The Gustav Sonata
Ratings13
Average rating3.5
'A perfect novel about life's imperfection... Tremain is writing at the height of her inimitable powers...' Kate Kellaway, Observer What is the difference between friendship and love? Gustav grows up in a small town in Switzerland, where the horrors of the Second World War seem a distant echo. But Gustav's father has mysteriously died, and his adored mother Emilie is strangely cold and indifferent to him. Gustav's life is a lonely one until he meets Anton. An intense lifelong friendship develops but Anton fails to understand how deeply and irrevocably his life and Gustav's are entwined until it is almost too late... 'Heartbreaking, unsentimental and beautifully written, and it reinforces my opinion that there are few writers out there with the dexterity or emotional intelligence to rival that of the great Rose Tremain.' John Boyne, The Irish Times
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I've no idea what connection British author Rose Tremain may have with Switzerland, or why she chose it as a setting for her novel, but from my foreigner's point of view I think she did a good job at capturing some of the character of the Swiss, their strength and their vulnerability, and the conflicting realities behind the surface image that they like to present.
This was an enjoyable if slightly pedestrian read. I found it slightly uneven. Some sections were moving and engaging, while other parts felt either slightly forced or too predictable. For a character focused novel, I quite liked the leisurely meandering pace, but I don't think the characterisation was really that strong enough. Pleasant enough, but ultimately underwhelming and without enough depth.
Very readable. Sweet and sad with a soft, human heart. Tremain is an excellent storyteller and her dialogue and descriptions are crisp. I enjoyed this heartbreaking tale of self control and loneliness.
