Well! This proved to be an interesting read, devoured in no time, though as a novel it was a little on the hefty side.

On the face of it, it is about a true musical prodigy pianist, Kayla Covo, her rise to fame, and how this light is threatened once a fear of a stalker rises to the surface.

This novel is set in the early 80's. Her father is a psychiatrist with baggage: he survived the Holocaust where most of his family didn't. Her mother is schizophrenic. Her brother max, who is the main speaker throughout the narrative, is the protective older brother who of course is, not jealous that his own musical talent is totally eclipsed by that of his sister. That's a lot to be getting on with. But Kayla wants to deepen her religious faith, and could it be that even a love of music means less in the face of a higher and deeper live?

A lesser theme, less touched upon by the writer, is how fragile true genius can be. There are so many selfish others who wish to capitalise from it, not least Kayla:s unscrupulous agents, who smell money. This is without the damage done by the demands put on a young soul by pushy family, as well as super-demanding teachers, who of course only want the 'best' for the child. Renée, another former protège, appears to have been burnt out beyond repair way before Kayla's troubles begin to emerge..

Something that was also a little troubling in this tale is the implied idea that genius and the drive to be a mother don't mix, as another destiny opens up for Kayla. And is what happens to her really down to familial trauma and genes, or what could also be interpreted from the outside as a fear of success?

The book may be aimed most of all to those who seem to be full rather than just secular practitioners of Judaism, and to be part of a supportive community, but this could apply to the practise of any of the great religions,

We may not like the answers Kayla finds as she confronts her demons, but it does seem that she finds peace through finding them. We might not like all the questions the book brings up regarding the perils of fame, dealing with the inevitable jealousy great talent may often bring in its wake, but at least this very absorbing book invites the reader to at least think about them.