Symphony for the City of the Dead

See my full review at The Emerald City Book Review. Finding the truth about the Soviet era is not easy, and Shostakovich's true thoughts and feelings are basically impossible to uncover, given his need to mask and conceal himself in order to survive. But Anderson brought clarity into a murky time while still allowing us to feel its painful ambiguity. I was not so enamored of the author's writing style, with its short, choppy sentences enlivened by the occasional hyperbolic statement or pop-culture reference. I'm not sure if this was meant as a gesture toward the book's intended audience, older teens and young adults, but I found it unfortunate and clumsy.

Still, I learned a tremendous amount about events of which I knew little and am even more impressed than ever by Shostakovich's ability to create under such circumstances. I also have to mention the stunning cover and excellent design overall. As with another new release from Candlewick that I enjoyed recently, The Hired Girl, the design is perfectly in tune with the contents, and I appreciate that attention to detail.