Review of The Cello Maker
Posted: 31 May 2024, 10:59
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Cello Maker" by David P Andersen.]
“The Cello Maker,” written by David P. Andersen, contains sixteen short stories spanning many topics and several years. Some are so believable I thought I was reading accounts of actual events. Although each story is unique, themes about the consequences of human interaction and superb craftsmanship are common to all. I loved the way the author adjusted his imagery to the topic he was writing about. An example is how he used the phrase, “he sighed a small arpeggio of resignation,” in the story about the cello maker. Each story conveys a message about life and how our actions impact others. I enjoyed the reactions to kindness. The stories also provide information on topics not widely known, e.g., computer languages. I enjoyed reading how a simple task was turned into a form of art as the worker put his heart and soul into it.
Two of the stories have supernatural themes. Some are about love; others are about airplanes, whether radio-controlled or real. Some stories play out just after World War II, while others are set in recent times when computers are already in use. The author combined a fascinating selection of stories into one book. The selection included stories previously published in other media.
I liked all the stories, but "The Ugliest Dog in Kilkee" was my favorite. It tells a story of great empathy, not only for other human beings but also for animals. “Sinusoidal motion” conveyed important messages about revenge and how our lives can influence our children and grandchildren. The author used an offensive term for Jewish people in “Echos down Colorado Street." The specific term was generally used at the time. David also mentions racially based job reservations in the story. Readers should not see these as derogatory.
The story I liked the least was “The Invention of Voice Mail" because it contained considerable technical information. People with no or low knowledge of computers may find it difficult to understand. I did not like the author using abbreviations without specifying what they stand for, e.g., FAA and MSP. People not familiar with the USA may not know what the abbreviations mean.
I discovered two minor errors, and the book was professionally edited.
I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. The aspects I disliked did not impact my enjoyment of the book, and I do not want to remove a star. I recommend this book to everyone who enjoys reading a good story. The variety of topics, beautiful descriptions, flowing writing style, and life lessons make the book a pleasure to read.
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The Cello Maker
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
“The Cello Maker,” written by David P. Andersen, contains sixteen short stories spanning many topics and several years. Some are so believable I thought I was reading accounts of actual events. Although each story is unique, themes about the consequences of human interaction and superb craftsmanship are common to all. I loved the way the author adjusted his imagery to the topic he was writing about. An example is how he used the phrase, “he sighed a small arpeggio of resignation,” in the story about the cello maker. Each story conveys a message about life and how our actions impact others. I enjoyed the reactions to kindness. The stories also provide information on topics not widely known, e.g., computer languages. I enjoyed reading how a simple task was turned into a form of art as the worker put his heart and soul into it.
Two of the stories have supernatural themes. Some are about love; others are about airplanes, whether radio-controlled or real. Some stories play out just after World War II, while others are set in recent times when computers are already in use. The author combined a fascinating selection of stories into one book. The selection included stories previously published in other media.
I liked all the stories, but "The Ugliest Dog in Kilkee" was my favorite. It tells a story of great empathy, not only for other human beings but also for animals. “Sinusoidal motion” conveyed important messages about revenge and how our lives can influence our children and grandchildren. The author used an offensive term for Jewish people in “Echos down Colorado Street." The specific term was generally used at the time. David also mentions racially based job reservations in the story. Readers should not see these as derogatory.
The story I liked the least was “The Invention of Voice Mail" because it contained considerable technical information. People with no or low knowledge of computers may find it difficult to understand. I did not like the author using abbreviations without specifying what they stand for, e.g., FAA and MSP. People not familiar with the USA may not know what the abbreviations mean.
I discovered two minor errors, and the book was professionally edited.
I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. The aspects I disliked did not impact my enjoyment of the book, and I do not want to remove a star. I recommend this book to everyone who enjoys reading a good story. The variety of topics, beautiful descriptions, flowing writing style, and life lessons make the book a pleasure to read.
******
The Cello Maker
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
