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The Ensemble A Novel Aja Gabel 9780735214767 Books

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The Ensemble A Novel Aja Gabel 9780735214767 Books

I loved The Interestings - to which this has been compared- but this is even better. Deeper.
This book is "about" a string quartet written by a woman who came close to playing professionally. That experience led to fascinating details about the job of playing a string instrument, and more importantly, how the requirements of playing in a quartet shape and yield to personalities.

The novel follows the four players through their lives, from when they first form and try to become a success. There are great parts about playing music together, but there are also wonderful parts about how music affects their relationships, with one another and with their lovers/spouses and eventually children. Ms. Gabel understands intimately not only the ways of music, but of humans. I absolutely loved the book (if you look at my ratings, I'm not a five-star girl - I'd give this one six or seven if I could).

Each section lists the music that they are playing/rehearsing/listening to, so you can listen along if you want. I read this one in two days. I intend to read it again soon. I'm homesick for the characters!


Tags : The Ensemble: A Novel [Aja Gabel] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. <b> Pitch-perfect.  — People</i> You won’t be able to quit these characters.   —goop</i> <b>The addictive novel about four young friends navigating the cutthroat world of classical music and their complex relationships with each other,Aja Gabel,The Ensemble: A Novel,Riverhead Books,073521476X,Coming Of Age,Contemporary Women,Literary,Interpersonal relations,Interpersonal relations;Fiction.,Man-woman relationships,Musical groups,Musical groups;Fiction.,Musicians,Musicians;Fiction.,Psychological fiction,AMERICAN CONTEMPORARY FICTION,AMERICAN FIRST NOVELISTS,American Contemporary Fiction - Individual Authors +,FICTION Coming of Age,FICTION Literary,FICTION Women,Fiction,Fiction-Coming of Age,FictionComing of Age,FictionLiterary,GENERAL,General Adult,United States,gift ideas for wife christmas;best stocking stuffers for women;best christmas gifts for wife;best gifts for wife;beach read;summer read;friendship;book club;1st mothers day gifts;first mothers day gifts;first mothers day gifts for mom;mothers day books;mothers day gifts;gifts for mom;gifts for women;women gifts;fiction books;fiction;mother's day;creativity;literary fiction;love story;mozart in the jungle;debut novel;music;quartet;cello;violin;relationships;ensemble;first mother's day;drama,music; quartet; cello; violin; relationships; friendship; ensemble; creativity; literary fiction; love story; mozart in the jungle; debut novel; mother's day; mothers day books; mothers day gifts; gifts for mom; gifts for women; women gifts; fiction books; fiction; first mother's day; 1st mothers day gifts; first mothers day gifts; first mothers day gifts for mom; book club; beach read; summer read; gift ideas for wife christmas; best stocking stuffers for women; best christmas gifts for wife; best gifts for wife; drama,American Contemporary Fiction - Individual Authors +,American First Novelists,Fiction

The Ensemble A Novel Aja Gabel 9780735214767 Books Reviews

The Ensemble is one of the best books I've ever read. The writing is brilliant. As the author gradually introduces you to the intimate characteristics of each member of the string quartet, you feel as if you would recognize and know them if each came into a room separately. The story of them as a quartet is so well-developed, but it never overshadows their individual stories.
Great concept, but mediocre execution. Wading through her descriptions of introspection, landscapes or appearance grew tiring. Hemingway must be rolling over in his grave.
Somewhere between 3 and 4 stars, but I ultimately went with 3 mostly because I think the overall reviews for this book are too high. I had seen the comparisons to The Interestings, which is one of my favorite books, but this fell short for me. The author is certainly talented and during some passages I felt as though things were coming to life before my eyes. Those portions were addicting and truly beautiful. However, other paragraphs were just so long and adjective-heavy that at times I lost track of what she was even discussing or describing; it felt like the author was in some secret contest to describe something in the most clunky, ridiculous, roundabout way possible. There was also too much detail about the music itself - I'm not familiar with chamber music, but I did study piano for a long time and have background on many of the composers and their styles. I think this problem would have been compounded for the average reader without any classical music background. Finally, I felt like the characters could have been a little bit deeper.

I'd read another book by Aja, but only if it doesn't have to do with music.
This book was incredibly disappointing. I absolutely adore books about long lasting friendships that are focused around the characters and their struggles, but this book was a complete waste of money. First off, the characters didn’t appear to be friends at all. We were supposed to assume that they were, from prior events that were occasionally touched upon, but nothing that ever occurred in the story made me believe in actual friendship and connection. They genuinely seemed to hate each other; there was punching and heartbreak and nothing seemed like they were a family. Furthermore, the writing was treacherous to read. Every single page was full of long, drawn out inner musings and reflections instead of actual actions. If condensed, there were most likely only 20 pages of dialogue. There was no story, just mentions of events that passed and then so much inner turmoil about them. I expected to love this story, and instead it infuriated me that I fell victim to the large amount of good reviews, especially when my opinions usually mirror others. Rarely do I dislike a book that others love, and yet, here I am. I paid $18 for this book in hardback, please don’t make the same mistake. If you’re still curious, at least wait for it to come out in paperback.
The Ensemble is the perfect debut novel - unique and authentic. Author Aja Gabel brings her musical background to the forefront with the Van Ness Quartet - four musicians who meet, form friendships, struggle, and evolve together. Gabel was herself a musician, playing cello from childhood, so she brings experience with her in writing of these musicians, the music itself, and their emotional struggles.

We meet the quartet in conservatory, and each have a role in conveying their story throughout the novel. Jana is first violin and the clear leader of the group; Brit, a pretty self-conscious orphan, is second violin; Daniel, who has the least natural talent, is the hardest working of the group on cello; and Henry on viola is the handsome, happy prodigy. Gabel provides vivid emotional narratives of her characters as they grow up together - through family and personal drama; reliance upon each other; distrust and envy; but always deeply intimate and intertwined.

As the book progresses, her characters mature in different ways, and so does her writing it seems. Her characters’ revelations about themselves and those to whom they are so closely attached become more accurate realizations instead of idealizations, and each member provide an acceptance of other’s successes and flaws alike. They are a cohesive unit that will succeed or fail together, and their futures hinge on the collective mood.

Gabel’s provided us with a different kind of story, and she skillfully succeeds with her first novel. I’m looking forward to seeing more from her.
I absolutely loved this novel. The characters who form this ad-hoc family are unforgettable and it's one of the most satisfying reads of recent years. There's a look into this crazy world of competitive music, but you don't have to know anything about music to read and enjoy the story. I couldn't put it down.
I loved The Interestings - to which this has been compared- but this is even better. Deeper.
This book is "about" a string quartet written by a woman who came close to playing professionally. That experience led to fascinating details about the job of playing a string instrument, and more importantly, how the requirements of playing in a quartet shape and yield to personalities.

The novel follows the four players through their lives, from when they first form and try to become a success. There are great parts about playing music together, but there are also wonderful parts about how music affects their relationships, with one another and with their lovers/spouses and eventually children. Ms. Gabel understands intimately not only the ways of music, but of humans. I absolutely loved the book (if you look at my ratings, I'm not a five-star girl - I'd give this one six or seven if I could).

Each section lists the music that they are playing/rehearsing/listening to, so you can listen along if you want. I read this one in two days. I intend to read it again soon. I'm homesick for the characters!