Well, can you get your money back from the paper book you ordered? If not, then I don't mind waiting for you to get it and then we can start our discussion. I don't know if any of the other members have the book yet, either.

However, since you have a long vacation starting now, I'd order that e-book. It's fine with me either way.

O.k., I think on tuesday I´ll order that e-book. So, I can directly use the online-dictionary while reading. That´s the advantage. The disadvantage is, that my computer does not want to go into my bed with me. (Though I´m always a bit sceptical to give my credit-card-number in the internet. But I have done this still several times, because there was no other possibility.)

Hi Monica,
I have bought the e-book now, because the book-shop has difficulties to order this book for me. I can read it with Adobe Digital Editions and it´s very comfortable, because I can use the online-dicitionary in the same time. I have started to read chapter one: "Luc".

I have a question: What means the word "bank" in the title exactly. Does it mean "upheavel" or "serie of houses or something else (a money-bank?). I can´t translate it surely somehow.

In every case I´ll improve my English by reading this. So, will you start to read, too?

"Bank" can also mean something like "die Sandbank" or "die Schneeverwehung" or "das Steilufer" or "der Strand" but that is assuming the author is not punning on the word "left bank".

It means the left side of the Seine River. In Paris, places are often described as being located on the right side of the river, or the left.

Yes - I have the book also and just started chapter one last night. I think it will be a charming book! I wish other members would read along with us.

Thanks, Monica.
Yes, I hope, we´ll not be a two-man-book-club here.

I remember reading my first English book was rather difficult (it was "My Family and other Animals" by Gerald Durrell). I had an uncontrollable urge to consult the dictionary for each word I did not know (and there were a lot, the topic being wildlife). But this is what you must not do - unless not knowing a word makes you lose the line of the story. You'd never get through a book that way. Rather, try to learn by association, as kids do. In many cases, you can guess (part of a) word's meaning from the context. Usually, when a word has appeared a couple of times (and most words do), you get its meaning allright.

This must have worked, as I have been reading English books ever since, and never had any problems since the first. Not to say I never had to look up an unfamiliar word, it happens occasionally.

I just heard back from Nathan. He is still in but has not the time this week, but will get to it next week. It really doesn't matter how long we take to read the book.

I'm asking people directly to join with us too - maybe we can get a few more readers.

Juufa72 wrote:


Thank you for these advices, Julius , but somehow Monicas explanation was more concrete.

Techneut wrote:


Thanks for these tips, Chris. I think, you are absolutely right with that. I´m always too detailed (it´s my character somehow ). It makes much more fun, if I get through the story by understanding the main-action. And I think, may be in the way the chance is bigger, that I come through the whole book.
I´ll continue to read this evening. I´m looking forward to it.

Pianolady wrote:


Fine, the more people read and talk with us the more interesting it will be, I think.

Juufa72 wrote:


Not mad, just funny.

News: I have read the first chapter "Luc". It was very nice and to read works very well, I think. I don´t understand all words and details, but I think, I understand the main-plot.
This book would be interesting for Chris especially, because there is mentioned a Gaveau-baby-grand.
It´s a very interesting and perspective introduction in the theme of piano-brands and piano-building-traditions and -reputations and what marks a "good" piano, I think.
It´s also a bit mysterious, that the first-person-narrator has to be recommended by another client of this shop. I don´t understand yet why it is like this. But it gives this novel and the whole piano-theme an exclusive atmosphere.
In every case I´m up to read further...

I like the way that the store is set up to be a mysterious place, and our main character (have we learned his name yet?) grows more and more curious every day. And when he is finally allowed to enter the ‘back room’, we are as awe-struck as he is when looks upon all the beautiful pianos.

And it is interesting how Luc behaves as he describes certain pianos. Like some of them are personal friends, and others are simply pieces of wood. You can tell that Luc and the other sort of grouchy older man in the shop will allow one of their pianos to be sold only to the right kind of person. I can’t wait to see which one our character actually gets. He originally thought he would purchase an upright piano, but now he has a sudden yearning to go with a grand. Maybe we will find out in chapter 2 which I will start later today.