The Gustav Sonata
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By Rose Tremain
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1 review
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…
‘A perfect novel about life’s imperfection… Tremain is writing at the height of her inimitable powers…’ Kate Kellaway, Observer
‘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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Tremain creates a very visual novel with a range of characters (some likeable, others not) that guide us through Gustav's life. Parts one and two read with speed, and while section three is still good, it didn't capture me in the same way. The novel wasn't what I expected it to be, and I'm not sure the blurb suggests a true reflection either, but overall, I did enjoy it, and I think that's mainly due to the main character of Gustav, who is just a delight.
An interesting read that I would recommend.
