I was really interested in this book because of the subject matter. I’m always especially taken with/affected by stories that focus on the small tragedies and furies and joys of childhood, and this is a book that generally avoids the sentimentality of some fiction with this focus (like Frances Hodgson Burnett's A Little Princess). However, I found the pacing rather slow and the narrative tension a little lacking. The challenges on Anna Maria's journey seem relatively minor, or too quickly overcome, especially in the middle sections; she will dazzle everyone as a young performer, Vivaldi will get her her own violin, he will of course make her first chair, etc.

There is some really great historical fiction craft in this book once one gets over the hurdle of a rather schmaltzy first paragraph, and the story of the female musicians and composers working really is worth telling. The book has some lovely detailing early on around the friendships between the young orphans and their aspirations, and with a little more tightening I think this could have been a stand-out.

I had heard of Anna Maria della Pietà, an 18th century musical prodigy, a Venetian orphan, who was taught by Antono Vivaldi (the orphanage’s musical director) and for whom Vivaldi wrote many pieces.
This is delicious storytelling, capturing the atmosphere of an orphanage as well as a luthier’s workshop with attention to minute detail: “He writes his name, tiny pieces of chalk dust drifting to the ground as he underlines it twice.”
No gimmicks, no multiple POVs, no odd or pretentious prose, just a straightforward historical yarn. In this overwhelming landscape of “look how clever I am”, this is a soothing balm for the soul.

Historical fiction at its best. This beautifully constructed novel by Harriet Constable takes us to an orphanage in Venice in the early 18th century. The heroine of our story is Anna Maria who, from the age of 8, is insistent that both her names are used, not just "Anna". as she is convinced she is destined for great things. It is this same determination that drives her to acquire all the skills necessary to become a supreme violinist A maestro indeed!

But to get there she is forced to take decisions that cause her real heartbreak and, as a result, finds herself left alone to fight her demons in the recurring nightmare that haunts her over the years. To find peace she must resolve the mystery of the half playing card and short message that were left alongside her when she was left in that small hole in the orphanage wall as a tiny baby.

The reality of life in an orphanage, the hardship Anna Maria endures bringing her dream of becoming a maestro to reality, and, the societal prejudice that prevents women being recognised in a music world utterly dominated by men, makes for an utterly compelling story.

But what shall stay long in the memory of the reader is how Anna Maria sees and feels music. Not as notes on the page, but as sequences of colour. It is this unique characteristic that make her violin sing and so enraptures her audiences.

Constable, bearing in mind this novel is based in fact, has done a great service in bringing Anna Maria's story out from the closeted world of the orphanage for us all to enjoy. If you love music this is the novel for you.

The Instrumentalist is a tale spanning from the birth of Anna Maria’s life, to her rise as a maestro. The descriptions of the music are what shines in this book, with music taking on colours and whole landscapes. Anna Maria is ambitious, at times ruthlessly so, in pursuit suit of her goals after first picking up a violin.

A tale of girlhood, poverty, splendour, gender, and complex lives are woven across the backdrop of Venice at a time when a talented woman with dreams comes up against the patriarchy. An insight into the often unrecorded lives of women.

A passionate love story. Historical fiction. Rags to riches. Musical interpretation. How best to describe this book? I was enthralled by Anna Maria della Pieta's passion for music and in particular, her all -consuming love for the violin. The book races along, taking in Anna Maria's upbringing in the orphanage by the nuns (of whom there seem to be only two or three), her music lessons with the real-life maestro composer, and her relationships and deep friendships with 2 other orphans in particular. Is her love for the violin and all-consuming desire to be the best violinist worth the hurt and pain it causes both her and her friends? And will she succeed in her life's ambition?

A beautifully written and well-constructed book, which takes the reader back into the world of 18th century Venice and in particular to the Ospedale della Pieta, the convent for orphan girls. Many of the girls were disfigured and disabled in some way, particularly after suffering small pox. Yet many of the girls formed a wonderful orchestra that performed in many spectacular settings; and some became muses and confidantes of Antonio Vivaldi. In the novel, Anna Maria is on "a mission to become Venice’s greatest violinist and composer, and in her remarkable world of colour and sound, it seems like nothing can stop her. But it is 1704 and she is, after all, a girl. The pursuit of her ambition will test everything she holds dear". The story grabs the reader's attention and suddenly I was immersed in this wonderful world of music, of unfortunate girls, of a passionate and compelling love for music and its performance.

I absolutely loved the book and am about to reread it as I found it such a wonderful book to read. Even if Italy, music or history are not what one enjoys most, the way this story is told is certain to grip the reader and have them longing to know what happened to Anna Maria and how she did indeed become a renowned and famous violinist.

With thanks to the publishers and to Netgalley for the ARC copy.

I did enjoy this book to start with, but unfortunately, I gave it up halfway through.  I think it was very skillfully written. The author put into words the beauty of music and captured Anna Maria passion for violin.

But I found the story too slow, and there were not enough events to keep my interest.
Definitely, this book will appeal to readers who like slow paced atmospheric historical fiction. Sadly, it just wasn't for me.

Anna Maria sees music as colours and this is her story. An orphan who becomes a maestro in eighteenth Century Venice.
A beautiful story and I couldn't put it down until I had finished it. The description of colours, sights and smells are all vivid and the tale is brilliant. Highly recommended.