A word of warning: don't finish this book immediately before bed. I finished this book about 10 minutes ago, immediately texted a friend telling her she has to read it, and then sat in bed grinning like an idiot. The whole book is beautifully crafted, well-paced, and fun to read. The message of this book is tremendously uplifting. Renne, the main character (I found myself typing soloist, not character, showing how well Salzman immersed me in the world of music) has a tragic hopeless air about him that feels a lot like Stevens's from Remains of the Day. At the same time, he is more likeable, more passionate, and somehow more substantial than Stevens. Remains of the Day ends on a low note, life passes on basically unchanged but somehow with all the hope skooshed out of it, so it's even duller and thinner than before. The Soloist ends beautifully, restoring the reader's hope for music, mankind, and every character in the book. I'm sure critics with more discerning taste would hate the ending. After all, they hated JK Rowling's epilogue, which I adored. The ending had everything I like, SPOILER ALERT the main character got his groove back, his student is outstanding and studies with him again, and music triumphs over everything.
Why was this book exceptional? Because of it's descriptions of music. I find music extremely difficult to put into words. I've never been able to describe how I feel when I play music, or listen to music, despite knowing that it is a feeling I want all the time and crave when I don't have it. Salzman expresses everything impeccably. Also, the story about a failed progidy who still lives for music and loves music and feels music with every bone of her body is soul soothing. I put the book down and all I can think about now is running to my piano and playing hours and hours of Bach.
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