This is quite a book about American pianist Carol Rosenberger, who was spending long days practicing piano in Paris when she was suddenly stricken with a bout of paralytic polio at 21. Her career is put on the back burner as it wipes out her internal apparatus for playing the piano. You won’t believe all that she goes through to make it back just to play again, let alone to be anywhere near getting to be able to resume a real career. You’ll need to read and find out. This is one tough battle she goes through. An advance digital copy was provided by NetGalley and author Carol Rosenberger for my unbiased review.

She Writes Press
Publication: April 17, 2018

Memoirs are always "funny ut-oh" to rate. If they went through a lot, but it isn't written in a way that resonates with you, do you rate it high for what they went through and having the courage to share their story or do you rate it low because of how it was written?

I'm going to go with 3 solid stars. Her life story is incredible, but it wasn't written in a way that truly gripped me. There was a LOT of "name dropping", I guess? I'm not huge in the classical music performance scene, so the people named, while obviously big in their field, didn't make any impression on me other than how they were described, as her friend, colleague, teacher, etc. Which was fine. But there were a LOT of people.

Also, I was hoping this would be a bit more inspirational than it came across as. It is absolutely amazing what she has done. Please don't think I am being negative towards what she went through and overcame. I just thought it would be more uplifting and less about technique. Also, the book goes from 1955 to roughly the present, which is a long time. So by the end of the book, there was a LOT of death of the people who were close to her. It happens. Death is a part of life, but it was kind of depressing.

Not a bad book, but it didn't grab me like I hoped it would. I think not being a huge classical music and performance buff, I missed out on the "WOW" factor. Definitely recommended to those who are into classical music and those who perform it. This would be a five star book for you for sure. Also, it would probably be more inspirational to someone going through something similar. Having not experienced a percentage of what she has, I can't really relate. I can sympathize, but not empathize. So that would be a failing on my part as a reader, not her as a writer.

Completely not the book's fault on this one. I just am not the perfect reader for this book. However, there will be many more people for whom this book will ring their bells. I will definitely recommend it to my customers for whom this is a good fit.

My thanks to NetGalley and She Writes Press for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.