Saving Chopin

By: Michael Banas

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

Length: 9 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

Fred Chopin is a resident of a homeless shelter in Philadelphia. An unexpected health crisis takes him to the Philadelphia General Hospital where he comes under the care of Dr. Valerie Abrams, a pulmonologist who uncovers a mysterious tattoo on Chopin’s body. Abrams convinces Chopin to appear at a medical forum, where he piques the interest of Dr. Richard Ralston, a heart surgeon with a passion for classical music. Questions about Chopin’s ancestry unleash an investigation into Fred’s past, including his stay at Saint Michael’s Orphanage, a shuttered building on the outskirts of Philadelphia with a controversial link to post World War II Germany. As more details emerge, the reticent life of Fred Chopin quickly becomes the focal point of several factions, including the director of the Philadelphia Sinfonietta, the United States Government, and a former wayward classmate expelled from St. Michael’s on Chopin’s behalf. As events progress, it becomes readily apparent to Dr. Abrams that her window of opportunity to save Chopin’s life is rapidly closing.
Saving Chopin is a modern day medical examination of Fryderyk Chopin, a Polish composer who died in 1849, the cause of his death still controversial. The storyline intermittently returns to the 19th and 20th century, in an attempt to resolve parallels between the story’s main character and the iconic composer. The life and times of Fryderyk Chopin is interwoven throughout the narrative, as is a final diagnosis of his disease process.

The hideous flat rendition by Virtual Voice that was so distracting I could not follow story

A friend highly recommended this book. I use Audible because my eyes do not allow me to read books anymore. Audible books cost more but I appreciate what I get: a skilled actor/reader performing the book. I did not notice the book was done by Virtual Voice when I purchased, but the Voice told me at start of book. OMG it is HORRIBLE. Just each syllable enunciated in a row, and if anything foreign like a language, or name, it was read phonetically. No variation in speed, no use of voices for different characters. Worse than worthless, it was so distracting I couldn’t follow the story. I hope this book gets recorded by a LIVE READER so I might go back to it. Just the worst!!!