Min Kym’s memoir GONE: A Girl, a Violin, a Life Unstrung is a stunning reflection of a child prodigy who finds her talent suffocated to near death by the theft of her prized Stradavarius. Min Kym artfully recounts aspects of her life balancing Korean culture with her status as a child violin prodigy. Her love affair with her violin can be felt through the pages of this book.
As a classically trained musician, perhaps I have a different appreciation of Kym’s reliance on her instrument; her need to breathe through the strings of this wood creation. I imagine though, that even without any musical talent, any person can feel the weight of her talent and share in mourning the loss of this appendage that would define her seemingly fleeting career as a violin soloist.
Her words are honest and raw and her story as magnificent as it is heartbreaking. What I enjoyed most about this book was the accompanying recording (that I honestly listened to before I discovered the book). There are notations in the text that correspond with tracks on the CD. With Spotify close by, this becomes an immersive experience into the fragile and grandiose world of musical talent.
I still find myself seething in anger at the story of how her beloved Strad was essentially stolen from Min — twice.
To read an excerpt from GONE, click here: http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/540899/gone-by-min-kym/9780451496072/
Here’s an interview with Susan Cain (author of Quiet) and Min Kym: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMkG2ppOX9U
I received a copy of this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to post a positive review.
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