone conversation with Dirk, or to the seat at a piano as Jan performs in a concert hall. Who they are as individuals is put into perspective in understated ways. You sense how very opposite yet magnetic they are to each other.
The melodies from the playlist ring in my ears in tandem to the words off the pages in my head. It's a highly recommended layered experience from a fresh voice in the Canadian lit scene, one that makes "School of Velocity" and its Carl Czerny composition namesake all the more unforgettable.
November 16, 2017
This one probably deserves a 3.75 so I rounded up.
It's hard to find good novels that include classical music in an intelligent, non-pedantic way. This one definitely does that and the story, plotting, writing etc. all worked for me as well. My biggest issue, in fact, was the ending. But I'm not going to spoil that for you all right here.
It's hard to find good novels that include classical music in an intelligent, non-pedantic way. This one definitely does that and the story, plotting, writing etc. all worked for me as well. My biggest issue, in fact, was the ending. But I'm not going to spoil that for you all right here.
August 13, 2016
This has left me feeling kind of unsettled. Appropriately, like a jangle of discordant notes left hanging at the end of a song, or a piano lid slammed down. I think I love/hate it..
November 24, 2016
Jan de Vries is a student at Sint Ansfried, an elite performing arts high school, when he meets Dirk Noosen. He is a pianist; Dirk is an actor. “I saw him several times before I even knew his name,” he tells us. “He was like a new word that, once learned, you heard spoken everywhere.” That is the reader’s cue to be aware that this book is going to be about charisma, about power, about the ways in which the charismatic behave that make them, at best, dubious idols. It’s also, because of this, highly relevant to the book I’m currently writing, which also wrestles with questions of charisma, school days (or adolescence in general) and power games.
Well. Reading School of Velocity has made me think two things: a) thank God someone else has written a book about this, it’s obviously possible; and b) bollocks, maybe I shouldn’t bother; how can I improve on this?
Read the rest of the review here: https://ellethinks.wordpress.com/2016...
Well. Reading School of Velocity has made me think two things: a) thank God someone else has written a book about this, it’s obviously possible; and b) bollocks, maybe I shouldn’t bother; how can I improve on this?
Read the rest of the review here: https://ellethinks.wordpress.com/2016...
February 22, 2018
via my blog: https://bookstalkerblog.wordpress.com/
'I saw Dirk before I met him. I saw him several times before I even knew his name. He was like a new word that, once learned, you heard spoken everywhere. Compelling attention. Mine, yours, anyone’s.'
Jan is a virtuoso pianist, consumed by strange unwelcome music, sounds screaming through his head when he is meant to be playing other pieces. Something is going frighteningly wrong, then there are the memories of the most compelling friend he ever had, Dirk. Their abrupt parting was strange, and the confusion still haunts his thoughts. Every person from their past seems to have stories to tell of what Dirk has been doing, each of his successes, his failures and all are surprised Jan knows so little. The two were never apart, impossible to separate in the minds of their peers. There are moments through the years where their paths cross, but somehow, Dirk always vanishes again, inexplicably. The crumbs he throws to Jan never fill his belly, the confidences never tell the entire story of his adult life. Jan is too wrapped up in his career, his performances and plans to realize everything is not as it seems, that something is always absent from what Dirk shares.
Their friendship was heavy with intimacy, thrills and denial in the daylight hours. Even now, from a distant with the maturity and wisdom of the passing years Jan doesn’t understand everything that happened, or all the feelings knotted inside of him. Dirk was an event, able to charm and seduce everyone in his path, even stealing Jan’s girlfriend but more crucial, stealing Jan’s loyalty and affection. Dirk is a fish he either cut loose, or who got himself off the hook years ago. Jan keeps secrets from his beloved Lena, about his health, his past. But he can’t hide what’s happening forever, anymore than he can neglect to confront Dirk and the past they shared. But has Dirk remained suspended in time, the same person Jan loved so dearly, just waiting for his friend to find him again?
This is a novel about music, love, and the overwhelmingly blind confusion of ourselves. It’s a young man coming of age whom may be a virtuoso pianist but can’t heart the music of his own heart. Strange, how everyone else around us sees us far more clearly, understands our lives and the people we orbit better than we do. Time has teeth, can we go back? It ends with a gasp.
Publication Date: June 5, 2018
Pushkin Press
'I saw Dirk before I met him. I saw him several times before I even knew his name. He was like a new word that, once learned, you heard spoken everywhere. Compelling attention. Mine, yours, anyone’s.'
Jan is a virtuoso pianist, consumed by strange unwelcome music, sounds screaming through his head when he is meant to be playing other pieces. Something is going frighteningly wrong, then there are the memories of the most compelling friend he ever had, Dirk. Their abrupt parting was strange, and the confusion still haunts his thoughts. Every person from their past seems to have stories to tell of what Dirk has been doing, each of his successes, his failures and all are surprised Jan knows so little. The two were never apart, impossible to separate in the minds of their peers. There are moments through the years where their paths cross, but somehow, Dirk always vanishes again, inexplicably. The crumbs he throws to Jan never fill his belly, the confidences never tell the entire story of his adult life. Jan is too wrapped up in his career, his performances and plans to realize everything is not as it seems, that something is always absent from what Dirk shares.
Their friendship was heavy with intimacy, thrills and denial in the daylight hours. Even now, from a distant with the maturity and wisdom of the passing years Jan doesn’t understand everything that happened, or all the feelings knotted inside of him. Dirk was an event, able to charm and seduce everyone in his path, even stealing Jan’s girlfriend but more crucial, stealing Jan’s loyalty and affection. Dirk is a fish he either cut loose, or who got himself off the hook years ago. Jan keeps secrets from his beloved Lena, about his health, his past. But he can’t hide what’s happening forever, anymore than he can neglect to confront Dirk and the past they shared. But has Dirk remained suspended in time, the same person Jan loved so dearly, just waiting for his friend to find him again?
This is a novel about music, love, and the overwhelmingly blind confusion of ourselves. It’s a young man coming of age whom may be a virtuoso pianist but can’t heart the music of his own heart. Strange, how everyone else around us sees us far more clearly, understands our lives and the people we orbit better than we do. Time has teeth, can we go back? It ends with a gasp.
Publication Date: June 5, 2018
Pushkin Press
June 30, 2018
I was confused at first, believing this to be a translated novel, but it is only set in the Netherlands. The author is Canadian, from Toronto, so that is why I have it listed under both in my shelves.
I'm always on the hunt for books where music is an important element. Of the two men in this novel, Jan de Vries is a classical pianist, and successful enough to be making a living at it and making records (I got the sense that in the universe of the novel he is someone with acclaim but not upper tier.) Unfortunately he has started to hear music in his head that is distracting him during practice but especially in performances and is a major threat to his livelihood (cross reference Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain and other works by Oliver Sacks, who has studied these kinds of disorders).
The book moves from there into scenes from Jan's childhood, largely having to do with his friend Dirk. What is is that they shared? Was it just friendship? Exploration? Romance? I enjoyed
this interview with the author where he says
So they do reconnect as adults and that's the basic plot of the book; I'm leaving out a lot to be discovered in your reading.
As a piano major of old, I knew most of the music referenced, but of course listened to it as I read the novel. That to me was part of the pleasure of it. I think it's a fairly strong debut and I would look forward to another one, but I think I'd prefer the author to write something set in his own country, honestly. The Dutch setting and characters really threw me off (and almost set me off of reading the novel, based on my previous negative experiences with Dutch novels in translation, something about the point of view or sensibility that I just can't connect with.)
Okay, did a little internet research and found that his next novel is historical fiction and partially set in Canada. Hurrah! I also discovered he is a book podcaster, over on Burning Books, so I'm going to have to check that out.
Thanks to the publisher for providing access to this title in Edelweiss. Although it came out in Canada last year and as such may seem like old news, it only came out in the USA on June 26, 2018. Come on Canadian publishers! We want your books faster than this!
I'm always on the hunt for books where music is an important element. Of the two men in this novel, Jan de Vries is a classical pianist, and successful enough to be making a living at it and making records (I got the sense that in the universe of the novel he is someone with acclaim but not upper tier.) Unfortunately he has started to hear music in his head that is distracting him during practice but especially in performances and is a major threat to his livelihood (cross reference Musicophilia: Tales of Music and the Brain and other works by Oliver Sacks, who has studied these kinds of disorders).
The book moves from there into scenes from Jan's childhood, largely having to do with his friend Dirk. What is is that they shared? Was it just friendship? Exploration? Romance? I enjoyed
this interview with the author where he says
"Everyone has a Dirk. Almost everyone has that best friend. And I don’t know too many that survive into adulthood. I have a Dirk, a friend who left my life, and I never figured out why...."Intriguing, I think I have one of those too, a friendship that you can try to recover in your adulthood but it can never be what it was. And you may never know all the answers to why everything fell apart.
So they do reconnect as adults and that's the basic plot of the book; I'm leaving out a lot to be discovered in your reading.
As a piano major of old, I knew most of the music referenced, but of course listened to it as I read the novel. That to me was part of the pleasure of it. I think it's a fairly strong debut and I would look forward to another one, but I think I'd prefer the author to write something set in his own country, honestly. The Dutch setting and characters really threw me off (and almost set me off of reading the novel, based on my previous negative experiences with Dutch novels in translation, something about the point of view or sensibility that I just can't connect with.)
Okay, did a little internet research and found that his next novel is historical fiction and partially set in Canada. Hurrah! I also discovered he is a book podcaster, over on Burning Books, so I'm going to have to check that out.
Thanks to the publisher for providing access to this title in Edelweiss. Although it came out in Canada last year and as such may seem like old news, it only came out in the USA on June 26, 2018. Come on Canadian publishers! We want your books faster than this!
February 6, 2018
Many thanks to Netgalley and Pushkin Press for the advanced reading copy, in return for this honest review.
Rubin's debut novel doesn't betray any of the deficiencies for most first novels - it isn't overly long and try to get EVERYTHING in; in fact, it is quite compact and moves swiftly (I read it in less than one day). Although some of it covers well-trod territory (same-sex boyhood experimentation), it doesn't really go where one might expect, and Rubin's prose is both economical and lyrical. Although Rubin is seemingly quite knowledgeable about the world of professional musicians, what didn't particularly work well for me is the near constant reference to music, both classical and contemporary, that I am sure probably enhances the work for those more cognizant of that field (Rubin proffers an accompanying 'Soundtrack' on his website to listen to as one goes along, but I didn't discover that till after I'd finished). And although his ending is both appropriate and fitting, it is still quite sad and borderline depressing. Regardless, I happily followed the exploits of Jan and Dirk, and related to their doomed love story.
Rubin's debut novel doesn't betray any of the deficiencies for most first novels - it isn't overly long and try to get EVERYTHING in; in fact, it is quite compact and moves swiftly (I read it in less than one day). Although some of it covers well-trod territory (same-sex boyhood experimentation), it doesn't really go where one might expect, and Rubin's prose is both economical and lyrical. Although Rubin is seemingly quite knowledgeable about the world of professional musicians, what didn't particularly work well for me is the near constant reference to music, both classical and contemporary, that I am sure probably enhances the work for those more cognizant of that field (Rubin proffers an accompanying 'Soundtrack' on his website to listen to as one goes along, but I didn't discover that till after I'd finished). And although his ending is both appropriate and fitting, it is still quite sad and borderline depressing. Regardless, I happily followed the exploits of Jan and Dirk, and related to their doomed love story.
February 9, 2019
WHAT KIND OF ENDING WAS THAT? Did I miss something? That’s it? Okay, cool. Cool, cool, cool, cool.
This book is written beautifully, and a stronger understanding of music would have made the experience even better, but despite not knowing a single thing about it I still had a grasp of what was going on inside Jan’s head.
The School of Velocity is not a book to go to if you’re looking for some light, happy reading with a satisfying ending, but it is a book with a message, and one that can provide a kind of catharsis for those who have experienced similar heartbreak. I haven’t, but thanks this book I now feel like I have. I’m going to be thinking about The School of Velocity for the next week, I can already tell.
Basically, stay in contact with your best friends and don’t be so afraid of your feelings.
This book is written beautifully, and a stronger understanding of music would have made the experience even better, but despite not knowing a single thing about it I still had a grasp of what was going on inside Jan’s head.
The School of Velocity is not a book to go to if you’re looking for some light, happy reading with a satisfying ending, but it is a book with a message, and one that can provide a kind of catharsis for those who have experienced similar heartbreak. I haven’t, but thanks this book I now feel like I have. I’m going to be thinking about The School of Velocity for the next week, I can already tell.
Basically, stay in contact with your best friends and don’t be so afraid of your feelings.
August 2, 2017
School of Velocity, by Eric Beck Rubin, is a story of music, love, and the abiding impact of close childhood friends. Told in the first person by fictional pianist Jan de Vries, it opens at a concert where he is struggling to hear the music he needs to play above the cacophony that pounds inside his head. Back in his apartment he packs a bag, not intending to return.
The reader is taken back to when Jan starts at his first arts school near his parents’ home in the Netherlands. Here he meets Dirk who proceeds to woo Jan’s girlfriend. Dirk is wild and dangerous, in thought and deed. The quiet and diligent young musician is lured inside the outrageous and confident boy’s web, and finds himself smitten.
Jan and Dirk become best friends, meeting after school and spending weekends together. As the school years pass they experiment with the pastimes many teenage boys brag of – alcohol, porn, drugs and sex. When they graduate they believe that glittering futures beckon. Although they will now continue their training in different countries, Jan is confident their closeness will endure.
Jan fills the gap created by Dirk’s absence with music, determined to fulfil his potential. Abroad Dirk becomes something of an enigma. When they meet again the balance of power has shifted, although Jan is unaware to what extent.
The writing is finely tuned and lyrical, presenting life with all its self-absorption and contradictions. Jan regards Dirk only in relation to himself, never considering the impact others have had along the way.
Jan’s development as a pianist is beautifully portrayed offering appreciation of the emotional depths music can provide for both player and listener. This depth is also present in the subtlety and insights of the prose. The story is captivating, affecting, a pleasure to read.
My copy of this book was provided gratis by the publisher, Pushkin Press.
The reader is taken back to when Jan starts at his first arts school near his parents’ home in the Netherlands. Here he meets Dirk who proceeds to woo Jan’s girlfriend. Dirk is wild and dangerous, in thought and deed. The quiet and diligent young musician is lured inside the outrageous and confident boy’s web, and finds himself smitten.
Jan and Dirk become best friends, meeting after school and spending weekends together. As the school years pass they experiment with the pastimes many teenage boys brag of – alcohol, porn, drugs and sex. When they graduate they believe that glittering futures beckon. Although they will now continue their training in different countries, Jan is confident their closeness will endure.
Jan fills the gap created by Dirk’s absence with music, determined to fulfil his potential. Abroad Dirk becomes something of an enigma. When they meet again the balance of power has shifted, although Jan is unaware to what extent.
The writing is finely tuned and lyrical, presenting life with all its self-absorption and contradictions. Jan regards Dirk only in relation to himself, never considering the impact others have had along the way.
Jan’s development as a pianist is beautifully portrayed offering appreciation of the emotional depths music can provide for both player and listener. This depth is also present in the subtlety and insights of the prose. The story is captivating, affecting, a pleasure to read.
My copy of this book was provided gratis by the publisher, Pushkin Press.
July 20, 2018
An intelligent and thoughtful exploration of the power of music, a coming-of-age story and a dissection of how an intense adolescence friendship can have unexpected consequences. Jan and Dirk are close friends at school but their lives diverge when Jan goes on to become a world-renowned pianist. His success is threatened, however, when the music he hears in his head takes over and drowns out the music he should be playing. Could that early relationship with Dirk be in some way the cause? A story of memory and music, of love and loss, I found this a powerful psychological novel, well-constructed and with a careful and well thought-out slow reveal, and a convincing conclusion.
September 19, 2022
I did enjoy this book, however I truly think it would have benefited from being longer. It had so much potential to be great, the kind of book that is just my type. But the length of it meant that I was left unable to fully connect to the characters or their relationships. I wish we had more time with young Dirk and Jan. Furthermore, I wish Jan's complex feelings towards both Dirk and Lena were explored more. Rubin had great ideas when it comes to this novel, and I wish he would have been able to bring them the care and attention they needed.
May 15, 2018
finished this book on the bus and was trying hard to hold back tears
July 12, 2016
"School of Velocity" a touchingly poignant novel which I won through Goodreads Giveaways opens with the friendship between two boys; Jan de Vries a talented pianist and wild, unpredictable and foul-mouthed Dirk Noosen. Bonded in friendship after Dirk steals Jan's girlfriend Lise and without any parental guidance, the two explore the mysteries of boyhood with ventures into drinking, girls and daredevil stunts; even exploring a night of youthful passion together.
As the years pass Jan's career as a piano accompanist explodes becoming a success as he travels the world, while Dirk" falls off the map" in America, distancing himself from his best friend except for the odd card and fruitless promises of attending one of his performances. The story heats up when auditory attacks with crippling side effects, memories of their deep and loving friendship and the news that Dirk is teaching drama at Sint Ansfried their old school sends Jan back home to confront his past and the demons that haunt him.
Eric Beck Rubin's style of writing is flowing and lyrical in a setting filled with music as he tells the story of an obsessive boyhood friendship that leaves Jan and Dirk as adults waiting for a reunion and the recognition of feelings long repressed. Although short in length the plot is beautifully choreographed as Jan follows his dream of becoming a successful pianist performing far from home while Dirk escapes to America only to flounder and eventually return to teach in the school he left as a youth. Delicately told the story is heartbreaking and tragic especially when Jan's disorder gets worse, his marriage breaks down, and memories of his best friend threaten to overwhelm him. This is a story of youth, sex, friendship and a love that refuses to die.
Skilfully Eric Beck Rubin creates complex characters that bring heart and soul to a plot that's unforgettable. Jan deVries a "virtuoso pianist" is a quiet diligent and lonely young boy whose best friend is the popular, charismatic but irreverent new kid at school, Dirk Noosen. "Attached at the hip" as boys , lacking parental supervision, enjoying youthful adventures and sleepovers the pair go their separate ways; one to a "fresh start and breakdown in America, the other to a successful career and for many years a loving, happy marriage. Only when a devastating disorder crumples Jan's world do the two reunite to confront their emotions with the hope of at last finding peace.
I liked " School of Velocity" the first novel for a talented writer.
As the years pass Jan's career as a piano accompanist explodes becoming a success as he travels the world, while Dirk" falls off the map" in America, distancing himself from his best friend except for the odd card and fruitless promises of attending one of his performances. The story heats up when auditory attacks with crippling side effects, memories of their deep and loving friendship and the news that Dirk is teaching drama at Sint Ansfried their old school sends Jan back home to confront his past and the demons that haunt him.
Eric Beck Rubin's style of writing is flowing and lyrical in a setting filled with music as he tells the story of an obsessive boyhood friendship that leaves Jan and Dirk as adults waiting for a reunion and the recognition of feelings long repressed. Although short in length the plot is beautifully choreographed as Jan follows his dream of becoming a successful pianist performing far from home while Dirk escapes to America only to flounder and eventually return to teach in the school he left as a youth. Delicately told the story is heartbreaking and tragic especially when Jan's disorder gets worse, his marriage breaks down, and memories of his best friend threaten to overwhelm him. This is a story of youth, sex, friendship and a love that refuses to die.
Skilfully Eric Beck Rubin creates complex characters that bring heart and soul to a plot that's unforgettable. Jan deVries a "virtuoso pianist" is a quiet diligent and lonely young boy whose best friend is the popular, charismatic but irreverent new kid at school, Dirk Noosen. "Attached at the hip" as boys , lacking parental supervision, enjoying youthful adventures and sleepovers the pair go their separate ways; one to a "fresh start and breakdown in America, the other to a successful career and for many years a loving, happy marriage. Only when a devastating disorder crumples Jan's world do the two reunite to confront their emotions with the hope of at last finding peace.
I liked " School of Velocity" the first novel for a talented writer.
August 16, 2016
Please read all of my reviews at http://ultraviolentlit.blogspot.ca!
Jan is a pianist at the height of his career, but he is struggling with his music due to auditory hallucinations that will eventually destroy his future in music. At one of his final performances, he is beset by memories of his childhood friend Dirk, with whom he has lost touch. Without any upcoming performances, Jan is set adrift, and he decides to find Dirk and rekindle their friendship.
The two boys met in elementary school, and their relationship blossomed into one of deep intimacy – at times, their intense friendship blurred the lines into physical love. In fact, the synopsis reminded me of A Little Life, but it was really nothing like it, and School of Velocity was disappointing in comparison. It is a much shorter novel, but even so, I felt like it didn’t go into as much depth of emotion as it could have. However, that may also be a cultural difference, as this novel is set primarily in the Netherlands, and it has a very European feel.
Before his final meeting with Dirk, Jan reminisces about their coming of age and his emotional, obsessive feelings for Dirk – Jan’s memories gradually lead the reader to the present day, and to his reunion with Dirk. It is an exploration of Jan’s repression of his true sexuality, and their adolescent blurring of the line between sex and friendship.
The novel has a musical background, and the lyrical writing flows nicely even as I lost interest in the characters. Jan and Dirk are complex, but I did not connect with them. By the time they reunited, I just didn’t care about them anymore. The ending was good because it was not perfect, and I enjoyed the realism of Jan’s feelings. I just wished for more depth in his journey of self-discovery.
I received this novel from Doubleday Canada and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Jan is a pianist at the height of his career, but he is struggling with his music due to auditory hallucinations that will eventually destroy his future in music. At one of his final performances, he is beset by memories of his childhood friend Dirk, with whom he has lost touch. Without any upcoming performances, Jan is set adrift, and he decides to find Dirk and rekindle their friendship.
The two boys met in elementary school, and their relationship blossomed into one of deep intimacy – at times, their intense friendship blurred the lines into physical love. In fact, the synopsis reminded me of A Little Life, but it was really nothing like it, and School of Velocity was disappointing in comparison. It is a much shorter novel, but even so, I felt like it didn’t go into as much depth of emotion as it could have. However, that may also be a cultural difference, as this novel is set primarily in the Netherlands, and it has a very European feel.
Before his final meeting with Dirk, Jan reminisces about their coming of age and his emotional, obsessive feelings for Dirk – Jan’s memories gradually lead the reader to the present day, and to his reunion with Dirk. It is an exploration of Jan’s repression of his true sexuality, and their adolescent blurring of the line between sex and friendship.
The novel has a musical background, and the lyrical writing flows nicely even as I lost interest in the characters. Jan and Dirk are complex, but I did not connect with them. By the time they reunited, I just didn’t care about them anymore. The ending was good because it was not perfect, and I enjoyed the realism of Jan’s feelings. I just wished for more depth in his journey of self-discovery.
I received this novel from Doubleday Canada and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 15, 2016
Book review – School of Velocity by Eric Beck Rubin
School of Velocity is a novel about music, about self-doubt, about mental health, and about friendship. Jan is a virtuoso pianist, always practising, the book starts with him accompanying a cellist in a foreign country, but the concert doesn’t go as planned. He can barely remember the music, misses a few cues, and leaves in disgrace.
As he comes to terms with this disaster, and the implications that it may have on his future career, he remembers Dirk, and old school friend, with a magnetic personality, and popularity to burn, and as Dirk’s personality and popularity rubs of on Jan, he finds his life changed by being allowed into certain circles within the school clique system. But the friendship is dangerous, and toxic with Dirk daring Jan to take on more and more dangerous risks, and after they leave school, the friendship falters.
They meet up again in later life, but things have changed between them. Jan is the successful one, making good on the promise he showed in his youth, but they are both also aware that their friendship was a normal friendship. It was more than that, bordering on love, or on obsession, and as Jan takes one last risk to try to impress Dirk, we know that neither of them will find the full resolution that they need.
This is a fine novel, from a debut novelist, with plenty to say. The friendship between the two protagonists is well drawn, and while neither of them is particularly sympathetic, it is a believable relationship, and the story moves along at quite a smart pace, whilst secondary characters are well drawn, including the girls that Jan repeatedly loses to Dirk, or their family members. Eric Beck Rubin has also done his research into the piano repertoire, and describing the life of musicians in the highest standards of the classical music world.
School of Velocity is a novel about music, about self-doubt, about mental health, and about friendship. Jan is a virtuoso pianist, always practising, the book starts with him accompanying a cellist in a foreign country, but the concert doesn’t go as planned. He can barely remember the music, misses a few cues, and leaves in disgrace.
As he comes to terms with this disaster, and the implications that it may have on his future career, he remembers Dirk, and old school friend, with a magnetic personality, and popularity to burn, and as Dirk’s personality and popularity rubs of on Jan, he finds his life changed by being allowed into certain circles within the school clique system. But the friendship is dangerous, and toxic with Dirk daring Jan to take on more and more dangerous risks, and after they leave school, the friendship falters.
They meet up again in later life, but things have changed between them. Jan is the successful one, making good on the promise he showed in his youth, but they are both also aware that their friendship was a normal friendship. It was more than that, bordering on love, or on obsession, and as Jan takes one last risk to try to impress Dirk, we know that neither of them will find the full resolution that they need.
This is a fine novel, from a debut novelist, with plenty to say. The friendship between the two protagonists is well drawn, and while neither of them is particularly sympathetic, it is a believable relationship, and the story moves along at quite a smart pace, whilst secondary characters are well drawn, including the girls that Jan repeatedly loses to Dirk, or their family members. Eric Beck Rubin has also done his research into the piano repertoire, and describing the life of musicians in the highest standards of the classical music world.
July 14, 2016
Goodreads giveaway copy
When I entered this giveaway I thought "It's a contemporary, however, it is about a musician so I might enjoy it." I was vastly wrong.
Our character, the pianist, Jan de vries... I'd just read the synopsis on Goodreads, I'd just be restating that...
Contemporary literature has always been that genre that I connected to school work. Normally that'd be a good thing, I'd enjoyed school work(as it gives me something to do) and now you're telling me to read something for that "work" wowsers! It couldn't get better. However, contemporary novels are written, it seems, to have relatable characters in an already understood setting. Which would be great and all if I was 'normal' and cared about 'normal' things like; social standing as opposed to getting my school work done; taking advantage of snow days and not going as opposed to going to school despite only 20 or less students are there. I can't really relate to these characters or their decisions. But alas, he thinks to himself, a novel whose main character is Musician something I understand.
Nope.
With the odd situation making me go "oo oo oo I do that" or "I get it" the rest of the novel has me returning to my desk feeling like I need to write a report pretending I care about anything going on in the story and hand it in to be marked.
With all of that being said. I realize this more of a "Me. Me. Me." Problem then it is a fault of the novel itself, hence the 2 stars replacing a would be 1-star. If you are a fan of typical contemporar novels and enjoy music I'd recommend this to you to atleast take a look at otherwise continue on, as I do, and read your next book.
When I entered this giveaway I thought "It's a contemporary, however, it is about a musician so I might enjoy it." I was vastly wrong.
Our character, the pianist, Jan de vries... I'd just read the synopsis on Goodreads, I'd just be restating that...
Contemporary literature has always been that genre that I connected to school work. Normally that'd be a good thing, I'd enjoyed school work(as it gives me something to do) and now you're telling me to read something for that "work" wowsers! It couldn't get better. However, contemporary novels are written, it seems, to have relatable characters in an already understood setting. Which would be great and all if I was 'normal' and cared about 'normal' things like; social standing as opposed to getting my school work done; taking advantage of snow days and not going as opposed to going to school despite only 20 or less students are there. I can't really relate to these characters or their decisions. But alas, he thinks to himself, a novel whose main character is Musician something I understand.
Nope.
With the odd situation making me go "oo oo oo I do that" or "I get it" the rest of the novel has me returning to my desk feeling like I need to write a report pretending I care about anything going on in the story and hand it in to be marked.
With all of that being said. I realize this more of a "Me. Me. Me." Problem then it is a fault of the novel itself, hence the 2 stars replacing a would be 1-star. If you are a fan of typical contemporar novels and enjoy music I'd recommend this to you to atleast take a look at otherwise continue on, as I do, and read your next book.
July 26, 2016
School of Velocity is unexpected. It is not a high school story; but, a coming of age story about two school friends. It crosses certain boundaries of friendship which haunts one of the characters throughout his life, and is the ultimate reason for his untimely death. The writing style is fast moving and the events are believable. The characters were both likeable and not so likeable, I suppose like real relationships. This is a book for an older reader due to sexual content.
One of the characters becomes a concert pianist and marries a woman totally devoted to him. He starts to experience voices which affect his playing and he takes a brief hiatus. The voices become a psychological issue. He looks up his old friend from high school some thirty years after because he realises he is his true love. The old friend rejects him. The build up to all of this is well written and fast moving, and I think the final events take the reader by surprise, I had to read the ending twice to realize what was happening.
This is almost a psychological thriller with an unexpected twist, or perhaps, the ending is not so unexpected when you really think about the whole character and plotline development.
One of the characters becomes a concert pianist and marries a woman totally devoted to him. He starts to experience voices which affect his playing and he takes a brief hiatus. The voices become a psychological issue. He looks up his old friend from high school some thirty years after because he realises he is his true love. The old friend rejects him. The build up to all of this is well written and fast moving, and I think the final events take the reader by surprise, I had to read the ending twice to realize what was happening.
This is almost a psychological thriller with an unexpected twist, or perhaps, the ending is not so unexpected when you really think about the whole character and plotline development.
August 1, 2016
First off, I have to thank Penguin Random House Canada for an ARC of this book. Much appreciated.
This book is well written; it's very clear that the author is educated. Generally speaking, I liked this author's writing style.
That said, I found the first half of this book a little slow at times or, at the very least, I found my mind kept wandering to other things and I wasn't paying attention fully to what I was reading. Fortunately, I found the second half much more interesting. I think part of the reason for that is that Jan's illness becomes more of a focal point in the second half and his relationship with Dirk starts to fade away.
The ending probably isn't what most people would want from an ending, but I thought it was realistic and fitting.
Overall, I liked this book well enough (the second half moreso than the first). I think I might have appreciated it more if I was a classical musician. As for why I didn't find the first half that interesting...I really can't remember.
This book is well written; it's very clear that the author is educated. Generally speaking, I liked this author's writing style.
That said, I found the first half of this book a little slow at times or, at the very least, I found my mind kept wandering to other things and I wasn't paying attention fully to what I was reading. Fortunately, I found the second half much more interesting. I think part of the reason for that is that Jan's illness becomes more of a focal point in the second half and his relationship with Dirk starts to fade away.
The ending probably isn't what most people would want from an ending, but I thought it was realistic and fitting.
Overall, I liked this book well enough (the second half moreso than the first). I think I might have appreciated it more if I was a classical musician. As for why I didn't find the first half that interesting...I really can't remember.
December 21, 2016
Eric Beck Rubin's debut novel School of Velocity is a terrific, melancholy coming of age(s) story that traces the ambiguous relationship between Jan, a budding pianist, and Dirk, a whirlwind of life and bravado, from their initial years as boys who grow to be best friends and the years beyond as they move into middle age, estranged but never far from each others minds, especially Jan as he settles down with Lena and becomes a successful touring pianist. As Jan's health deteriorates by way of sounds haunting his head, so does his memory of Dirk and their growing estrangement. This is a fascinating meditation on friendship, time, relationships, growing up, sexuality, and music, which is presented with such detail you'd think Beck Rubin was a world class musician. The themes here are explored with great compassion for the people and their relationships. At times tender, at times devastating, School of Velocity marks the debut of a voice that will be one to watch if this assured, lovely book is any indication. A great find and one of the best debuts of 2016.
April 23, 2024
i was never bored but i was also never super engaged. it read a bit like undeveloped ff, pre beta reading. the beginning was really good, when they were in school together. esp with their friends. i wish we addressed the fact dirk become someone who waits more and that jan was now waiting? i think the author should have played with dynamics more. if the story is around jan and dirk there should be more in between jan and dirk. i think the issue was that lena was there. so jan never had time to like. receive a postcard from dirk and have a little bit of a gay moment. or be like. i really miss him. and send one back. or anything, really. bc the biggest thing he did was go on the computer when lena was there and like. it wasn’t emotional it was mechanical and informational. i respect that jan was into lena and committed to her but like. then there was no and like zero no interaction between jan and dirk after childhood so all the angst is coming from childhood, which is okay, but there was also never any discussion of that bc jan didn’t really think of it. i think the issue was the length jan was together with lena. jan and dirk should have met up after the osaka concert and had an almost moment/went on a real adventure and then lena came into the pic. that happened when they were in school but jan also never though anything about it. also cause at the end when jan is asking dirk for help he doesn’t consider he is cheating on lena, which i think should have been talked about. even just one line: talking about how lena fit into jan’s wants with dirk. “i loved her but i needed dirk” kind of thing. “i’ve needed him my whole life”.
i did like the ending counting seconds thingy bc that tied it back to childhood but the ending overall needed to stop that. death did not make sense bc jan had never needed dirk before, and even though he was failing his music, either it needed to be tied in where jan turned to music bc he couldn’t have dirk and now he couldn’t have either, and also the death just felt inconclusive. it’s not the saddest potential ending. the saddest potential ending could have been like destroying his r/s w lena, moving back into his parents house and being in the same town with dirk but not talking/watching dirk get tgtr w some one who is equivalent to lena but a guy. there are sadder endings idk death is a weak one.
i saw someone write in a comment this novel could have been better from dirk’s pov and they are so right. dirk watching jan climb the ladder, watching videos of him performing in japan, in south america, etc, and failing to keep his own job in the arts. him not coming home for christmas break. or it could have been jan childhood, just cause jan is a little boring then and the story is most interesting from jan bc we can look at dirk, and then dirk during his fallout and jan’s flying, and then back to jan? i think dirk’s thoughts and potential angst were so undiscovered or even hinted at but jan though internal monologue that it’s a shame. the set up is great for angsting. we never get that, not even a hint.
the last line “make himself into a person who patiently waits” is great. best line. i thought that scene was when they were younger though, bc im sure dirk had to wait for a while, or did he move on? was it both? that scene could have been so good if it was moved to first year uni dirk’s pov. watching lena and jan, then he sees lena and is like fuck ok this is real life and tries to move on from the potential jan and him could be together, then they have their hurrah.
thoughts (i did really enjoy the book as it is rn, no shade to the author here is just an idea of what a structure w switching povs could be:)
- jan and dirk childhood (jan pov)
- first year, dirk pov (maybe he’s confused) (keep christmas break, he feels bad about it) (nothing really on jan’s career, maybe dirk tries to get w a few guys and it fails)
- culmination to scene where dirk is like ill wait
- they have a little moment, no lena, dirk is still futilely in love, jan kind of knows (maybe they have sex, to tie in the hs aspect feelings, still not super known, could be across the world or in their hometown, that should just be part of it) (either pov, from jan should be obvious dirk is in love w him, even if jan doesn’t know the readers do)
- jan’s career takes off, dirk’s pov, failing musician
- bar scene where dirk meets lina and jan, hurrah where they hang out but it’s super buddy buddy, this is dirk saying goodbye
- back to dirk’s life, diff sadness gem before he hes like, oh fuck this is the real world and i’m not in jan’s (since this is dirk’s pov the above scene should be jan’s, this part can start off with dirk thinking abt it, HERE HE GIVES UP ON WAITING)
- dirk fails at shit, maybe dates a guy or a girl since exists and it just goes back, doesn’t go to osaka (or goes to osaka but doesn’t watch the show, sees him from a distance)
- dirk sees jan falling off through papers, pics of lena
- here jan needs to be successful pov and then falling out, some sort of he missed dirk but doesn’t know what to say, also he loves lena, developed here
- jan falls out, back to hometown, falling out w lena? reunion, jan is now the one who waits
- could go happy or not, either they get together in the last scene but subtly, or jan has become a waiter too late and dirk met someone else who is essentially lena but for dirk
but maybe this is too long, idk the book felt someone straightforward and my rendition was not
some notes: 1) i didn’t realize it was first person until dirk’s pov, enjoyed that! 2) some kind of friends or siblings could have been fun but that’s my own preference 3) it looks like a school of velocity is also a piano piece? performances and music by czery. 4) there was a lot of japanese references 5) also slay this was so queer coded 6) i loved the technicalities of the piano, wish there was a focus on a certain part of a piece or smth
i did like the ending counting seconds thingy bc that tied it back to childhood but the ending overall needed to stop that. death did not make sense bc jan had never needed dirk before, and even though he was failing his music, either it needed to be tied in where jan turned to music bc he couldn’t have dirk and now he couldn’t have either, and also the death just felt inconclusive. it’s not the saddest potential ending. the saddest potential ending could have been like destroying his r/s w lena, moving back into his parents house and being in the same town with dirk but not talking/watching dirk get tgtr w some one who is equivalent to lena but a guy. there are sadder endings idk death is a weak one.
i saw someone write in a comment this novel could have been better from dirk’s pov and they are so right. dirk watching jan climb the ladder, watching videos of him performing in japan, in south america, etc, and failing to keep his own job in the arts. him not coming home for christmas break. or it could have been jan childhood, just cause jan is a little boring then and the story is most interesting from jan bc we can look at dirk, and then dirk during his fallout and jan’s flying, and then back to jan? i think dirk’s thoughts and potential angst were so undiscovered or even hinted at but jan though internal monologue that it’s a shame. the set up is great for angsting. we never get that, not even a hint.
the last line “make himself into a person who patiently waits” is great. best line. i thought that scene was when they were younger though, bc im sure dirk had to wait for a while, or did he move on? was it both? that scene could have been so good if it was moved to first year uni dirk’s pov. watching lena and jan, then he sees lena and is like fuck ok this is real life and tries to move on from the potential jan and him could be together, then they have their hurrah.
thoughts (i did really enjoy the book as it is rn, no shade to the author here is just an idea of what a structure w switching povs could be:)
- jan and dirk childhood (jan pov)
- first year, dirk pov (maybe he’s confused) (keep christmas break, he feels bad about it) (nothing really on jan’s career, maybe dirk tries to get w a few guys and it fails)
- culmination to scene where dirk is like ill wait
- they have a little moment, no lena, dirk is still futilely in love, jan kind of knows (maybe they have sex, to tie in the hs aspect feelings, still not super known, could be across the world or in their hometown, that should just be part of it) (either pov, from jan should be obvious dirk is in love w him, even if jan doesn’t know the readers do)
- jan’s career takes off, dirk’s pov, failing musician
- bar scene where dirk meets lina and jan, hurrah where they hang out but it’s super buddy buddy, this is dirk saying goodbye
- back to dirk’s life, diff sadness gem before he hes like, oh fuck this is the real world and i’m not in jan’s (since this is dirk’s pov the above scene should be jan’s, this part can start off with dirk thinking abt it, HERE HE GIVES UP ON WAITING)
- dirk fails at shit, maybe dates a guy or a girl since exists and it just goes back, doesn’t go to osaka (or goes to osaka but doesn’t watch the show, sees him from a distance)
- dirk sees jan falling off through papers, pics of lena
- here jan needs to be successful pov and then falling out, some sort of he missed dirk but doesn’t know what to say, also he loves lena, developed here
- jan falls out, back to hometown, falling out w lena? reunion, jan is now the one who waits
- could go happy or not, either they get together in the last scene but subtly, or jan has become a waiter too late and dirk met someone else who is essentially lena but for dirk
but maybe this is too long, idk the book felt someone straightforward and my rendition was not
some notes: 1) i didn’t realize it was first person until dirk’s pov, enjoyed that! 2) some kind of friends or siblings could have been fun but that’s my own preference 3) it looks like a school of velocity is also a piano piece? performances and music by czery. 4) there was a lot of japanese references 5) also slay this was so queer coded 6) i loved the technicalities of the piano, wish there was a focus on a certain part of a piece or smth
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 27, 2016
A story about love, growing up and missing what's right in front of you. It's a short book and well written. I found the characters mostly sympathetic, but none of them ever talked to each other properly about how they felt. Perhaps the exception to this is Jan and Lena early in their relationship, though we are never privy to those conversations in full. This made Lena seem quite a distant character, so when Jan said he loved her, you never really believed him. Soon enough, they aren't communicating properly either. The theme of not expressing your real feelings is similar to the theme in On Chesil Beach and like that book, I just found it frustrating rather than poignant, though this book was the more enjoyable to read of the two. The tone of the book is just very sad. Dirk's missed opportunities seem such a waste.
July 28, 2016
**I received this book through a Goodreads Giveaway**
Despite all the conflicting feelings this book gave me, one thing is absolutely certain: Eric Beck Rubin is a very very talented writer. The writing was just as lyrical as the music he described, never once losing my attention. De Vries was an easy character to emphasize with, and his relationship with Dirk was fascinating. The ending was about the polar opposite of what I wanted to happen, but then, we can't always have cheesy happily-ever-afters. Definitely an author to watch out for in the future, especially if this was his first work of fiction.
Despite all the conflicting feelings this book gave me, one thing is absolutely certain: Eric Beck Rubin is a very very talented writer. The writing was just as lyrical as the music he described, never once losing my attention. De Vries was an easy character to emphasize with, and his relationship with Dirk was fascinating. The ending was about the polar opposite of what I wanted to happen, but then, we can't always have cheesy happily-ever-afters. Definitely an author to watch out for in the future, especially if this was his first work of fiction.
June 30, 2016
Goodreads Win Copy
Story of an adolescence friendship that grew a part during time but one of them in his later years realizes that he needs his friends for answers.
We meet a piano virtuoso whom has never quite made it despite his potential despite his demand. But has he gets older, demons start to plaque him as he begins to suffer from crippling auditory hallucinations He realizes his childhood might be the only one to understand his problem.
A gripping story of friendship over time
Story of an adolescence friendship that grew a part during time but one of them in his later years realizes that he needs his friends for answers.
We meet a piano virtuoso whom has never quite made it despite his potential despite his demand. But has he gets older, demons start to plaque him as he begins to suffer from crippling auditory hallucinations He realizes his childhood might be the only one to understand his problem.
A gripping story of friendship over time
March 8, 2017
Clearly an educated author wrote this and I can give admiration for that. The composition was just fine and visually stimulating with how the main character viewed music. Although the passing was throwing me off and I could not connect with the character's (Jan de Varies) as well as I wanted too. It seems the book almost should have been in Dirk's perspective. An interesting story nonetheless, realistic even. Conventional-intelligent writing, but not a whole lot to the plot minus a incoherent friendship/love story. It wasn't terrible. But not the kind of book I'd own.
September 7, 2016
Very much liked this book. It is about a lot of different topics - friendship, love, regret, memory - but, to me, it is mostly a love story. Not a traditional love story by any means, but still a love story, and a very good one at that. I felt like I not only enjoyed reading the book, but learned about love. It is the kind of novel that gets you thinking, and asking questions about what love is, what it means to us, how it defines us, and how our choices define us. Would recommend, for sure.
July 18, 2016
This book is insanely addicting! I read it in an afternoon, and am in love with it. The writing is perfect, the characters really come to life, and the ending! I couldn't recommend this enough, I've never read a book like it. The years fly by, and you really feel for the people as the pages go by.
goodreads giveaway copy
goodreads giveaway copy
August 26, 2016
This was a book that I thoroughly enjoyed from the moment I picked it up until I had reached its end. It kept me captivated and interested during its entirety. I am glad that I was given the opportunity to read this book before its release. I won this book in a goodreads giveaway.
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