Yes, it’s another music book. Originally I picked up Frank Conroy‘s Body and Soul (possibly a nod to the awesome Benny Goodman song of the same name?) because he’s an incredible author. He penned Stop-Time, one of my favorite books of all time as a high-schooler and I’m re-reading it now, sitting on my bedroom table with my other favorite of all time, The Great Gatsby.
Body and Soul is also the story of a child piano prodigy. Unlike my last suggestions however, this one is not by a musician but rather cuilds the story and talks about music in a way that the musician can really feel and the casual reader can get an extremely unique view from. If you read some of the reviews, both trained and non-musician say that the book looks into what the musician feels in a manner that few have ever seen in writing.
Quit reading this review and get the hardcover for $3.48 and free shipping (in the US). Wow! Did I mention it’s carbon neutral shipping and money will go to our literacy partners? But of course you know that already…