The Piano Teacher

by Elfriede Jelinek

Rating: 3 (4 votes)

Tags: Set in Austria Female author

The Piano Teacher

Description:
The Piano Teacher Elfriede Jelinek Deep passion, thwarted sexuality and love-hate for a mother dominate the life of Erika Kohut, a piano teacher at the Vienna Conservatory. Into this emotional pressure-cooker bounds Walter Klemmer, music student and ladies' man. Jelinek's masterpiece, The Piano Teacher was for Publishers' Weekly "Brilliant and uncompromising."

Reviews:

Read Around The World Challenge user profile avatar for Lorna
(3 months ago)
28 Aug, 2024
Real rating 1.8 stars This book is a dark disturbing story about a depressed young woman and her controlling, deranged (there is really no there word to describe her) mother. Erika self-harms. Her outlook on life is very negative and she is nasty and always wants to be in control. Unsurprisingly, her relationship with both her mother and Walter erupts into violence. She is both a victim and a perpetrator. The subject matter of this book is so heavy that I could only read a few pages at a time. Erika's situation is so desperate, so desolate that it felt suffocating. In addition, the non-linear timeline, use of obscure metaphors and difficult subject matter made for a very difficult, shocking and challenging read. If that was Jelinek's intention, she was entirely successful but I won't be recommending this book to anyone anytime soon.
Read Around The World Challenge user profile avatar for Lorna
(3 months ago)
28 Aug, 2024
Real rating 1.8 stars This book is a dark disturbing story about a depressed young woman and her controlling, deranged (there is really no there word to describe her) mother. Erika self-harms. Her outlook on life is very negative and she is nasty and always wants to be in control. Unsurprisingly, her relationship with both her mother and Walter erupts into violence. She is both a victim and a perpetrator. The subject matter of this book is so heavy that I could only read a few pages at a time. Erika's situation is so desperate, so desolate that it felt suffocating. In addition, the non-linear timeline, use of obscure metaphors and difficult subject matter made for a very difficult, shocking and challenging read. If that was Jelinek's intention, she was entirely successful but I won't be recommending this book to anyone anytime soon.

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Country: Austria flag Austria
Language: EN

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