Customer Reviews
A Superb Guide to Paris and to Pianos 
2008-04-16
My husband and I discovered Thad Charhart's, The Piano Shop on the Left Bank while we were in Paris for a month. Paris is precisely the place to read it for readers are introduced to the lives of people who live in one of the local districts - arrondisements - of Paris, a life that is largely reserved to long-time native residents of the area. In reading, I discovered that we were living in this very arrondisment and although we did not attempt to penetrate the activity focused on the piano shop, we felt as if we had experienced it. The love of pianos is a vibrant theme of the account. On returning to the U.S., I ordered four copies for friends who are equally entranced by Paris and pianos.
Transports you into a different world 2008-02-11
If you are a pianist, or ever had a love for pianos and piano music, this book will be a magical, tender experience. From the very first chapter I found myself mystically placed in Paris, smelling the coffee and baguettes, hearing the sounds on the street, and feeling the mystery of the shop that intrigues the writer. I could almost see the shop, sniffle from the dustiness of it, and loved the earnest of the man wanting to enter into the mysterious world of this shop.
When at last he does, it's a delight, feeling the energy of all those pianos, the descriptions making a pianist salivate with desire to see them all, to touch all the woods, to play the keys, to learn how to tune for oneself even, to become friends with Luc. And the French manner of friendship, the wine and discourse and even disagreements, it's all so wonderful to read about.
I love the background of the writer that he shared, his piano experience, the performance issues, teachers of the past, and I understand his personal, private relationship he feels for the piano that he does not need to share as a performer. This I do understand, but I learned something in performance of piano that makes the difference, and that is that you do hear music better, clearer, sharper, when you know others will hear it. It's one thing to play for oneself, and I grasp that, I love the intimacy and magic of solitude with my piano, but when it comes to the MUSIC - over the piano, performance really becomes a key to a new level of understanding and hearing music truly, like never before.
But those are just my thoughts, nevertheless, I understand the journey this man goes through, I appreciate his insights and relations with various people, tuners, musicians, and again, for any pianist or lover of pianos, this book is just a delight, a different world to go into and revel in the almost absurd, obsessive quality of the passion of piano and the music piano produces. Who can understand it but us, the piano lovers of the world?
Enjoy this book to the fullest. I know I did.
Charming? 
2008-01-24
I don't think I've ever used the word charming before, but I think this fits the definition. Delightful too. Light,easy to read, and yes, possibly boring if you're not into piano or music. If you are, I think this really conveys the passion and devotion an instrument can inspire. Kind of made me want to hug a piano.
To be fair, it did get a little long, but I really enjoyed it.
KEYS TO PLEASANT READING 2007-12-23
Thad Carhart's delightful "The Piano Shop on the Left Bank" is a joyous and captivating tale of a man's entrance into the remarkable world of the piano - not especially as a player, but as an owner, onlooker, afficianado, and senstive human being. You meet a wonderful set of characters from the Paris in which Carhart lived and moved, central of which is Luc, whose "Piano Shop" is store, shop, museum, wonderland, gathering places of good folk with good minds. And all things have a wonderful charm, nostly Gallic, but always ineffable.
Read this book because you wish to spend some truly enjoyable hours with new friends, and along the way, learn some things about the Piano.
An easy, rewarding read 2007-08-10
If you need a break from heavy reading, this is a great book to consider. While it lacks a real story line, the book is nonetheless engaging and interesting, even for a "plot girl" like me. It was a breath of fresh air following Hardy and a book about Nazi Germany.
I wish the French phrases were footnoted, as I don't speak a word of French. Perhaps that was the author's way of making me feel excluded in the same way he was initially excluded from the atelier. Maybe not.
A Musical Gem 2008-07-15
I came across an excerpt from this book in a magazine some time ago and decided I needed to read the whole story! I just love this book. From the time I was a very small girl, I have loved pianos, especially grand pianos. My dad taught in a small college when I was a teenager, and in their chapel was a magnificent old Steinway that must have been built in the late 1800's. How I loved to slip into the chapel when no one was around, and "commune" with that piano.
And today my very own precious antique baby grand, an anniversary gift from my husband, stands in my living room...........
Thad Carhart's story struck a very "strong chord" for me. His stories of the various pianos that he met while visiting Luc in the piano shop revealed how each was almost like a living breathing individual to him. I learned so much about these gracious, tuneful instruments from his book: how they are constructed, and the fact that different pianos lend themselves to different types of music, etc. His descriptions of Paris draw me to that city! The way he wove his family life into the story and his dips into his past piano experiences when he was a boy make for a joyous reading experience.
From one piano lover to another, thank you, Mr. Carhart, for writing this book!
A gem of a book 2008-06-29
Don't try to read this book unless you have a passion for the piano, for pianos, and for the wonderful sound they provide. But if that is the case you will love this book loaded with serendipidy finds and beautiful sound. The setting is Paris, the once in a time center for high art and music. The book will inform about pianos and about listening to perfect pitches.
great read for any piano lover 2008-06-17
I've had this book for ages but didn't get around to reading it until recently -- and was able to read it straight through in a single sitting. Wonderful story, very educational -- I enjoyed learning about the different makes of pianos, particularly the Faziolis and the French Pleyels and Erards, enjoyed reading about the author's experience at a master class, enjoyed meeting the quirky characters he encounters -- the tuner who drinks too much (Jos) and the other piano lovers. Although I enjoyed Perri Kinze's Grand Obsession (which I would also recommend), I liked this a bit better; both books are educational as well as entertaining. At one point, the author was describing an occasion when he overheard someone playing Beethoven's Diabelli variations -- which he compared to Bach's Goldberg variations. I was not familiar with the Diabelli variations, so I turned to the back inside cover of the book to make a note to myself -- I was delighted to see that a previous owner of the book (I purchased it used) had already made that note there -- obviously, the book spoke to both of us in a similar way. Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about pianos, Paris, or music in general.
Piano Shop on the Left Bank 2008-06-10
Brilliant reading from a musician's point of view - I'd love to find the real piano shop but I'll leave that to my imagination and my next trip to Paris.
The Piano Shop on the Left Bank 2008-04-27
This book was chosen for our tennis club's monthly book and the review from all was "enjoyed" by all!
