Alice Warner Warner থেকে Harbuzyn, Chernihivs'ka oblast, Ukraine
Wow. This is definitely an intimate biography. Hilary and Piers Du Pre describe their sister's life as they remember it: a mix of music and personal so detailed that it has been called exploitative and insulting. (I did feel a bit voyeuristic while reading in the airport! But then, I was crying openly by the end, and that was more embarrassing for me.) This is a biography of Jacqueline Du Pre, the English cellist. Told from her siblings' perspectives, Jackie is a child prodigy who grows up to earn great acclaim in the musical arena. The book showcases her playing, and also her struggles with depression, relationships and finally, her fatal battle with multiple sclerosis. The main "scandal" of the book is Jackie's agreement with her sister Hilary (also a celebrated musician) and Hilary's husband Christopher, or "Kiffer." It is unclear whether "Kiffer" was truly interested in helping his sister-in-law or was taking advantage of her low mental state, but the affair between them was with Hilary's consent. Her contributions to the book are more emotional than Piers', as she seems to have been closer to Jackie. Piers' excerpts I found to be quite self-centered and more exploratory of his own life, rather than Jackie's. Late in the book he is converted to Christianity (from...Christianity? I wasn't sure, but I thought it was a conversion from non-practicing Anglican to Born-Again, as Americans know the phrase) and details how it affected his relationship with Jackie. In his writing/memories, Piers comes across as lost in the swirl of accolades around his sisters and their musical abilities. Behavior of a Scandalous Nature and Possible Sibling Jealousy aside, this is a very involving read. Jackie is a doomed genius. Her struggles to continue after her MS diagnosis are as heartbreaking as her earlier mental and relationship problems. It was a hard book to finish. If you've listened to any Jacqueline Du Pre recordings, I would recommend reading this. Then again, maybe I wouldn't.
I still have my original copy from when I was a child...I am now 47 years old. It is a very fun book to share with children.