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The Prague Sonata
The Prague Sonata | Bradford Morrow
16 posts | 9 read | 1 reading | 9 to read
Music and war, war and music—these are the twin motifs around which Bradford Morrow, recipient of the Academy Award in Fiction from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, has composed his magnum opus, The Prague Sonata, a novel more than a dozen years in the making. In the early days of the new millennium, pages of a worn and weathered original sonata manuscript—the gift of a Czech immigrant living out her final days in Queens—come into the hands of Meta Taverner, a young musicologist whose concert piano career was cut short by an injury. To Meta’s eye, it appears to be an authentic eighteenth-century work; to her discerning ear, the music rendered there is commanding, hauntingly beautiful, clearly the undiscovered composition of a master. But there is no indication of who the composer might be. The gift comes with the request that Meta attempt to find the manuscript’s true owner—a Prague friend the old woman has not heard from since the Second World War forced them apart—and to make the three-part sonata whole again. Leaving New York behind for the land of Dvo?ák and Kafka, Meta sets out on an unforgettable search to locate the remaining movements of the sonata and uncover a story that has influenced the course of many lives, even as it becomes clear that she isn’t the only one after the music’s secrets. Magisterially evoking decades of Prague’s tragic and triumphant history, from the First World War through the soaring days of the Velvet Revolution, and moving from postwar London to the heartland of immigrant America, The Prague Sonata is both epic and intimate, evoking the ways in which individual notes of love and sacrifice become part of the celebratory symphony of life.
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Lynnsoprano
Prague Sonata | Bradford Morrow
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#ThankfulThursday

Tagged. I only lived there 5 months, but a piece of my heart is still there.
1. Hubert Humphrey, Rue McClanahan, a few musicians well known in the industry, but not household names.
2. Continued health, my wonderful family.

Cosmos_Moon I have never been to Prague, but it always sounds so romantic. Have a happy Thursday 💜 4y
37 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
Lynnsoprano
Prague Sonata | Bradford Morrow
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Pickpick

I loved this book, but I will admit that it is probably not to everyone‘s taste. It centers on mystery and intrigue involving a music manuscript, and most of the action takes place in Prague. Since I majored in music history and lived for a while in Prague, this book could have been written specifically for me. For others, all the music references might be over the top. There‘s also lots of Prague references that I loved that wouldn‘t be 👇

Lynnsoprano Meaningful to most. Still, it‘s an interesting story with a flashback/dual timeline element and some unique characters. It‘s a chunkster, but worth the time and effort, IMO. 4y
TheSpineView 💜 cover! 4y
Lynnsoprano @TheSpineView This is a journal I keep at the piano for notes when I‘m giving lessons (which I haven‘t done in 6 months 😢). I read this book on my Kindle, and I‘m tired of trying to get decent cover shots without glare, shadows, etc. The journal was a gift from a student. 4y
TheSpineView @Lynnsoprano I love playing piano and I have not had a lesson since March. It is sad!😓 4y
Lynnsoprano @TheSpineView I hear you. I miss my voice students so much. 4y
63 likes2 stack adds5 comments
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Lynnsoprano
The Prague Sonata | Bradford Morrow
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This book has made me pull out my Prague city map. I remember many of the streets mentioned in the book, and I had a general idea of where some of the characters lived, but I just had to check it out (pun intended, sorry).

JenReadsAlot Prague is my favorite city ever!! 4y
50 likes1 comment
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Lynnsoprano
Prague Sonata | Bradford Morrow
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Normally, I would bookmark a map in a book, constantly referring back to it. Sometimes I‘m frustrated by the lack of one. Considering that I walked the area shown on this one almost daily for five months, and when we returned 8 years later hubby was amazed at how I knew exactly where to go, I don‘t think I‘m going to need this one, even if it is beautiful.

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Lynnsoprano
Prague Sonata | Bradford Morrow
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Okay, I admit that I bought this book for its cover. I walked across Charles Bridge more times than I can count. But a book that involves the city I think of as another home plus music? How can I not give this a try? So it‘s #nextup.

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Amie
The Prague Sonata | Bradford Morrow
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Mehso-so

This was rather disappointing. The story could have been interesting but it dragged on far too long and character development was lacking. I don't know much about Prague, so it was interesting to learn about the city and its history.

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anneofgreentables
The Prague Sonata | Bradford Morrow
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Mehso-so

This was a pretty good book really, but I didn‘t enjoy it as much as the last few I‘ve read recently. The author seemed to think that if they didn‘t make a musical reference every other sentence the reader would forget the book was about music, which annoyed me. I also didn‘t really find the book interesting until I was about 200 pages in, which seemed like a long time. But it did get better, and by the end I liked the story.

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AAdamson
The Prague Sonata | Bradford Morrow
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Pickpick

Prague is such a beautiful city; I can‘t wait to come back. I recommend The Prague Sonata to my fellow backpackers. I think you‘d enjoy this story. #backpackeurope

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AAdamson
The Prague Sonata | Bradford Morrow
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I‘ve had the opportunity to walk across the Charles Bridge a number of times while staying in Prague. Here‘s one example. #backpackeurope

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AAdamson
The Prague Sonata | Bradford Morrow
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So excited to be going to Prague! #backpackeurope

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REPollock
The Prague Sonata | Bradford Morrow
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I feel those feels, Franz.

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CaitZ
Prague Sonata | Bradford Morrow
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🎉 Doctor Who:Twelve Doctors of Christmas
🎉🎉 A tie between The Prague Sonata and The Cottingley Secret
🎉🎉🎉 Wooly:The True Story of the Quest to Revive One of History's Most Iconic Extinct Creatures
🎉🎉🎉🎉 Deanna Raybourn
#LitsyQuestions @GypsyKat

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Gingermint2000
Prague Sonata | Bradford Morrow
Mehso-so

This book was two stories that intertwined together with the old and new. First it is about the Nazis going into Czechoslovakia during World War II. A husband and wife split apart in a world turned upside down. The second story is of a young woman given a manuscript from the past and she has to find the other parts of the manuscript..
It was good, The history of World War II was especially interesting.

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CaitZ
Prague Sonata | Bradford Morrow
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Pickpick

This is the best book I've read all year!

It's a historical mystery/thriller set in Prague and the U.S. The characters are well drawn and engaging. Being Czech, I loved the inclusion of dialog in Czech and was thrilled to be able to understand some of it. Four years of Czech in high school didn't go to waste after all.

Anyone who enjoys historical fiction or music would enjoy this book.

#LitsyAtoZ #LetterP @BookishMarginalia

14 likes2 stack adds
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LindaGrace812
The Prague Sonata | Bradford Morrow
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Delicious! 🎼

9 likes1 stack add