The Life and Loves of Lena Gaunt Tracy Farr Books
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This is the story of Dame Lena Gaunt musician, octogenarian, junkie. Lena is Music's Most Modern Musician; the first theremin player of the twentieth century. From the obscurity of a Perth boarding school to a glittering career on the world stage, Lena Gaunt's life will be made and torn apart by those she gives her heart to.
The Life and Loves of Lena Gaunt Tracy Farr Books
Tracy Farr’s debut novel, The Life and Loves of Lena Gaunt, is the story of Dame Lena Gaunt: musician, octogenarian, junkie. It is a gorgeous story and beautifully told. Totally entranced by the story telling, I could not put it down.It starts with her removal from her Singapore home at 5 years old to a boarding school on the outskirts of Perth, Western Australia in the company of her Uncle Valentine, who is also one of the major characters through the book. Her childhood is not a pleasant one and the only thing that saves her is her love of music, which starts with the piano, and then to the cello.
Due to a death in the family, she is taken back to Asia, but hates her life here, and after an “incident”, she is shipped back to Australia with the idea of moving back to Perth with her Uncle. Instead she gets off the boat in Sydney and here she is introduced to the theremin by her cello teacher and she completely becomes engrossed by this machine and dreams of becoming world-famous as ‘Music’s Most Modern Musician.” It is here in Sydney that she also meets the love of her life, Beatrix Carmichael, an artist.
This book is beautifully written, so enchanting and pulls you into the Lena’s life, that I could not put the book down and read it in over a week. I even burnt the chips the night I was nearing the end as I wanted to keep on reading it. Tracy does a gorgeous job as she takes you through Lena’s life and loves, through her losses and pain. Through music and through the arts, you go from Australia to New Zealand, from the UK to the US.. You start off in early 19th century and go through the flamboyant 20′s and 30′s.
Highly recommend this book.
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The Life and Loves of Lena Gaunt Tracy Farr Books Reviews
Have you ever heard the sound of a theremin? I had never even heard of this instrument, thought it was something made up. Its sound is something between eerie and amazing, like a scratchy violin or an old cello, but I'm probably not describing it right.What's even more amazing is that you play the theremin without touching it, moving your hands to create the sound.
And Dame Lena Gaunt, the main (and fictional) character of Tracy Farr's book was the best theremin player in the world, a pioneer of electronic music and one of the very few theremin players in the world.
Music is Lena's first love, but after a short stint as a famous theremin player, she just drops everything and does not pursue her career, as love seems to be more important. After tragedy strikes not once, but twice, and the people most dear to her die, almost by chance she returns to music and fame.
This is a beautiful but sad book; the story, told by Lena herself, speaks of love and loneliness, more of loss than of happiness, of sadness and pain.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review
This book is written in the style of a memoir, although it is completely fictional, and I found myself on many occasion "feeling" as though Lena was a real person and this was a true story. This is the kind of story that gets into your bones and stays with you long after you have finished the book.
I am surprised at how much I really enjoyed this book, as this isn't something that I would normally be drawn to, but Farr drew me right in and I was instantly captivated by Lena's life. Although I could figure out what was going to happen (especially with Trix and Grace), it didn't stop me from devouring the pages and enjoying every second.
I would highly recommend this story, especially if you are looking for something a little bit different.
This is one of those introspective books, a first person narrative of a woman in her eighties , a passionate pioneer musician, still grieving in old age over the losses of loved ones . It's a sad story in so many ways but yet it celebrates the life of Lena Gaunt. Who is this Lena Gaunt? This is a novel, but what is told here and how it is told, makes you believe you are reading a true memoir .
I couldn't help but think that Lena Gaunt was a real person or at the very least she was based on a real person. In an interview on the publisher's website , the author tells us that she saw a documentary of Clara Rockmore , a renown theremin player and that Rockmore was a "starting point rather than a model " for Lena . Still I felt like she was real , a testament to the writing for sure . Even Beatrix Carmichael , the love of Lena's life is not based on any one particular artist.
The theremin is an instrument I had never hear of and I found it so intriguing that one could play an instrument without touching it . Lena too became intrigued. As a little girl everything is music to Lena and the beautiful descriptive writing has a tone of its own . Lena is a prodigy, obsessed with music from childhood. She is separated from her parents for 12 years when she is sent "home" to Australia from Singapore at 4 years old and to a boarding school . She would have led a lonely childhood but for her Uncle Valentine who fosters her love of music and is the only family she really knows .
From Singapore to Australia to Malacca to New Zealand to Paris and St. Ives and back to Australia , from 4 years old to her eighties , Lena takes us through her joys in life - her music , her Beatrix and her daughter, Grace . She takes us through the grief of loss and the passion of her music . It's a rather slow moving story and you won't find much action if that is what you are looking for , but you will find a beautifully written story of Lena Gaunt's life and loves .
Thanks to Gallic Books and NetGalley.
A very moving novel and well written. I strongly recommend it.
I absolutely loved this novel. I wanted to hear the theremin, see the documentary and view the wonderful paintings!! Such a sad novel in parts - but what a wonderfully drawn main character!!
Really enjoyed this book.
Tracy Farr’s debut novel, The Life and Loves of Lena Gaunt, is the story of Dame Lena Gaunt musician, octogenarian, junkie. It is a gorgeous story and beautifully told. Totally entranced by the story telling, I could not put it down.
It starts with her removal from her Singapore home at 5 years old to a boarding school on the outskirts of Perth, Western Australia in the company of her Uncle Valentine, who is also one of the major characters through the book. Her childhood is not a pleasant one and the only thing that saves her is her love of music, which starts with the piano, and then to the cello.
Due to a death in the family, she is taken back to Asia, but hates her life here, and after an “incident”, she is shipped back to Australia with the idea of moving back to Perth with her Uncle. Instead she gets off the boat in Sydney and here she is introduced to the theremin by her cello teacher and she completely becomes engrossed by this machine and dreams of becoming world-famous as ‘Music’s Most Modern Musician.” It is here in Sydney that she also meets the love of her life, Beatrix Carmichael, an artist.
This book is beautifully written, so enchanting and pulls you into the Lena’s life, that I could not put the book down and read it in over a week. I even burnt the chips the night I was nearing the end as I wanted to keep on reading it. Tracy does a gorgeous job as she takes you through Lena’s life and loves, through her losses and pain. Through music and through the arts, you go from Australia to New Zealand, from the UK to the US.. You start off in early 19th century and go through the flamboyant 20′s and 30′s.
Highly recommend this book.
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