BR: Maestro (Peter Goldsworthy)

Link: Maestro

This book is a Bildungsroman (a 'novel of self-cultivation') that illustrates the growth of a protagonist, usually from childhood to maturity. The protagonist in this book is Paul Crabbe, a self-confident teenager who possesses a rare musical talent that is fostered and encouraged by his musically inclined parents. They send him to a piano teacher, Eduard Keller, an old Viennese man who Paul immediately dislikes and shows little respect. Though self-assured, to the point of arrogance, Paul continues the lessons as his parents wish, and he does what he is told even though he suspects Keller is a Nazi -- a matter of little consequence in modern day Darwin, but of great interest to Paul.

Keller demands that Paul return to the basics, practising notes, playing childish songs. Frustrated and belligerent, Paul reluctantly does as he is told, more for his parents sake than any belief in Keller's talents as a music teacher.

His snooping and library research uncovers a link between Keller and a great composer and pianist, information that Paul shares with his parents who express shock, then jubilation, at having someone so esteemed in their midst -- even better, someone who is now teaching their son. It takes a long while before Paul is able to share their admiration for Keller -- in fact, it is only as an adult, many years later, is Paul able to reflect on all the lessons Keller taught him, about music, about the fine difference between being good and being great. Paul will never be great, as Keller points out early on. He lacks that extra something that no amount of practice and repetition will bring out of him. It's a hard lesson for anyone to learn. Paul imagines he will be a concert pianist, that he will travel the world, playing music that will change people's lives. It is not to be so, and it's a bitter pill to swallow.

Eduard's past is a mystery that Paul spends a lot of energy on uncovering, especially the fate of his wife and child. Immature inquisitiveness propels him to uncover a mystery that he initially hopes will defame his mentor, but as he matures he learns that sordid history is ugly and painful.

Paul learns more about life, love, choices and passion from Eduard, more than playing ivory keys on a piano, and longing for a life of fame and adulation. He grows up, gets married, has children, but never will he forget his Viennese piano teacher.

This book is on the reading lists for high school students, and many hundreds of teenagers have written book reviews and essays about it. It's a good choice for the classroom because it has a subtle message, deeper meaning and layers that can be teased out through discussion. It's the type of book I'd have enjoyed studying at that age, and I wonder why it wasn't on my school curriculum.

I've given it only three and a half stars because it's a safe story, readily digested and lacking the sharp edges that would earn it a higher rating from me. I prefer my characters to be more tortured, more questionning, to live less ideal lives than Paul does, but that's just me.

Rating ***1/2 out of five.