Book 29 - James Rhodes "Instrumental"

James Rhodes "Instrumental"(Canongate Books)



James Rhodes is a sexual abuse survivor. He was systematically abused by a gym instructor from the ages of 5 to 10. While adults around him were suspicious, no one intervened at the time. The abuse has led to numerous problems for Rhodes as an adult, both physical and mental. He has had nervous breakdowns requiring extensive hospitalization, and he also suffers physical pain, and has been required to have surgeries due to physical damage inflicted on his body.

Rhodes was also a talented musician on a career path to a successful musical career. However, when he was 18, he abruptly gave up music. This "music--less" period had lasted 10 years when a chance encounter reignited his desire. He began lessons again, began recording, performing on stage, and hosting various musical programs on TV. 

He sets each chapter of his memoir to a particular piece of music he loves, and recommends listening to the piece while reading that chapter.   I'm listing them here simply for my own recollection:

Bach, Goldberg Variations, Aria--Glenn Gould
Prokofiev, Piano Concerto #2, Finale--Evgeny Kissin
Schubert, Piano Trio #2 in E-Flat, 2nd Movement--Ashkenazy, Zukerman, Harrel
Bach, Busoni Chaconne--James Rhodes
Beethoven, Piano Sonata #32, opus 111, 2nd Movement--Ohlsson
Scriabin, Piano Concerto, Last Movement--Ashkenazy
Ravel, Piano Trio--Ashkenazy, Perlman, Harrel
Shostakovich, Piano Concerto # 2, 2nd Movement--Leonskaya
Bruckner, Symphony #7, 2nd Movement--von Karajan
Liszt, Totentanz--Sergio Tiempo
Brahms, German Requiem, 1st Movement--von Karajan
Mozart, Symphony # 41, 4th Movement--MacKerran
Chopin, Etude in C-major, Op. 10/1--Pollini
Chopin, Fantasie in F-minor, Op.49--Zimmerman
Ravel, Piano Concerto in G, 2nd Movement--Zimmerman
Schumann, Geister Variations--??
Schubert, Sonata # 20, D. 959, 2nd Movement--Lonquich
Beethoven, Piano Concerto # 5, 2nd Movement--Lupu
Rachmaninov, Rhapsody on a Theme by Pagannini--Kocsis
Bach, Goldberg Variations, Aria da Capo

I love this paragraph from the book -


Music has infiltrated our lives as much as nature, literature, art, sport, religion, philosophy and television. It is the great unifier, the drug of choice for teenagers around the world. It provides solace, wisdom, hope and warmth and has done so for thousands of years. It is medicine for the soul. There are eighty-eight keys on a piano and within that, an entire universe.
-James Rhodes

Despite its mostly grim topic, I enjoyed this book, especially the descriptions of the music and the artistic process. A highly recommended read.

Book 30 - Martin Gayford "The Yellow House"

Martin Gayford "The Yellow House" (Penguin)




Vincent van Gogh and Paul Gauguin lived together for a few months in Arles, where they each produced some of their most famous paintings. But all was not peaceful and artistic harmony, and a lot of the problems stemmed from Vincent's volatility. This was an interesting and unflinching look at their lives during this time, including the bickering and brothels, and madness. Both of them wrote Vincent's brother (an art dealer) and others often, so there's quite a bit of documentation of how the two felt during those weeks. What really stuck with me were the descriptions of Vincent's mood swings. It's quite likely that one of the things plaguing him was bipolar disorder. This is a subject close to my heart, and I found it far more thought-provoking and even upsetting than I'd expected. But in a good way, if that makes any sense.

In terms of art, my favourites by far were the times when Gauguin and Vincent painted the same scene/person. Seeing their different interpretations side by side was simply fascinating. I definitely will need to pick up more books about these artists and their contemporaries.

A note on this edition: This is the fault of the publisher rather than the author, but the photographs really should be in colour. Colour is so important in both Vincent and Gauguin's paintings. I ended up looking up a lot of them on the net while I was reading. The black-and-white photos simply did not do them justice.

Book 31 - Malcolm Gaskill "The Ruin Of All Witches"

Malcolm Gaskill "The Ruin Of All Witches" (Penguin)





Hugh and Mary Parsons were perhaps the most miserable couple in Springfield, Massachusetts circa 1650. Mary suffered from severe, untreated mental illness, and cantankerous brick maker Hugh managed to alienate everyone in town. The pair quarreled constantly and each accused the other of witchcraft. Moreover, the residents of Springfield attributed all kinds of misfortunes, from bad milk to mysterious illnesses, to the devilish actions of Goodman and Goodwife Parsons, and were all too delighted to testify against them. As the reader can imagine, this tale does not end well.

Author Malcolm Gaskell does a good job of showing the reader just how difficult life was for American colonists in the demon-haunted seventeenth century. All in all, this is a thoroughly researched account of an obscure time period.