The Cello Player

I certainly can sympathize with the previous reviewer, since Krueger's novel would not satisfy a reader looking for a straightforward narrative. I cannot agree, however, that the novel is worthless--quite the contrary. The difficulties of the prose style--as it follows the intricacies of mind and emotion of a not particularly appealing character--are undeniable, but not excessive as compared with other modern novelists. (Krueger reminds me of Thomas Bernhard, another writer who deprives the reader of the friendly support of normal punctuation and syntax, as well as dismissing expectations about continuity and plot development.) This is a psychological exploration, not a plot-driven narrative. I don't mean to suggest it is a great modern novel--far from it--but it is worth the trouble to learn to follow the author's turning and twisting as he leads the reader through the gradual revelation of inner truths of the composer's life. [On the other hand, for a wonderful novel that has music at its center, try Richard Powers' The Time of Our Singing -- rich characters, a complex and rewarding plot.]