Product Description

This isn't where we started out. This isn't what we wanted or intended. How did we come to this?

Adam and Sasha appear to have it all: a pleasant home, demanding careers and three bright children. But underneath, the pressures of modern living are taking an unendurable toll. When Adam, under extreme strain, breaks a longstanding promise to his wife, their relationship begins to crumble. Liffy, their innocent, ballet-obsessed thirteen-year-old, is caught in the middle.

Her parents are too occupied with their own troubles to notice that she is struggling. Adam battles with grief, while high-flying Sasha tries to juggle her work with caring for her small twin sons. As Liffy finds herself drifting away, the Levys spiral towards tragedy. Somsone has to make a sacrifice, but the cost could be too much to bear...

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Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #149349 in Books
• Published on: 2006-07-27
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 384 pages

Closer, 11-17 March 2006
'A haunting, heartbreaking novel'

Review

'An imaginative novel . . . with themes of miscommunication, perfectionism and adolescence.'

(Eve )

‘Jessica Duchen's debut novel is captivating, imaginative and fascinating. As a musician and a mother, I recognized many of the scenarios and found the questions that were posed very poignant, both from a musical and personal perspective. The pace builds powerfully to a dramatic and ultimately very moving conclusion. Completely gripping!’

 

(Tasmin Little )

'Adam and Sasha appear to have the perfect life - good jobs, a nice home, money and three perfect children. But as their marriage begins to unravel, their ballet-crazy daughter starts staving herself - and her parents are too preoccupied to notice. A haunting, heartbreaking novel.'

(Closer )

'A sensitive and thought-provoking novel that will resonate all the more for those with musical leanings.'

(Femke Colborne, MUSO )

'Jessica Duchen has crafted a riveting drama set within the arts world . . . The neatly-composed plot charges to a climax as steadily as Ravel’s Boléro, with Duchen capturing well the inner world of the pubescent girl and the London classical music scene. For fans of Joanna Trollope and Russian composers alike.'

(Classic FM Magazine )

'Wonderful! Thank you for hours of absorption - I had to know what happened to the characters.'

(Steven Isserlis )

'Duchen writes with a rhythm and pace that embrace a tellingly perceptive and articulate portrayal of the nuances of the human condition, richly detailed and yet always fluent.'

(Classical Music Magazine )

Eve, September 2006
'An imaginative novel, with themes of miscommunication,
perfectionism and adolescence.'

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Customer Reviews

Too many issues in one family to be a truly credible story
I quite often read and enjoy Jessica Duchen's pieces in her role as music correspondent for a leading daily newspaper. I was therefore looking forward to reading this book, the title of which suggests a musical theme. I did however find it a slight disappointment and thought the story, the musical aspect and the central theme of Liffy's struggle with anorexia were all somewhat muddled by trying to deal with too many other issues and problems within the same family. Indeed, the number of issues dealt with detracted from the credibility of the story, and yes, I know its fiction, but we still need to find it believable. The writing is clear and straightforward and enjoyable in many ways and I have given a rating of 4 star because of this, but although both humorous and tragic at times, the style is terse and slightly dull, and to me, far better suited to journalism than to fiction. However, the book and the reviews posted do perhaps show (although I accept that this is highly speculative!) that views on fiction may very well be influenced by the gender of the reader. Where it is possible to tell from the name and information given, the 5 star reviewers are mostly female. Although males of course do suffer from anorexia, the condition is at least ten times more common in females than in males (American Journal of Psychiatry 1991; vol 148: pp 917-922), so maybe female readers are more able to relate to Liffy and therefore able to enjoy the book more. Perhaps.

Sensitive, moving and marvellous
I read this first in hardback; now I'm buying the paperback for all my friends' birthdays. I just couldn't put it down.

It's not really a book about anorexia, but about the sensitive balance of dynamics within the family and what can happen when they're out of kilter. Liffy, 13, is an adorable, vulnerable heroine. She and her pretentious mother, bereaved father, lovelorn aunt, and infuriating twin brothers feel like real people who are struggling to cope with what life throws at them, as we all do. And the cats are wonderful.

I found 'Rites of Spring' sensitive, beautifully written, compulsively readable and very moving. One review, quoted in the paperback, compared it to Joanna Trollope, but I'd say it's several cuts above, and incidentally you don't need to know anything about classical music to enjoy it. I hope we'll have lots more from this fascinating writer.

Leaves you utterly gobsmacked . Brilliant!
This supebly written story had me bawling my heart out. You live each momment. The author pulls you into the book from the word go, and I found it very hard to put down! Emotional, true to life, excellent storyline. A fantastic read.You wont be disappointed.