Rhapsody: A Love Story [Hardcover]

Judith Gould (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1999

Bestselling author Judith Gould turns in her best performance yet in Rhapsody. Misha Levin is one of the world's most accomplished classical pianists, a dashingly handsome man who has achieved all he's ever wanted except one thing: true love. Eight years ago, Serena Gibbons walked out of his life, leaving him wounded and devastated. He went on to marry the ever-loyal Vera Bunim, who stood by him while his career soared. But Misha never forgot Serena. Then, on a street in Vienna--just hours before his most important concert ever--he sees Serena for the first time in eight years and their passion is once again ignited. Their lives will forever be changed.

"Well-written. A beautiful setting . . . strong-willed, independent characters. A great book in which to lose oneself."--Booklist (on Till the End of Time)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A devastatingly handsome concert pianist and connoisseur of love, Misha Levin agonizes for several hundred pages of this predictable novel trying to choose between two gorgeous women. Davis (Till the End of Time) keeps her intricate plot moving, but the love triangle is so stereotypical it distances drama. Russian-Jewish babe-magnet Misha has been transplanted to New York via Israel. He's a phenomenal success as a musician and is blessed, moreover, with incomparable sexual prowess, insatiable desires and a body that defines masculine perfection. His only problem is that he owns the hearts of two dazzling women, both of whom will do whatever it takes to get him. Elegant, intelligent, blond angel Vera Bunim, daughter of his ultra-wealthy benefactors, is Misha's first sweetheart, but he dumps her to sow his wild oats when he meets dark-haired Florida-born seductress Serena Gibbons. But Serena is an ambitious photographer who won't give up her career to raise a family. On the rebound, dejected Misha marries Vera and fathers a son, Nicky. Despite Vera's total devotion to Misha and his career, when Misha and Serena meet again eight years after they parted, the erstwhile lovers can't resist a fiery affair. Meanwhile, villains close in. Misha's agent, Manny Cygelman, has a diabolical deal with Brighton Beach goons; if he can't persuade Misha to tour Russia, the pianist's hands will get broken. And Vera's old boyfriend, crazy-with-jealousy Simon Hampton, wants to kill Misha. Misha's unbelievably noble parents, Sonia and Dmitri, hover nearby, ready to rise or recede as their wunderkind demands. Serena's agent, Coral Randolphe, has her own agenda: she's a stick-thin, ghostly pale lesbian in Manolo Blahnik heels. The vivace-paced story swings by Vienna, London and Kyoto, while brand-names often substitute for description and locales are as one-dimensional as the characters. Readers may notice that Misha's craft is virtually ignored throughout. It seems he's a musician only to whip up clich?d fantasies about his "great hands" that expertly play women like instruments. (Nov.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

More music, this time from a concert pianist (complacently married) who reignites an old affair.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Adult (November 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525945164
• ISBN-13: 978-0525945161
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,929,669 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not Her Best, November 5, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Rhapsody: A Love Story (Hardcover)

Though their passion is torrid, photographer Serena Gibbons dumped classical pianist Misha Levin because her career came first. A depressed Misha turns to Vera Bunim, the daughter of his chief benefactor, for solace. Vera worships the ground that Misha walks on and he rewards her loyalty by marrying her. She gives birth to his son.

Eight years later in Vienna, Misha meets Serena for the first time since she left him. Their enthusiastic desires for one another ignites, leading to an affair. However, besides the impact on Misha's family, several other associates want this relationship ended. Some of them are willing to use violence to include breaking the hands of Misha if necessary to obtain their goals. Whatever happens, no one will remain the same once the triangle with its adjacent exterior angles completes the course.

Romantic suspense fans hold Judith Gould in high regard for her intriguing novels. Her latest tale RHAPSODY fails to attain the level readers expect of this gifted writer. The story line centers on Misha, but he seems only to be a sex machine as opposed to a complete character with a highly regarded talent. The failure to make Misha more than a point on a triangle hurts the tale since he is the relational focus of the plot. The usual virtuoso performance by the talented Ms. Gould misfires.

Harriet Klausner

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A Love Story?, February 7, 2000

By 

Nancy Gallego (El Paso, Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rhapsody: A Love Story (Hardcover)

A Love Story, I don't think so. I am so glad that I did not buy this book because I would have demanded my money back. When you read a love story, you hope that the characters have some good qualities that will endear them to you. In this story, the main character, Misha Levin does not know the meaning of love and as far as I could see there was nothing appealing about him. He is so selfish and so self centered as is the "love of his life" Serena. He beds everyone he meets and then he meets Serena and we are supposed to believe that he is so in love with her. It is not love it is lust. Neither one of them has a clue as to what love is. We are supposed to believe that because Serena is so damaged by what happened in her childhood that it is okay to be so selfish and self centered. Then there is Vera, what a door mat. She just sits and hopes that Misha will change his ways and she will be waiting there for him because if she waits around long enough he will realize that he loves her. Now she is a decent person but please wake up to this guy, he is not for her.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A GOOD BOOK, December 8, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Rhapsody: A Love Story (Hardcover)

Although this was a very well written book, I didn't like some of the plot, although it was real enough and could most likely be like some people's real lives . ..I am glad that I read the book. If you want to read a book that goes straight to your heart, read Stolen Moments by Barbara Jeanne Fisher. . .It is a beautiful story of unrequited love. . .for certain the love story of the nineties. I intended to give the book a quick read, but I got so caught up in the story that I couldn't put the book down. From the very beginning, I was fully caught up in the heart-wrenching account of Julie Hunter's battle with lupus and her growing love for Don Lipton. This love, in the face of Julie's impending death, makes for a story that covers the range of human emotions. The touches of humor are great, too, they add some nice contrast and lighten things a bit when emotions are running high. I've never read a book more deserving of being published. It has rare depth. Julie's story will remind your readers that life and love are precious and not to be taken for granted. It has had an impact on me, and for that I'm grateful. Stolen Moments is written with so much sensitivity that it made me want to cry. It is a spellbinder. What terrific writing. Barbara does have an exceptional gift! This book was edited by Lupus specialist Dr. Matt Morrow too, and has the latest information on that disease. ..A perfect gift for someone who started college late in life, fell in love too late in life, is living with any illness, or trying to understand a loved one who is. . .A gift to be cherished forever.