The Other La Bohème

by Yorker Keith

This book is out of print.

Thank you for your interest.

Genres: Fiction

364 pages, Paperback

First published April 15, 2017

About the author

Yorker Keith lives in Manhattan, New York City. Writing has been his passion throughout his entire life. His novels have been favorably received by literature connoisseurs. For this, he is grateful to his readers.

Reviews

[Fran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cafe Momus, a cafe in Manhattan, was a gathering place for connoisseurs of opera. Pere Momus hired, as waiters and waitresses, aspiring artists pursuing their dreams. Four graduates of the Manhattan School of Music who frequented the cafe, formed a group called Dolci Quattro. They will present a rarely performed version of La Boheme at the New York Bel Canto Opera.

The Dolci Quattro is comprised of Stephanie, Henry, Jennifer and John. They support each other through thick and thin. Studying and performing a different and lesser known rendition of La Boheme, for a second tier opera company, might give them the necessary exposure to rise to a first tier company. The question is, can one endure the hardship involved in pursuing a career as an opera singer. Often singers had to work multiple jobs in order to pay for a voice teacher, to help develop the voice and a voice coach, to focus on specific performance music. Rehearsals, coaching sessions and one's day job created relationship issues with husbands, wives, and fiancees. Stephanie, Henry, Jennifer and John were always available to help each other through the trials and tribulations of daily life.

An opera voice is a fragile instrument. Emotional disturbances such as a death in the family, breakup with a partner, or an accident would disturb one's concentration and focus. Often it was wise to refrain from talking the day of a performance. The Dolci Quattro truly understood and shared everything, the good and the bad. They had one single minded goal, to perform Leoncavallo's La Boheme.

"The Other La Boheme" by Yorker Keith is a glimpse into the austere life of an opera singer. It takes dogged determination to stay the course. When Henry's brother sends him a job posting for an assistant professorship to teach voice and produce school operas, he has to choose between steady employment as opposed to following his dreams. Thank you Yorker Keith for a very entertaining and knowledgeable foray into the world of opera.

Thank you BookBaby and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review "The Other La Boheme".

[Rebecca Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an amazingly different book. I know very little about opera, but it's definitely a music genre I'd love to learn more about. For fans of opera, I'm sure they are familiar with Giacomo Puccini's La Boheme. This is all about "the other" version by Ruggero Leoncavallo.

The book follows the lives of four opera singers - all graduates of the Manhattan School of Music - and the struggles they face in attempting to juggle the life of opera, their day jobs and their personal lives - while chasing their dreams of becoming first tier professional opera singers.

Stephanie (mezzo-soprano), Jennifer (soprano), Henry (tenor) and John (baritone), frequent the Cafe Momus in Manhattan, a gathering place for lovers of opera and musical theatre, and together the four form an opera group called "The Dolci Quattro". When they are given the chance to perform La Boheme at the New York Bel Canto Opera, they jump at the chance, knowing that although it is only a second tier opera company, it may finally give them more recognition and the chance to finally perform with a first tier company.

This book gives a real insight into their daily lives; gruelling schedules and rehearsals, voice coaches, auditions, normal day jobs, rivalries, all juggled with attempting to keep their marriages/relationships afloat. Each of the Dolci Quattro understands the struggles they each face - heart ache, heart break, separations, money problems, no time for a normal life and the pressure off family to give up the dream of becoming an opera singer and instead get a regular 9-5 job.

I loved learning more about the world of opera singers and the austere lifestyle they must adopt if they wish to make it. I am guessing Yorker Keith is, or was, highly involved in the world of opera to have such insights. To immerse the reader more fully into the opera life, each chapter is called a "Scene", and the book is divided into different "Acts".

The Other La Boheme is a book that will immerse you in the world of opera, and is all about the struggles and sacrifices necessary in order to pursue and maybe even achieve your dreams. You certainly don't have to be a fan of opera to appreciate it, but like me, it may make you want to learn more about opera after you finish reading it.

Thanks to NetGalley and BookBaby for the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest and unbiased review.

[Shomeret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here's another review of one of my 2017 Goodreads giveaway wins. I hope I can fit one more win into 2017, but I can't predict my December schedule.

I entered the giveaway for this book because I love opera. I do think that the author assumes that his readers will have previous knowledge of opera and music because there are some specialized terms that are unexplained, but I saw no complaints about this issue in other reviews. So perhaps Keith's assumption was correct.

Yet this book is really about four opera singers and the people in their lives. I did see complaints about the characters being one-dimensional or unrealistic. That wasn't my impression at all. I felt that they were like people that I've known. Anyone who is dedicated to one of the arts may have similar conflicts and relationship problems. I particularly identified with Stephanie and felt that she was a really pivotal character.

I didn't know anything about Leoncavallo's La Bohème before reading this book. I thought learning about the origins of both versions of La Bohème and the differences between them was interesting. This was a worthwhile read.

[Lena · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars
I received this book through a Goodreads giveaway, so thank you very much to the author!

The story itself is definitely 4 stars. I am a huge opera fan, although I can't quite call myself a true connaisseur yet. I don't know of that many books that feature opera as one of its essential elements, so I was very excited to read this book. And the book didn't disappoint.

The plot follows four young opera singers in modern-day New York with dreams of making it big in the cruel world of opera. The story effectively combines artistic challenges with personal trials as each of the four main characters is struggling to juggle - if not to balance - career, relationship, and paying the bills. According to the author's biography at the end, he is intimately familiar with the insides of the opera world, which definitely shows in his knowledgeable descriptions of lessons, rehearsals, the characters' ways of caring for the delicate instruments that is their voice, and the administrative side of an opera production. The pace of the plot is well-balanced. It is quite fast, but there is time to get to know all of the main characters. The author had done an excellent job planning out main story arcs and inserting, from the beginning, details which, like Chekhov's gun on the wall, will play important roles later in the story. Some of those details are very obvious and will lead to consequences that are not very difficult to guess, just like in an opera. There are no major unexpected plot twists, but there are a few smaller decisions and actions that change the sequence of events, including one at the end that I didn't really see coming.

For an opera enthusiast, the book was very engaging. I read it very fast and only put it down when I had to. It was interesting to read about a lesser-known opera, the "other La Bohème" of the title. The author constantly insists, not without a reason, on the underdog status of Leoncavallo's work, overshadowed by its famous counterpart by Puccini. For this reason, there are quite a few moments in the book where the characters engage in a dialog that points out the differences between the two works. Most of these dialogs seem more or less natural within the context; however, one of the earlier ones, with the four singers discussing the voice types of the main characters in both opera, is obviously there for the sake of the reader, as it doesn't seem natural that the singers, who have been studying the opera for a while, would suddenly have such a basic discussion about voices and one-letter difference in one character's name. Nevertheless, as someone who had heard about Leoncavallo's La Bohème but without any particular details, I found those dialogs interesting and informative.

Additionally, the author is also aware of the fact that not all of his readers will be opera connaisseurs and uses the book as a general introduction to opera. There are numerous references to famous operas and arias, often with explanations of what is going on in those arias and some original text in French or Italian, with English translations (a small typo in the first line of "Di Provenza il mar, il suol", but easily ignored). Thus, it is not necessary to know opera in order to enjoy the book. There is a slight overuse of musical terms in regular descriptions, especially in the beginning. In particular, nobody speaks in a high voice, or a deep voice, or a clear voice, but always in a soprano voice, a baritone voice, a coloratura voice. Even when they are speaking, not singing.

The four main characters are well developed. While they share the professional journey to performing La Bohème, they each go through a personal development, dealing with different challenges in their personal life. While the main point is to paint a realistic picture of what it's like to be an artist in today's practically-minded, money-driven society, there is a effort to individualize each main character and give him or her a realistic story and personal journey. There are tragic episodes and there are happy episodes. Main characters are realistically complex, three-dimensional. The minor characters are somewhat less developed. They tend to be either all positive (most of them) or evil (there is almost a Disney-level bully).

The reason I gave the book 3.75 and not 4 is its presentation of another profession: teachers. I am a college instructor. Not in the arts, but in the humanities, which, in today's world, is a field that struggles just as much as the arts. There is a significant numbers of teachers in the book, most of the in the arts, music, specifically. And all of them are very well off financially. In itself, that would not be too much of a problem. A number of those characters are either retired or no longer alive, so I can easily believe that maybe there were able to build themselves a good fortune teaching music at some point in the past. What did truly bother me is that Henry, one of the four main characters, is consistently faced with the choice to continue opera career or "accept" a teaching position at a state university. His brother teaches there, and has a life of luxury (although his field is medicine). His brother-in-law is a also a teacher and also has a very good life from the point of view of finances (but he is at Stanford, in economics, so that I can believe). About one-third through the book Henry's brother and sister start pushing him into the teaching profession. His brother declares that because he is a faculty member at a university, he will be able to get something for Henry, which is already unrealistic, to say the least. Later we learn that there is, conveniently, an opening for a voice professor at that university. Henry is encouraged to apply. The position asks for a Master's degree and experience with opera companies, which he has, and this gives him enough of a reason to think that he stands a very good chance even without his brother's help. First, I was surprised that a call for a college-level instructor didn't ask for any teaching experience. But of course, I only ever applied to humanities positions; maybe things are different in the field of music and teaching is not a requirement. Second, the minimal requirements are so low that there would be literally hundreds of applicants with them, and Henry is extremely confident to think that he has a very good chance just because he has them. Overall, his entire dilemma is not whether or not he should apply, but whether or not he should accept. As if he had already been offered the position, without an interview, without anything. As if a teaching position were granted to those who want it; as if there were no fierce competition for every teaching opening out there. While the author does an excellent job showing how difficult the life of an artist can be, he presents teaching as the exact opposite. But getting a permanent teaching position is akin to getting a role with a first-tier opera company. There are hundreds of music graduates who do odd jobs to pay bills and work on their music careers, and there are hundreds of Ph.D.s every year who have to teach part-time in different colleges just to pay the bills. Their personal life is just as much of a struggle as that of an aspiring opera singer. Even if one gets the position, it is the constant publish-or-perish mill, with high teaching loads and very average salary. Yet, the author presents the college professor position as a cushy job with minimal demands that leads to a lifestyle of luxury. This is one aspect that kept rubbing the wrong way, although I greatly enjoyed all other aspects of the book.

Overall, the book is a very effective promotion campagne for "the other La Bohème"; it has given me the desire to see the opera actually performed. It is also a very approachable introduction to the fascinating world of opera to any new-comer. Even for those not into classical music, it is a gripping look into the life of modern-day artists, with its ups and downs.

[Literary-Fiction-Lover · Rating 5 out of 5]

I obtained an ARC (Advance Reading Copy) of this novel, because as an opera lover, I couldn’t wait for the book to appear on online retailers. I found the novel fascinating.

First, the structure of the novel follows that of opera. It begins with “Overture.” There are four “ACTs”; each ACT is followed by “Scene 1,” “Scene 2,” so on. There is even an “Intermezzo” in the latter part of Act III. ACT IV has two “Scenes”, and ends with “Finale.” The end of the novel is marked by “Curtain.” The narrative arc soars following this structure.

Second, four main characters (named the Dolci Quattro) and most of supporting characters are opera singers, painters, fiction writer, poet, artists, singers, actors, who represent present-day bohemians, except for family members of the main characters. The premise of the novel is set in the rich artistic backdrop of New York City. The novel depicts the lives and loves of the Dolci Quattro, which goes up and down in joy and despair. The story is very romantic, moving, sometimes tragic, which makes readers rejoice, inspired, and cry.

Third, the opera the Dolci Quattro perform is not Puccini’s famous La Bohème, but a nearly forgotten opera of the same title by Leoncavallo—known as “the other La Bohème.”

Putting these three together, I felt, this novel itself represents a present-day La Bohème (“the other La Bohème”), cleverly crafted by the author.

Once I started reading this novel, I could not put it away, enjoying every bit of it. For opera lovers, this is a must-read novel; they will certainly adore this novel. But even non-opera-goers will enjoy this novel. Highly recommended!

[Judith Baxter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have loved opera since being introduced to it by an early boyfriend when I was 17, and have been intrigued by the world of those who choose to make opera singing their career.  So when this book was offered on NetGalley I immediately downloaded it.  And I wasn't disappointed.

Four long-time friends, all opera singers, commit to supporting each other through thick and thin and particularly on their journey to the top.  Stephanie, Henry, Jennifer, and John name themselves The Dolci Quattro.   We meet the four friends as they are performing in Leoncavallo's La Boheme. a lesser known version of La Boheme, for a second-tier opera company.  They hope this will give them the necessary exposure and allow them to rise to a first-tier company.

Often singers have to work multiple jobs in order to pay for a voice teacher, to help develop the voice and a voice coach, to focus on specific performance music.  And Pere Momus, owner of Café Momus in Manhattan, a gathering place for connoisseurs of opera knew this and so he hired aspiring artists pursuing their dreams, as waiters and waitresses.

An opera singer’s voice is his/her only thing on offer but it is a fragile instrument that needs to be cared for.  It is easily affected and disturbed by emotion.  Concentration is lost and ways of coping, particularly on a performance day, have to be found.  The Dolci Quattro understood this and shared everything and when one was disturbed they pulled together to help.

The offer of steady employment to Henry in a job as an assistant professor to teach voice and to produce school operas causes much talk and deliberation before a decision is made.  Will he accept or will he follow his dreams?

We are offered an insight into the life of an opera singer and recognise how hard one must work to stay on track.  Thank you, Yorker Keith, for a very knowledgeable and entertaining glimpse into the life and world of aspiring opera singers.  

[Elite Group · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dedication! Commitment! Stay Focused!

Henry, Stephanie, John and Jennifer met while writing their Masters’ degrees at The Manhattan School of Music. Their bond was made all the stronger when they were chosen as the principals to sing Puccini’s La Bohème as their last performance at the school. They are known to their friends and associates as Dolci Quattro.

They might well know their music for Puccini’s La Bohème, now, however, they have a huge challenge; to learn and sing Leoncavallo’s La Bohème. It’s very rarely performed. The artistic director of The New York Bel Canto Opera Company has chosen Dolci Quattro to sing the principal roles when the opera is performed the following March. This gives them a few months to prepare for this very special occasion. Christmas finds each of them ensuring that the welfare of their voices takes precedence over any festivities.

Oh! What a lovely book to be a participant in. Yorker Keith has written a beautiful, descriptive and totally engrossing storyline whereby you share the challenges, determination, total commitment and all the pitfalls that each of the four must face before the curtain goes up on their performance.

I’m writing this review while listening to the beautiful lively music from this very special opera. Thanks to this, I can imagine the Dolci Quattro finally achieving their dreams – singing in front of packed houses and all the sacrifices both they and their families have made to reach this milestone, come to fruition.

Bravo Yorker Keith! You’ve created your own opera in these pages of four struggling singers who realise that the only way they are going to reach their goals is through Dedication! Commitment! Staying Focused!

Treebeard

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.

[Entrada Book Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Other La Bohème is a tale of life, loss, love, and opera among a group of friends called the Dolci Quattro (‘The Sweet Four’). The four maneuver through the ups and downs of their lives as they prepare to take major parts in Leoncavallo’s La Bohème opera. It is in many ways a romance, but for the most part this is a novel about the lives of four friends tied together by their love of opera and determination to follow their dreams.

This novel is suffused with opera. The author certainly knows the art well and understands what it takes to be dedicated singer. Where many writers would gloss over the more technical details of a concert, each one is described in loving detail here. Every singer is constantly involved in practicing their part. The drama and backstabbing of the art world is also on full display, as well, from conniving understudies to calculating social climbers.

Every reaction and interaction felt realistic. People reacted in sane and very real ways, and even cruel action shad their foundation in very human needs and desires. Only one tertiary character can really be considered a villain, and her part is minute. The Other is very well-written, though readers should remember it is an adult novel through and through, though a sweet one, when all is said and done.

If you would like to read a novel about a different kind of artistic world, full of the challenges that come to people when they chase their dreams, The Other La Bohème is second to none.

[Wanda Maynard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a good opera! This story takes off on a good note. But things begin to turn the other way for some of the characters. On page 153 I found out something interesting, yet a little sad too. And, with one of the couples, what happened to cause him to act differently toward her? He kept telling himself that he couldn't help it. At least, that is what he told himself to ease his own mind. But what about her heart? Will another couple find happiness, or poverty? Through the authors writing skills, some scenes showed anger, while other scenes showed sadness that I truly felt. I laughed along with some of the characters and felt happy for them; like their lives seemed to be taking on an actual opera scene with betrayal, selfishness, and loss that can cause many problems. An interesting, but also realistic read.

[Kilian Metcalf]

This is the story of four friends who graduate from music school and continue their friendship beyond college with the formation of Dolci Quattro. Jennifer (soprano), Stephanie (mezzo), Henry (tenor), and John (baritone), work on a performance of Leoncavello's La Boheme. The book describes faithfully the struggles they go through as professional musicians. It describes the pressures that constant practice puts on a marriage, and the difficulty of supporting themselves and the need to earn enough money to pay for lessons/voice coaching to keep their instruments (voice) at the highest pitch, ready to perform.

I have several friends who are professional musicians, and I could feel for these four as they attempt to make a living doing something they love.

Thanks to Netgalley for ARC

My blog: The Interstitial Reader

https://www.theinterstitialreader.wor...

[Michele Minor · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gives a glimpse into the lives of four friends who are opera singers who met at a music conservatory. Now years later the four of them have been cast in a second tier opera company's production of Leoncavallo's La Boheme otherwise known as the other La Boheme. At this point in their opera careers the four friends have other jobs to help pay the bills in New York City while still pursing their opera singing dreams. The author also takes a look into their personal lives while preparing for their upcoming performance of the other La Boheme. One of the four friends is at a crossroads in deciding whether to continue pursing his dream of singing opera in a top tier opera company or settle down into a teaching position away from New York City. I received a copy of this book from the Goodreads giveaway.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting read. Not for me, but it was still a good read. Different approach used with acts and scenes instead of chapters. Thought I would love the foursome of lead characters, but to me it just muddled the story and left me wanting more in depth views into each person. I think it would have worked better with a lead and then 3 supporting characters with a follow up novel from each of the supporting characters as the leads.

[Bette Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very true to life of young artists trying to climb the ladder of success in their chosen field. I particularly liked this easy read because it dealt with opera and love, and the love of opera. The ending was fanciful....but the rest was certainly very close to the truth of the lives of real young artists. GOOD READ!

[Barbara White · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not an opera lover, but found The Other La Boheme fascinating. Following the structure of an opera was brilliant. Following the lives of the singers was most interesting. I enjoyed the story very much and look forward to more from Yorker Keith. Thanks to Goodreads First Reads for a copy of The Other La Boheme.

[Barbara Leuthe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in one sitting absolutely loved it.This is the second book i have read that Yorker Keith wrote and it was just a wonderful book.he gives all his characters such life you feel like you know them and are invested in what happens to them.I look forward to more books from this author.I received this book free as part of goodreads giveaways.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this story. Such a glimpse into the world of opera! Thank you Goodreads for sending me this copy of The Other La Boheme. The story takes place in present day NYC and is told in acts vs chapters. All in all of story of friendship, romance and the history of La Boheme. I enjoyed this book, and learned a little along the way.

[Mary Nee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating novel, if you love opera.

[Danielle Urban · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Other La Boheme by Yorker Keith is stunning tale of four friends whose lives are falling apart as they prepare for their opera performance. An opera performance that may change their careers forever. I loved how Yorker Keith brought the opera life and the lives of the singers in a three-dimensional way. They popped from the pages. Their troubles felt real and the story continued to captivate as their struggles grew. Each friend pledged to support one another and so they do...but life can be difficult to manage as well as maintain a certain professional appearance in the singing careers. Relationships, family, and friends are major themes of this book. I found it captivating. The writing was easy to follow along and engaging. The characters each faced a different issue and their bond as friends helps. A very realtic novel that everyone can relate to. Overall, The Other La Boheme is a must read for those who love music, opera, and art.

[Tracey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was very excited to read this book, as it combines my love of opera with reading. Sadly the book didn't live up to its potential. The scenes describing the opera were clearly written by someone who is not only well acquainted with what it is like to be a part of that world, but is passionate about it. I really enjoyed learning a bit about the history of Leoncavallo's La Boheme, which was released a year after Puccini's version, but never was as popular and eventually faded away.

Unfortunately, the characters were thin and dull, completely unrealistic. It wasn't possible to care about them. The dialogue was stilted and did not resemble real life for the majority of the book. The events were fairly over-the-top and resolved way too quickly and simply. Overall, it wasn't possible to become immersed in the story, which was a shame because the premise was promising.

I was provided an ARC of The Other La Boheme from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Courtney Stuart · Rating 3 out of 5]

It won’t matter if you're not an opera aficionado, you're still going to be able to enjoy this book; but if you have any insight into the world of opera them you will probably love this novel.

This book mainly follows the lives of four people, Jennifer, Stephanie, Henry and John, forming the group Dolci Quattro, although there is also a cast of at least 14 minor characters in this book to keep track of, making it at times a little unwieldy. The four met in university, forming a firm friendship where they pledged allegiance to support one another until they made it as a singer to a top tier opera company. This story follows their lives as they struggle with a new opera company trying itself to become a legitimate entity in its own right in New York City. And the opera they are rehearsing? La Boheme by Leoncavallo.

This book is rich in experience, transporting the reader into the world of opera and all that it demands of its singers. More than once there are passages extolling the virtue and exacting nature of the work it requires of any performer wishing to become an opera performer. But it also follows the life of the four outside of their work in the opera.

Jennifer is engaged to Richard, a wealthy banker who expects the very best in life, but who has been distracted and distant for a while. Stephanie is estranged from her rich father, blaming him for her mother’s untimely death and refusing to reconcile with him. John is married to Michelle, herself a painter, who expects a normal suburban life with a man determined to sing opera whilst balancing working and supporting her. Henry is exploring a relationship with a woman and he doesn’t know if she can truly support his work and dedication to the opera and is under pressure from his family to give up opera singing and ‘settle down’. We follow the ups and downs of the core four as they navigate life and ambition.

This book is set out in Acts and Scenes like an opera would be rather than chapters, but it really isn’t a challenge to follow the story. You understand throughout the book the single mindedness that it takes to make it in this creative field. At times the parts of the book written about the actual opera could be a little tiring as it was so technical and exact, but having the words of the opera translated from Italian into English was a real treat, as it made the opera come alive.

This is a wonderful story delving into another world. Engaging, touching and enlightening, this is a great read for those who wish to see into an alternative domain.

[Caz C Cole · Rating 3 out of 5]

In five months Dolce Quattro, four friends and opera singers, will perform Leoncavallo’s, otherwise known as The Other La Bohème – and in this period we are witness to many rehearsals, setbacks and success in a world filled with love, betrayal, music, poetry and art but, above all, friendship

| Introduction |

Seven years after successfully graduating from The Manhatten School of Music, friends and opera singers Jennifer (soprano), Henry (tenor), John (baritone) and Stephanie (mezzo-soprano) face a huge challenge: to perform Leoncavallo’s La Bohème. Whereas Puccini’s performance is widely known, Leoncavallo’s is not, hence the nickname ‘the other’ La Bohème for his opera. The four friends or Dolce Quattro as they call themselves, are very excited to be able to perform such a masterpiece at the The New York Bel Canto Opera. The five months of rehearsals are weighed down with personal and professional troubles, rivalry and betrayal, hurt and loss but through it all, their friendship stays strong as ever.

| Storyline |

Whereas everybody has heard of Puccini’s La Bohème, Leoncavallo’s is more or less unknown to the public. According to Dolce Quattro, this could be their chance to break through and that is why each of the four friends has to stay focused on the performance. This is not easy for Jennifer (Mimi); she is engaged to Richard but something happens, making her hurt so much she can barely keep it together. Stephanie (Musette) works as a waitress at Café Momus of which the owner, ‘Père Momus,’ is an art and music lover. No wonder it is visited by “a loyal clientele among connoisseurs of opera and classical music.” When Henry (Marcello) enters the cafe, he spontaneously starts singing and Stephanie is only too pleased to join him – it goes without saying the music is an aria from La Bohème.

We follow the Dolce Quattro in the months leading up to the grand performance – we come to learn where they come from and how that influences their life but also, we perceive their troubles. Jennifer is about to get a nasty shock and it affects her deeply. Will she be able to sing? Stephanie has other things on her mind, she still has not quite come to terms with her mother’s death. During this story, she will discover her true calling (apart from being an opera singer, of course). Henry is in doubt: his career is not going the way he would like it and he has no idea what the future will bring. He just loves to sing opera but is he willing to sacrifice all? Meanwhile, John seems to have it all: the necessary means to pursue his opera career, a lovely and doting wife who is a painter, no worries in the world. If only …

| My Thoughts |

This is a charming book, construed as an opera, starting with the Overture, after which the four Acts follow, to be concluded by the Finale. It is easy to see that the author’s knowledge on the life of an opera singer has provided the perfect ambience for the scenes in the book. I loved the insights into the fascinating world of opera and the deep felt dedication the opera singers feel – it is a vocation. Whilst the premise of this novel is enchanting I found the narrative at times repetitive and too descriptive. This, in combination with the excerpts from arias (unique in itself) written in both Italian and English, caused the narrative to break up. What I liked best about the book was the connection it made between the real lives of the opera singers and the characters they play. That makes this book almost an opera in itself with one exception … but that would be giving away too much!

Read the review on my website: https://www.bitsaboutbooks.net/la-boh...

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Other La Boheme tells the story of a group of aspiring opera singers trying to make musical careers for themselves in New York City, working towards a performance of the "Other La Boheme" as they struggle to pay rent and negotiate personal relationships.

I received a free review copy of The Other La Boheme through Goodreads Giveaways.

[Tfalcone · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Net Galley for the free ARC.

I loved the operatic parts of this book - the talk about lessons, performances and understudies. The characters were just okay for me, I did not deeply care for them. Still, a good effort.

[Annemarie Macken · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yorker Keith's novel about four aspiring opera singers and the twists and turns of their intricate private lives, set amidst the gruelling schedule of preparations for their performance in Leoncavallo's La Boheme, at first gives the impression of an inspiring read and it certainly has the potential to be one; however, somehow, it just doesn't quite grab the reader in the way it should.

The basic premise is good and it has redeeming qualities, such as the basic plot and the collaborative idea of using an opera story and its links to life and experience, alongside the private turmoil of each character. However, the narrative style itself often gets in the way and ruins some good points. There repetitive technique of describing characters looks, hair colour, eye colour and what they are wearing in minute detail gets in the way of the flow of the narrative and makes it feel stilted and wooden, often resulting in a loss of focus and interest for the reader. In addition to this, unnecessary details are repeated to the reader from a variety of characters, things we have already just found out from the previous scene/chapter and it ends up feeling staid and monotonous, detracting the focus from the actual plot. For me, this makes it somewhat hard to keep reading and it creates a division between the reader and the characters that mars the overall effect.

There are some nice ideas and the wealth of detail provided about anything operatic or related specifically to Leoncavallo's La Boheme shows a depth of knowledge and passion, which reveals something of the writer in its delivery - clearly, this is a writer who knows this world, of that there is no doubt. There just needs more connectivity between the narrative hooks and writing style and the choice of detail to ensure that the plot and characterisation are the things that drive this novel, not the factual detail. For those who love the opera, it is worth a perusal, if only for the introduction to a lesser known opera.

[Jeryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Other La Boheme is about a group of four young opera singer's preparing to put on a concert performance of La Boheme but not the more familiar version of the opera by Puccini a less familiar version of the opera by Leoncavallo. Each of the four tries to balance their personal lives with their desire to pursue an opera career. Stephanie doesn't want to take money from the father who abandoned her and her mother when she was young so she struggles to support herself on her own. Jennifer is so despondent when her boyfriend leaves her for another woman that she doesn't even know if she wants to go on let alone sing. John is torn between his commitment to singing and a neglected wife who may want a divorce. Henry doesn't know whether to continue pursuing the opera career he really wants or become a teacher and find a nice woman to settle down with like his family encourages him to do. This is a very engaging book that is very entertainingly written in acts and scenes instead of chapters and sections as if it were a real opera. If you are interested in opera, you will love the insight it provides into what it is like to perform opera and into Leoncavallo's La Boheme in particular. Even if you don't like opera, if you like a book with likable characters and an interesting story, you will still enjoy this book.

[Karlita · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a review.

I wanted to like this book. I enjoy opera, music, and the stage, but the book was a bit difficult to get through. I liked how the book was set up like an opera - separated in Acts and Scenes. The character story lines tried to read like an operatic drama as well. However, I felt the main characters were two-dimensional and robotic at times. The narrative was dry and the character dialogue was monotone and unrealistic. Minute details overpowered the possibility of interesting character and story development. I liked how chapters jumped around, focusing on one or two characters at a time and showing their point of view, but the I felt there were too many unexplained twists and resolutions were simplistic and unrealistic. It was hard to relate to any character. On a high note, it is obvious that the author is quite familiar and comfortable with the opera and music world. A passion shows through in their descriptive and fluid language when writing about the voice training sessions, rehearsals, singing techniques, performances, and lifestyle. With a more well-developed narrative style and natural prose, the book could be more interesting and a better read.

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC from NetGalley and BookBaby in exchange for an honest review.

As someone who was born and raised in NYC and has been lucky enough to see the opera at the MET, I was really looking forward to reading The Other La Bohème and getting an inside view of how the opera world operates by someone who knows it firsthand. I liked the parts about the Dolci Quattro working on their voices and trying not to let their personal lives ruin their performances. Speaking of their personal lives, they were very dramatic, bordering on soap opera-like. And sometimes the dialog was disingenuous. For example, in the beginning of the book the Dolci Quattro talk about how they never slept together, and I thought real life people would never speak the way they spoke. Storylines are simple and characters aren't very deep. I'd recommend The Other La Bohème to anyone who is looking for a quick and not serious read.

[Judith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given an ARC copy of The Other La Boheme in exchange for an honest review. First, While I love classical music I've never been a fan of opera, but the description of this book sounded unique and different so I requested it and i'm glad I did.
This novel is structured like an opera score, acts and scenes rather then chapters, which I thought was a nice approach. The story itself centers on four opera singers who have gone to school together and have a named their little group,' Dolci Quattro. Their live is opera and despite the loss of relationships and trying to decide if they should move onto a career that offers a definite future, opera is their life and career choice.
The characters are wonderfully written and the reader can truly care about them. I was introduced to opera and the struggles they face. A well written novel.

[Anne Pengilly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley, and I was so excited when I read the description! Being a musician myself, I thought this book would be the perfect nerdy ticket to my spring break. Starting to read, I also found that the characters had gone to the same conservatory I attended – Manhattan School of Music! It was pretty cool to follow characters that had so much in common with myself. My only criticism that I have for this book is that it was a bit soap-y. I loved the part about the opera and the vocal training (it was all very accurate and factually written), but I found the parts about romantic relationships a little distracting from the story. It seemed like the author was trying to appeal to a mass audience with relationship drama, but it fell flat for me. Despite this, I thoroughly enjoyed the book as a whole and will recommend it to my musician friends.

[Rekha O'Sullivan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I requested this novel on NetGalley as I liked the description and the cover. The novel follows the trials and tribulations, loves and losses of a group of young people performing La Boheme. The most interesting thing I learned from reading this novel was that there was more than one opera titles La Boheme.
I am not certain whether this book was originally written in English because the language didn't flow well. The characters were two-dimensional and the plot was quite predictable, which lead me to think that perhaps I was losing something in translation.
It was a strange read, and not one I particularly enjoyed, but I learned a bit about the opera scene in the process. It's not enough for me to recommend this book, unfortunately.