The Spanish Bow

By: Andromeda Romano-Lax

Narrated by: Paul Michael

In a dusty, turn-of-the-century Catalan village, the bequest of a cello bow sets young Feliu Delargo on an unlikely path. When a local landowner’s wrath threatens his family, the Spanish bow leads Feliu to anarchist Barcelona, then on to the court in Madrid, where a music master’s daughter gives him his first lessons in the art of love. There he meets up with the charming and eccentric piano prodigy Justo Al-Cerraz and begins the lifelong friendship and rivalry that will orchestrate a tumultuous course for them both. As a war-torn world careens toward catastrophe, they make splendid music together and clash over women, politics, and almost everything else. Then Aviva, an Italian violinist with a haunted past, enters their lives, and Feliu and Justo embark upon their final and most dangerous collaboration.

Inspired by the life of Pablo Casals and with appearances by Pablo Picasso, Bertolt Brecht, and others who wrestled with the competing demands of art and conscience during the Spanish Civil War and World War II, THE SPANISH BOW is a deeply imagined tale of the passions that accident bestows–and the sacrifices history exacts.©2007 Andromeda Romano-Lax; (P)2007 Books on Tape

A wonderful debut

6-22-08
This is a wonderful book set in Spain during the Spanish revolution for a democratic government. It is both instructive and entertaining as you follow the characters lives, the choices they made and the consequences of their choices. Paul Michael who narrates this book did a fantastic. job. This is a must for all historical novels fan.

Got a little tedious

Would you listen to The Spanish Bow again? Why?

No. I enjoyed it, but not enough to listen again.

What did you like best about this story?

Recent Spanish history wove its way through the cellist's story.

What does Paul Michael bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

I thought he did well with Spanish pronunciations.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

"Guy with a lot of talent is terrible at personal relationships."

Brava!!

This is a wonderful book for so many reasons. It's epic in its scope, yet very intimate. It's about Spain and music and genius and human nature. It's about people I cared about, places I know (Spain is my second home), about musicians and their love for their art and about other things I'm sure other readers will discover. Do read this book and if it's not too late for your decision, don't get the abridged version. You need to read every word of this great work.

Tedious

Would you try another book from Andromeda Romano-Lax and/or Paul Michael?

No

Would you ever listen to anything by Andromeda Romano-Lax again?

No

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

Performance was fine

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

none

Any additional comments?

I couldn't bring myself to finish this book after slogging through 2/3 of it.