Anyone who’s dabbled even casually with the music world knows it’s full of heartbreak, exhilaration, passion, and drama. A profession overstuffed with possibilities for storytellers in all media, it’s a wonder to me why more film directors, novelists, and playwrights don’t take the plunge.

But appearing today in bookstores across the fruited plain is Overture (Doubleday, $24.95), the debut novel by Yael Goldstein. Overture is about a famous violinist who also has a passion for composition. But her marriage to an acclaimed and revolutionary composer compels her to sacrifice her own composerly ambitions. (Alma Mahler, anyone?) Then to make matters even more complicated, she gives birth to a daughter who quickly shows talent for . . . composition.

Too many composers at the bench? You’ll just have to find out for yourself.

There are a few readings coming up around the country. Some even boast some (gasp) new music inspired by the book. Check them out in the comments.

One thought on “But what I really want to do is compose!”
  1. Readings:
    Thursday, January 25, 7:00 pm
    Barnes and Noble Lincoln Center
    1972 Broadway, New York, NY 10023
    (includes music by Nicholas Weiss, performed by Sonya Chung)

    Wednesday, January 31, 7:30 pm
    Barnes and Noble Princeton (the one in Marketfair)
    3535 US Route 1, Princeton, NJ 08450

    Thursday, February 8, 7:00 pm
    Olsson’s Books & Records
    418 7th Street NW, Washington, DC 20004

    Sunday, February 11, 7:00 pm
    KGB Bar
    85 East 4th St., New York, NY

    Thursday, February 22, 6:30 pmHarvard Bookstore
    Harvard Hillel, Cambridge, MA
    (includes music by Nicholas Weiss, performed by Sonya Chung)

    Late February, TBA
    Newtonville Books

    Wednesday, February 28
    Makor Center, Debut Fiction Night
    35 West 67th St., New York, NY 10023

    Thursday, March 22, 7:30 pm
    JCC Manhattan, Lit Café
    334 Amsterdam Ave., New York, NY 10023

    Thursday, April 5, 7:00pm
    West Portal Books
    80 West Portal, San Francisco, CA 94127

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