Struggling for Perfection

September 1, 2004
Gr 4-6-A well-researched and engaging biography. Konieczny makes history come alive by painting a lively picture of arguably Canada's most famous musical genius. The book touches on every aspect of the life of this "gentle rebel," from his emergence as a child prodigy to his relationships with his parents, his eccentricities, and, most importantly, his numerous contributions to the world of music through composing, performing, and recording innovations. Both proficient and emergent readers will appreciate the accessible text and the easy-to-handle one- or two-page chapters. A time line and abundant black-and-white photographs of Gould are included, many provided by his estate. An inspired work that stands above others of the genre.-Robyn Walker, Elgin Court Public School, St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada

Copyright 2004 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2004
Gr. 3-5. It's refreshing to see a children's biography featuring a classical musician whose likeness doesn't commonly appear on stern-looking plaster busts. This entry in the Stories of Canada series conveys the importance of Toronto-born concert pianist Glenn Gould without shying away from his many peculiarities, such as his habit of humming while performing and his apparent hypochondria. The material is somewhat loosely organized into titled segments ("American Debuts," "The Last Concert"), each rarely longer than a page, that sketch the arc of Gould's life via anecdotes, quotes, sidebars, and sometimes overly speculative commentary. Best of all are the numerous black-and-white images, at least two per spread. These include dignified publicity photos, caricatures, and images that speak of the pianist's endearingly eccentric personality (one depicts a "collection" of hotel-room keys that Gould absent-mindedly pocketed while on tour). Less worthy of applause is the workmanlike design and the absence of both source notes and an index. Recommended for larger collections.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2004, American Library Association.)