A Thousand Perfect Notes
C.G. Drews
SPOILER WARNING
Where to Purchase: Amazon, Book Depository
Official Blurb: An emotionally charged story about the power of dreams, and how passion can turn to obsession.
Beck hates his life. He hates his violent mother. He hates his home. Most of all, he hates the piano that his mother forces him to play hour after hour, day after day. He will never play as she did before illness ended her career and left her bitter and broken. But Beck is too scared to stand up to his mother, and tell her his true passion, which is composing his own music - because the least suggestion of rebellion on his part ends in violence.
When Beck meets August, a girl full of life, energy and laughter, love begins to awaken within him and he glimpses a way to escape his painful existence. But dare he reach for it?
As a Retellling: Like Cinderella, Beck has been abused and isolated by his mother. He is then later offered a chance out by his kinder, much richer uncle, which he doesn't accept at first. Parallels to the life of Beethoven come in his name, the fact that he is driven to compose music, and becomes deaf at the end. I would also argue that this is a Rapunzel story in the fact that there is a heavy emphasis on music and August's rescue is a gradual reaching-in to someone who's been isolated their whole life, thus giving him the eventual strength and hope to accept his uncle's offer.
Arista's Thoughts: Drew's writing is simply art, and if you're in the mood for a contemporary that will break your heart and give you hope, this is it. Joey, Beck's younger sister, is adorable, and August is such a violent ray of sunshine, and Beck ... oh, Beck. I don't recommend it to everyone, as it deals with heavy themes, but it has a special place on my shelf. (Also, as a note, the author is Aussie and the book is set in Australia, so don't get confused by the seasons seeming to be backward.)
Inspired by - Cinderella, Beethoven
Unintentional Retelling - Rapunzel
Contemporary
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