“Unsparing in her depiction of the disease’s harrowing effects, neuroscientist Genova also celebrates humanity.” –People “Sometimes it’s easier to tell truth in fiction…And she tells it with heart and hope.” –NPR “Her juxtaposition of scientific detail with compassionate, heartfelt storytelling is unparalleled.” –Bookreporter “Every Note Played will grip and gut you.” –The Boston Globe … —Bookreporter
“Every Note Played will grip and gut you.” —The Boston Globe
From neuroscientist and New York Times bestselling author of Still Alice comes a powerful exploration of regret, forgiveness, freedom, and what it means to be alive.
An accomplished concert pianist, Richard received standing ovations from audiences all over the world in awe of his rare combination of emotional resonance and flawless technique. Every finger of his hands was a finely calibrated instrument, dancing across the keys and striking each note with exacting precision. That was eight months ago.
Richard now has ALS, and his entire right arm is paralyzed. His fingers are impotent, still, devoid of possibility. The loss of his hand feels like a death, a loss of true love, a divorce–his divorce.
He knows his left arm will go next.
Three years ago, Karina removed their framed wedding picture from the living room wall and hung a mirror there instead. But she still hasn’t moved on. Karina is paralyzed by excuses and fear, stuck in an unfulfilling life as a piano teacher, afraid to pursue the path she abandoned as a young woman, blaming Richard and their failed marriage for all of it.
When Richard becomes increasingly paralyzed and is no longer able to live on his own, Karina becomes his reluctant caretaker. As Richard’s muscles, voice, and breath fade, both he and Karina try to reconcile their past before it’s too late.
Poignant and powerful, Every Note Played is a masterful exploration of redemption and what it means to find peace inside of forgiveness.
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Amazing story!
Every Note Played is not for the faint of heart, it is not for those who want a happy ending. Every Note Played is powerfully educational and profoundly emotional. This is a novel that will touch you deeply. Every Note Played is the story of Richard, a concert pianist diagnosed with ALS, his denial, his grief. The challenges of his day to day struggles with the simple things we take for granted. First the loss of his career and the life he has always known, then the loss of his independence and dignity, all while trying to repair the relationships he carelessly tossed aside for so many years with his daughter Grace and ex-wife Karina. Lisa Genova’s talented writing gives us just a glimpse into this life stealing illness. The descriptions of the day to day physical suffering of this horrific disease are difficult to digest but leave us extremely empathetic and more compassionate to those who suffer and are affected by this disease. As Genova did in her novel Still Alice, she once again manages to thrust us into the heart and souls of each of her characters.
This was an “audio” read for me and the narration was wonderful.
I have enjoyed all of Lisa Genova’s novels.
Every Note Played was exactly what you’d expect: a sad story that sheds light on what it would be like to have ALS. Like Still Alice, this book gives the reader an understanding beyond what is shown through the media. I loved that this book took it further than the Ice Bucket challenge and brought up issues that are really disturbing, such as how little support ALS patients get from insurance (these people have the right to live just like any other human being…how can we expect them to pay for such exorbitantly expensive, but necessary, equipment and care?)
The descriptions of Boston and of classical music/piano brought me back to my days in the New England Conservatory and I really loved that part. If you’re a classical music lover I think you’ll enjoy this book. The only reason I’m not giving this 5 stars is because I felt like the characters were kind of flat. On the one hand I liked that Karina and Richard were sort of antagonistic with each other until the end because it was really realistic (it wouldn’t have made sense if a divorced couple who never got a chance to talk through their issues suddenly were madly in love again). On the other hand though, I felt like the characters were stagnant and never changed throughout the book. Overall an informative and interesting read.
Though the subject is difficult, the book is beautifully written. The information about this terrible disease was well done. She obviously studied hard.
Love all of Lisa Genova’s books. Her research is excellent and this book was no different. Her characters always draw me into the story and I learn so much on each topic she delves into.
Lisa Genova, author and neuroscientist, pulls all her talents and skills together to once again engage her readers. In Every Note Played, Genova tells the devastating story of a world-renowned pianist facing the greatest performance of his life–battling the diagnosis of ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Every cell in Richard’s being is devoted to his music and performance.
He knows his left arm will go next.
As I read this line from the synopsis, I could hear a family member stating almost the same during her siege with ALS. During that time and during the reading of Every Note Played, I pondered what it must be like to know in a given day what you’ll be losing next. The mind is not struck down by the disease.
In the case of Richard, his obsession with his career has already cost him his family, a wife and daughter. He lives alone and must rely on caregivers to help him throughout the day and night. Until…
His ex-wife, Karina, decides she must help him. Neither approaches this renewal of relationship graciously but throughout their struggle, we learn so much of what relationships both in families and friendships should be about. The former husband and wife are no longer competitors in their music careers or as parents, something they neither did very well. Many readers describe Richard very well–arrogant, self-absorbed, rude, hurtful. I agree with their assessment. However, Karina wasn’t much better it seems when they were married. And now she decides to assume the caregiver role.
There are many poignant scenes involved in the development of Genova’s characters in Every Note Played. Some are mildly emotional. Others are heartbreaking. I’m not sure how Genova goes about her writing but she is capable of using the simplest words to share the most difficult and painful scenes. I applaud her ability to share Richard with us and be so accurate in her depiction of his loss of first the use of his fingers, then his hand, and right behind that his arm. Genova gives us a complete picture of living, or should we say dying, with this disease.
With all her books, Genova has the edge right there for her readers but it is a subtle edge. These are not action-packed thrillers; they are human stories using fictional characters. Needless to say, they are page turners!
It is hard to believe one could find a favorite quote in a book telling such a painful story, but I did:
Everything begins and ends. Every day and night, every concerto, every relationship, every life. Everything ends eventually.
My Recommendation: Despite my personal connection with this particular disease, I believe I would still have enjoyed Every Note Played. No, it isn’t a feel-good book, but Genova’s writing is educational, heartfelt, well-written, and authentic. To my mind, she is one of our top authors of today. I highly recommend this book.
The realism and raw nature of this book was the first thing that popped out to me. Things that people don’t usually talk about in terms of ALS were in this book, and are actually true. It reminds us of the humanity in everyone, disabilities or not.
A book that is very hard to read emotionally but impossible to put down. It chronicles with clinical accuracy the ravages of ALS while at the same time with great emotion the anger, resentment and frustration of a man afflicted with this disease. It reflects the sacredness of life no matter how bad the physical condition.
Robert, a professional pianist, is at the height of his fame. He begins to lose movement in his hands and arms. As the disease progresses his money is depleting as he pays for needed health care. He finds comfort and friendship from his home health aide and support from reluctant family.
This is a powerful story with no holds barred as it discusses the disease all the damage that goes with it. There was no happy ending for this ALS sufferer. But forgiveness, acceptance and reconciliation brought a sense of peace to all.
Horrible disease ALS tears apart and heals a broken family.
Lisa Genova tells the story of a divorced couple, both musicians. He is a famous concert pianist, she is a piano teacher who gave up her dream of becoming a jazz musician to the demands of her husband’s career and motherhood. He develops ALS, and is forced to give up his career. He suffers from many losses, including the loss of both arms and his identity. He is helpless, so she reluctantly takes him in and becomes his caregiver, despite their mutual animosity. The author describes in detail the relentless progression of ALS, and the conflicts that the couple deals with. There is an interesting parallel between the husband’s prison of his own body and the psychological prison the couple has built around themselves which prevents them from reconnecting. I love the author’s writing style and the information she shares about ALS. I have enjoyed her previous books as well.
**Spoiler Alert**
Every Note Played was both depressing and informative. The weakness of the main female character was disappointing, as was the fact that the story ended so soon after Richard’s death. I would have enjoyed knowing more about Katina’s life after Richard’s passing…
I have read all of Lisa Genova’s books and loved them all. They are so well researched and written you forget you are reading a novel. Yes, the subject matter is tragic but they are also inspirational in the way the characters, their family and friends meet the challenges of the diseases and medical conditions Lisa writes about. Highly recommend this book and, frankly, all of her books.
This is a great story about ALS from the first tingle in the hand to the characters departure. It’s much more than just an ALS diagnosis. It’s about forgiveness, integrity, strength, and love. Very well written with a great depth of characters. Highly recommended!
This book wrecked me…it stirred so many memories of caregiving for me that it really hit home. I cried, and cried hard at the end of this book. An eye-opening read to really ‘feel’ what happens to someone dealing with ALS and living and coping this horrible disease. It won’t soon be forgotten or the lesson that we should all appreciate all the gifts given to us by God. Appreciate everything, everyday, even when you think it’s the worst that can happen…oh it could be worse.
This is the heartbreaking story of Richard, a famous talented concert pianist who is diagnosed with ALS. This is the story of Karina his ex wife, who takes him back into their home and cares for him. It is a difficult journey for both of them that leads to forgiving each other’s sins of the past and healing for the future. Lisa Genova’s books do not disappoint and she does an excellent job of explaining the symptoms of ALS without being textbook scientific and boring the average reader to tears. I have loved all her books, and her willingness to explore some terrible diseases that affect all our lives.
This changed my understanding of ALS. I thought I knew about this disease from Stephen Hawkings and the ice bucket challenge. This book brought home what an isolating disease this is, and how terrifying it is to lose control of your body in such short time. I closed the book after reading it and opened my checkbook.
So I gave this book a 4-star rating, followed by the words tragic, informative, and haunting. Yep, that’s about right. It is not an easy read. Like all of Lisa Genova’s other books, this one is about a neurological disease. This time it’s ALS, aka Lou Gehrig’s disease. I wanted to learn more than the little I knew about this debilitating disease that has no cure, mainly because it has recently reared its ugly head and waltzed right into my own extended family. This is not a feel-good story, and it is definitely not entertaining. The facts are brutal. Genova (who holds a PhD in neuroscience from Harvard) tells it like it is, and it isn’t pretty. “This disease is hideous. No one should have to go through this.” says one of the book’s characters. Once you read the book, you will have mental images to go along with those statements, and I am 100% confident every single person alive will agree with those painfully honest words. “If this were a movie, she’d have her hands over her eyes, her breath held…If this were a book, she’d close it without turning the page.” Sadly, the devastating advancement of damage caused by ALS is neither a movie nor a book; it is the physical and emotional horror of lives cruelly touched and affected by the death sentence an ALS diagnosis brings. Life with ALS makes death seem to be the only saving grace. I do now have a deeper understanding of what it is like to live with ALS, to have a body that is essentially dead before death, coupled with a mind and personality that are left intact. My empathy and my compassion for those suffering have both increased, as has my dread of what lies ahead for my family member. Read the book; learn; cry; donate; pray for a cure. And if you currently happen to be blessed with a life of health, be grateful for that life. No one deserves ALS.
Great read! As a physician, I appreciate the accuracy depicted with the progression of ALS and the difficulties experienced by the patient, family and caregivers.
I’m a cellist and reading about a musician with ALS was both empowering and painful. Believable characters and plot movement . A background of beautiful music almost sings through the pages.
This book is so real. It is intense. When I was first told to read Still Alice many years ago, I remember it being recommended that I not read it right before bed. This book effected me the way Still Alice must have effected that library patron! It haunted me throughout the day and sometimes at night. I wish I could have read it faster!
ALS is seriously depressing. I am so surprised that Stephen Hawking lived as long as he did with it! My heart goes out to all those whose life it has touched.
Genova is so good at what she does. If you care about learning what it is like to live with difficult health challenges, she is the author to turn to.