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#shostakovich
review
LeoGirlReads
Pickpick

A must read for any classical music or Russian history buff

review
ReadingEnvy
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Pickpick

I've had this on my TBR forever but it took the non-fiction quarter of #readingenvyrussia to finally get to it. If you're like me and struggle to read history, make it a cultural history like this one, where the history is told sideways through the life and work of an artist, in this case the composer Dmitri Shostakovich and his hometown of Leningrad, up until and during the Siege itself. ↘️

ReadingEnvy The publisher is also YA and while this book is considered YA, I didn't find it overly simplified in its discussion of the music or the history. The author does a fantastic job narrating his own work, bringing a vibrance to the political and musical worlds of Shostakovich. ↘️ 2y
ReadingEnvy Many of you know one of my goals this year was to better understand how Russia moved from WWI into the 1950s and still remain a powerhouse despite - or as I'm learning on top of - the devastation to the country and its people. The background of this story displays many of the missteps made by the Soviet government - really mostly Stalin - on the German front in particular, but also in dealing with their own citizens. ↘️ 2y
ReadingEnvy One somewhat sordid argument this author uncovers is that it was Stalin's history of food deprivation that may have trained the citizens of Leningrad to survive what should have been an impossible solution. I don't want to give him that much credit, but it was an interesting tangent.

And who will now go on a Shostakovich listening spree? It's me!
2y
See All 9 Comments
andrew61 Fantastic review jenny. I read a novel about the recording a few years ago and found it fascinating the whole process of recording a symphony inbthe midst of starvation and war. I will definitely be finding some of his music to listen to and also looking for this book. Increasingly I find my route to classical music through references in novels. 2y
Daisey This is one of my most memorable nonfiction audiobooks! I need to listen to it again. 2y
ReadingEnvy @andrew61 yes they mention that briefly! I was going to look to see if I could find it. Knowing several.members of the symphony died between him finishing and that performance is pretty insane 2y
EvieBee Yes! I loved this sooo much and the audio version was a smash. 2y
39 likes3 stack adds9 comments
review
Niloofarmyl
The Noise of Time | Julian Barnes
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Pickpick

یکی برای شنیدن
یکی برای به یادآوردن
و یکی برای نوشیدن
جولین بارنز با قلم شیوای خود دراین رمان به زندگی دیمتری شوستاکوویچ آهنگساز بزرگ روس می پردازد.
سوالی که از خود پس از خواندن کتاب می پرسی این است ، گفتمان های قدرت تا چه میزان صداقت هنری هنرمندان را تحت الشعاع خود قرار دادند ‌؟ جولین بارنز از زبان شوستاکوویچ می گوید به آثارم توجه کن نه به گفته هایم
#هیاهوی_زمان
#bookstagram #readingnook #julianbarnes #goodreads #shostakovich#whatimreading

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youngreadrshelf
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Pickpick

The story of Russian composer, Shostakovich, and interwoven with WWII and the siege of Leningrad. Really well-told YA story. Trigger warnings for cannibalism and eating pets.

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youngreadrshelf
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It‘s a little hot to do much more than read books and drink a summer beer.

EvieBee Oh yeah! And this is a great read! 3y
youngreadrshelf @EvieBee I know. I kept putting it off because I had some hesitation about reading a war book. Anderson does a good job making it relatable. 3y
EvieBee @youngreadrshelf I so agree, and I think it‘s perfect as a young person book. Not too much, but just enough. 3y
youngreadrshelf @EvieBee yes. I think at least middle school and up though. Some of the cannibal moments are difficult. 3y
25 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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wifey.n
The Noise of Time | Julian Barnes
Pickpick

Thanks to this book I found the second Waltz! 💕

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Becker
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Pickpick

The author weaves a basic biography of Shostakovich with an intense time in Russian history. It‘s very readable and very interesting. 🇷🇺

BookishTrish Looooooooooooove this book 3y
29 likes1 comment
review
BookishTrish
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Pickpick

The Leningrad Symphony has been on near constant rotation in my ears for years. I love it so so so much. While some of the more technical discussions of Shostakovich‘s music went over my head, I very much enjoyed reading about how his music helped this musicologist-author through dark times. And I discovered some new pieces to love too. (And maybe bought a sticker.) #Russia

TheBookHippie Oh I love this!! 🤍🤍🤍 3y
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QuintusMarcus This is a little out there, but Shostakovich is an important character in William Vollman‘s novel Europe Central. Great book, worth checking out. 3y
BookishTrish @QuintusMarcus Thanks for the recommendation!!! 3y
52 likes6 comments
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BookishTrish
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Good company while I listen to Symphony No 5 and wait for my flute lesson to start

43 likes1 comment
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charl08

All of these tasks made it almost impossible to survive alone. Only by creating sanctuaries where many came together to share the work, the food, and the warmth could people carry on. "We moved into one room and lived as a family playing chess, reading Pushkin out loud in the evenings, one man remembered. "It was vital to keep helping others."

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