The Grace Note [Paperback]

Brian L. Doe (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 25, 2008

Alexander Brogan, New York Philharmonic violinist and Julliard instructor, could not have imagined that his fiancée Charlotte would be murdered at Lincoln Center, nor could he have fathomed abandoning his elite Manhattan lifestyle and retreating to a small town in upstate, New York. Determined to fade away into a quiet, isolated existence as a high school music teacher, he encounters a wily ten-year-old violin prodigy named Kelly, whom he vainly tries to ignore. But through the arm-twisting antics of her straight-shooting, Louisiana-born grandmother, he agrees to teach the child. Ultimately, the experience forces him not only to rediscover his passion for the violin and music, but also to realize that love may very well linger in a heart that only Kelly's beautiful Aunt Grace can open

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Brian L. Doe was born in Ogdensburg, New York, and grew up on the shores of the St. Lawrence River. From a young age, he recognized a passion for the written word and committed himself to the pursuit of writing. He received a Bachelor's Degree in writing from St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York, and a Master's Degree in secondary education from the State University of New York at Potsdam College. He is an English teacher and amateur violinist in upstate New York where he lives with his wife and children.

Product Details

• Paperback: 310 pages
• Publisher: All Things That Matter Press (November 25, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0982205678
• ISBN-13: 978-0982205679
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,165,385 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Heart-Felt Offering, February 19, 2009

By 

Paula Buermele "www.thedreamcatchertour.com" (Canton, MI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Grace Note (Paperback)

The Grace Note, by Brian Doe, explores the themes of love and loss from a man's perspective. Alex Brogan, a gifted violinist with the New York Philharmonic, has found happiness in his life's calling as a composer and musician and in his relationship with his fiancée, Charlotte. But, like the butterfly that flits through this novel, happiness is fragile and a tragedy soon shatters the happiness in Alex's heart.

Mimicking the form of a musical composition, Doe creates variations on his motif of life-love-loss-love-life through interesting and well-developed characters. Contrasting the glittering culture of professional musicians in Manhattan against the atmosphere of a small town in upstate New York, Doe sets the stage for a wide range of emotions to be played out.

A ten year old child, Kelly, comes into his life at time when he needs the challenge she presents to him: "I need a new teacher," she said frankly. "You can teach me. It'll be easy; I'm a prodigy." Despite his vow to never teach violin again, Alex is drawn to the opportunity and this becomes the center point of the next phase of his life. Kelly comes with family, of course, and each character contributes to the texture of the story.

Doe accommodates the non-musically trained reader by including appropriate detail to give credibility to the tone of the book. Readers who are just in it for the relationships and the angst the main character works through as he processes the life changes he experiences will find a satisfying story without being distracted by the musical references.

I did have a little trouble accepting the Stradivarius. Somehow, I just couldn't picture this rare instrument in the context of this novel and would have preferred a modern-day instrument to reference the quality of the instrument compared to the person playing it. "Across the room, the clock read time for the lesson to be over, but steeped in their collaboration, neither noticed the hour." This I understood, knowing what it is like to be lost in the making of music. When the making of the music was on the Strad, however, subtle doubt took me out of the reading moment.

The novel did keep my interest throughout and it was refreshing to see intense emotions from a man's perspective. It is a love story told in an unusual context that is well-supported by good writing and a satisfactory ending.

[...]

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars North Bangor, January 4, 2009

By 

Kelly Paquin - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Grace Note (Paperback)

This book has the ability to touch your heart. If ever I have read a love story that doesn't have a corny twist-this is it. It takes your heart where it hasn't been before. If you are lucky enough to have the culture of the violin, it will only take you one step further. What a beautiful story. When all is thought to be gone, there is so much more ahead of you. It is called life. This is a great opportunity to see the true meaning of that.

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!, August 5, 2009

By 

A. Popple (Zephyrhills, FL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Grace Note (Paperback)

I just finished the book today. It was excellent! I bought it off Amazon and it came about 4 days ago. If I hadn't had been so busy this weekend I would have finished it in two days!! I couldn't wait to get home today to read the ending....