Customer Reviews

The Music of Silence: A Memoir

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I purchased this book last year from amazon .uk.I have read it three times ,and each time I discover something new.In today's world it is difficult to find a well rounded person,especially if that person is a TENOR,with egos big as all outdoors.Egos that seemingly need to be constantly fed.He is a wonder.Talented in various ways,his writings are as artful as his singing.Add to that the ability to compose,write poetry,give of himself to worthy causes,constantly studying to be "accepted"and recognized as a legitimate opera singer,committed to his family,well read,and above all,meeting the challenge of sightlessness.Achieving success,breaking records consistently,he recognizes what he perceives to be his failings.He writes about those perceptions in an honest,straightforward manner,offering no excuses.In a humble way,he tells the tale.The story flows,as water in a stream the time passes,and you suddenly realize you have been so engrossed in this life story,it is long past your bedtime.The Music of Silence is more than a good read.I put the book down relucantly,feeling like I had stepped out of Bocelli's life,back into my own.Very few writers have enough self confidence to expose their innermost feelings for all the world to see.How ironic it is that Bocelli,who cannot see with his eyes,does so with his heart.He has met the challenges in his life,and continues to do so.In the best sense of the word,he is a reminder that we can do the same.Bravo,Andrea,and everyone else who reads this book and accepts their own challenges. !!!!!!!

Note: I purchased this Harper Collins book, but my review is based on the reading of the Virgin Publication (same text & translator).

This book will not teach you anything about opera or even music for that matter. We get something much better; a frank and introspective story of a life (so far), one full of all those things which make each one of us ordinary and extraordinary at the same time. The story of a man who never let go of his dreams, even when time and many other obstacles lay in his path. It shows how important a wise and loving family and caring friends can be in the big scheme of things. In this case, the life of a man whose voice has captivated millions of fans, myself included.
It is a rare glimpse into a man's conscience, not just in it's bright and shiny refined state of maturity, but in the beginnings when we all strive to determine who we are and make our own way.

Andrea shares openly incidents in his life where retrospect reveals mistakes and misguided notions. He comes out the other end of self-discovery with a philosophy and attitude towards life to be admired.

He shows that one cannot merely "wish" for something to be so. Effort and action need to accompany any goals in life, and is courageous in his quest. The seed of an idea to become a singer grew through the years, instead of fading. It is a book of hope, which should inspire even the most jaded of souls, who have given up their dreams merely because the passage of time has dimmed their flame.

On page 115, he writes: "every man distinguishes himself by his unique qualities, but all men resemble each other in their defects, which are universal." Reading this book, you will come to know the boy and the man from Tuscany whose life is infinitely unique, just as we all are. Just as we all resemble each other.

If you admire this man for his voice, or just want to read an amazing, inspiring story, written by a man not afraid to reveal his mistakes or insecurities, alongside his most proud moments, I recommend this book. Then you can go learn more about opera!

This is the memoir music-lovers have waited for. This liquid golden-voiced Italian tenor from Tuscany, tells of his blindness & how music soothed him; of his struggles as a boy to live a normal life; his studies to become a lawyer & how he found his world-class voice.

Andrea Bocelli is a refreshingly simple, humble fellow imbued with love, humor & a sense of the Grand Adventure.

Andrea Bocelli wrote this memoir himself on a special Braille computer, without a ghostwriter & Stanislav Pugliese translated it into English.

This is the angel who sang for Mayor Juiliani during a Memorial for those who perished in the September 11 attacks & I only wish there had been a CD of his favorite songs attached to this memoir.

This is a beautifully written memoir by Andrea Bocelli, who brings to his writing the same qualities he does to his singing--passion, emotional intensity, and love of life.
In recalling the people and places that shaped his life, he is detailed, but also gives his impressions.
A reflective and spiritual man, he is also very active, a man of the world, determined to prove to himself and others that "it was possible for a blind person to do anything he set his mind to. If people judged that something was beyond my capacities, I felt obliged to prove them wrong."
With his usual honesty and insight, he also realizes how much of his identity is based on his extra-ordinary talent: "Day after day, the idea that only my vocal talents could attract the attention and respect of others became more and more rooted in my mind. Singing came for me an identity from which it was impossible to flee."
One can see from these two quotes that his need to prove himself and his strong sense of identifcation with his singing, were the cornerstones on which he built his amazing career.
I was surprised to find that contrary to the somewhat stiff and formal image he sometimes conveys, he is actually an extrovert, tempestuous, and even led a rather desultory exitence during certain periods of his life (especailly when he was playing piano in piano bars in and around Pisa). His relationship with Enrica seemed largely based on the fact that he felt she would help keep him on the straight and narrow.
Expressive, poetic, and even philosophical (he comes to the conclusion we all have destinies we are meant to fulfill), this memoir is a fascinating look into the personality and character of a very gifted and courageous man, who writes, as he sings, from the heart.

How do I feel about this book? Charmed, inspired, surprised, humble, grateful. Mr. Bocelli's writing style is truly charming - so candid (about a lot but not so candid about himself). I was surprised at his writing skill and so grateful to the wonderful translator; don't overlook his personal notes at the end. When I dried my eyes after the final page, I felt uplifted and humbled by the Andrea's faith and courage.

Because I have read other books about Andrea Bocelli, I had some perspective on this "third person" autobiography. When you read it (and you must) recognize the omissions of certain personal details as what they are, his need to protect and honor the marriage relationships he and Enrica cherish. So much of this book tells us about Andrea's religious and moral self - it is not difficult to understand his need to more completely express his beliefs, as he did in the final paragraphs.

You will find this book entertaining, amusing in spots, informative and truly worth your time. Andrea Bocelli not only gives his glorious voice to our sighted world, he brings the reader of his book into that other world of the blind where we find a man who lives by faith and courage most of us will never know. Please read this lovely book - you will be better for it.

A wonderful engaging autobiography, I could not put it down. This is a truly gifted man, one who is able to show us his thinking and emotions though his beautiful singing and now in his writing. He reveals to us (the reader) his mental processes of how a young blind boy became a man. His fears, hopes and aspiration are all hear. His love of family and friends (Typically Italian) are touching. His Love for his Homeland (Tuscany). His Blindness, His Love of Music, His Education, His Friendships, His Search for a wife and his experience of having a child and his career and how it all started are all hear. Wonderfully written and beautifully translated. A Must reader the Bocelli fan.

The autobiography of Andrea Bocelli has everything. His joy as a youngster, ready to experience all, his sense of humor, his courage at the loss of his sight, his loyalty to friends, and his dedication to music. I have read this book four times and have enjoyed it each time.

Some of his boyhood pranks will bring a smile. Not all of these pranks ended well. When he holds his first born son for the first time was a very tender moment which brought a tear or two to my eye.

He is just what he seems to be, a humble man with a deep faith in God, and a great love for his family and friends. He has a remarkable talents in his voice as well as his writing. Hopefully, there will be more writing.

What one can say about the Story of Amos Bardi. A Beautiful introduction, with "A" level, to which, in fact everyone of us have someone looking to us at all time. The story begins and as we read through, we find that what happens to Amos Bardi, is not bowring, on the contrary, very interesting to follow the life of this little boy, and the adolescent and the man. All of us, would like to have had someone in our lives that would dedicate to us as much time, as Amos Bardi was granted, when he had to go to University. Its unbelievable how one can be able to accept the destroy of our own concepts and ideas through some one that possesses more knowledge, and throws us upfront, to see whats around us with another perspective. How honest and sincere one speak about oneself, without the presumptious, that all of us are empowered, because we do not like others to see our week points. All in all a great book. A book that is a non-stop reading book. The final letter to his parents and wife are, what all of us, inside ourselves, would like to say, but sometimes it is not possible. This perspective of God and about the Human being is written so well, that this book is Literature, not a mere story, told by one more writer. Pitty, is that the public in general do not buy it. Its a legacy of strenght, of faith, of endurement and of achievement, when us human beings, barely reach to our final purpose. We are mere spectators of whats around us, and live what is more immediate.
And this book was written by Andrea Bocelli, in moments of solitude and deep lonliness. A GREAT MAN. To him, I wish he continues to write, because his book is as good as his music.
I would have given more stars, if they were. In fact, he has all the stars of the Universe. Pim

I am not a big fan of opera. In fact, I hated it until Andrea Bocelli came around. I am now a huge fan of Andrea Bocelli and I was so excited when this book came out. I haven't been able to put it down. I find it fascinating. What a life he has had! If you love opera, Bocelli, or enjoy reading about other people's lives, get this book!

+++++

"On the one hand, nature has taken something from him; on the other hand, it has given him something else."

The above is found early in this book by blind Italian superstar tenor Andrea Bocelli (born Sept. 1958).

This autobiography, translated from Italian, was written by Bocelli himself without a ghostwriter. He chose to tell his life story through the eyes of a boy called Amos. (Even though not mentioned in this book, his first-born son is named Amos.) It covers the period from the first months after his birth until October 1998.

Throughout this book, the reader is presented with a range of dual emotions: doubt and confidence; fear and awe; reverence and curiosity; and determinism and self-criticism. One finds within its pages reflections on music, life, and love.

Highlights include the following:

(1) His caring parents, who nurtured his musical talents
(2) Competing in talent shows
(3) His struggles with law school
(4) His desire to turn an avocation into a way of life
(5) His big musical break.

This book, I feel, is strongest when dealing with Bocelli's reflections on life. Here's an example:

"The destiny of humanity, as well as that of each individual, is, as I see it, predetermined; it is a path guided by an intelligent will which, no matter how one wishes to consider, imagine, realize, love, hate, beseech, or damn it, can never be rationally understood, simplistically reduced, or attributed to the concept of chance."

Bocelli is also brutally honest. For example, after he has acquired success for some years he states the following:

"I am tired. Tired of traveling constantly, tired of ratings, of struggles, of contracts, tired of newspapers that say whatever they want about me, tired of critics who turn their spiteful artillery fire against my success."

There are almost 35 black and white photographs spanning Bocelli's life found in the middle of this book. I found these interesting.

Finally, I would have liked to have read more about Bocelli's challenges with his blindness. (In fact, I forgot I was reading about a blind person!). Also, it would have been nice to have more information about his music. As well, I feel there was too much information given about the loves in his life.

In conclusion, this book tells the story of a person faced with immense difficulties and how he overcame them to achieve mega success!!

(first paperback published 2002; forward; introduction; 32 chapters; epilogue; main narrative 235 pages; author's note; endnote; translator's note)

+++++