Acclaimed best-selling author Mark Salzman delivers a humorously poignant tale in this novel of disappointment and redemption. Renne Sundheimer's life is a shadow of his youth, when he was a celebrated genius cellist. Now a college professor, he struggles to regain his gift. But in one week he is drafted into jury duty and reluctantly agrees to tutor a young Korean boy, forcing Renne to come to terms with his limitations and broaden his horizons. "This is a beautiful novel, a veritable concerto."-Booklist
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"A fading prodigy cellist finds meaning in his life through teaching and through sitting as a juror in a bizarre murder trial. The first person narrative was so well written he was incredibly easy to identify with, though his choices were often unique ones... "
— Mel (4 out of 5 stars)
" fast read and touches the human spirit wished i had seen the movie "
— Sheri, 5/1/2011" Audio book - Narrator poor. a little boring. "
— Mandy, 5/1/2011" I read this a long time ago. Apparently it did not leave that big of an impression. I vaguely remember enjoying it but I couldn't tell you why now. It has been over ten years since I read it. "
— Mark, 4/20/2011" I thought this was the other Soloist book; big mistake! Don't bother with this book on CD. "
— Eileen, 4/17/2011" Short, easy read but not that satisfying. "
— Jill, 3/26/2011" Very educational and of course better than the movie, though it was good also. Lots of swearing. They were quotes, but still no sugar coating there. "
— Karen, 3/24/2011" It was a really interesting book and I can honestly say I liked it "
— Eric, 1/31/2011" The story of a gifted musician who is severely mentally ill and homeless and the journalist who befriends him. "
— Aldafan, 1/28/2011" this is a story of a young man in transition. At the age of 18, his gift deserted him and his life takes a subtle but drastic turn "
— Jkm826, 1/9/2011" It was a good book but not great. It was interesting but not a book that I couldn't put down... "
— Kylee, 12/27/2010" Provocative. Read all of his books "
— Millie, 12/11/2010" Given to my husband for the music piece of the story, but I grabbed it first and enjoyed it for so many other reasons. Made me stop and rethink about my perspective on mental health issues. "
— Elizabeth, 10/15/2010" originally checked this book out thinking it was the one the movie with Robert Downey Jr was based on, don't think it was but I did enjoy it. Don't here of a 35 yr old virgin very often! "
— Karen, 8/9/2010" A circular, dizzying novel about coming to terms with life. Excellent, as are his other books. "
— Glenna, 8/8/2010" Success looks different in different times of your life. "
— Sally, 6/30/2010Mark Salzman is an award-winning novelist and memoirist. The son of a social worker and a music teacher, he grew up in Connecticut and studied Chinese language and philosophy at Yale. After college he spent two years in China, learning martial arts from some of China’s most renowned teachers, an experience he documented in his bestselling memoir Iron & Silk. His other books include The Laughing Sutra, Lost in Place, The Soloist, and Lying Awake. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, director Jessica Yu, and their two daughters.
David Chandler is an Earphones Award–winning narrator who has read numerous titles for New York Times bestselling authors William Kent Krueger and C. J. Box, among others.