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Not every book wants to be read the same way. It’s one of the skills a reader develops over time – to feel how a story wants to be interacted with.
“The Piano Tuner” by Taiwanese author Chiang-Sheng Kuo asks you to listen. It’s not here for a casual date, it has something important to say.
Yet, it also asks you not to cling to what you hear. Don’t overthink it. Don’t get hung up on the details. Just listen.
When you do, you’ll discover a story that carries within its core a deep melancholy. A sadness rooted in the ephemeral admiration for a musical note that’s just about to fade away.
Destined for a life in the spotlight, the protagonist ended up tuning the pianos he was meant to play. He doesn’t regret his profession, though – after all, it was never his dream to begin with. But he does regret disappointing those whose dream it was: His teacher, Ms XY, and the elusive pianist whom he admired.
His main relationship with Lin san, who just lost his wife, is alien in every aspect. And yet, something draws these men together. Perhaps not forever, but at this point in their lives, the harmony of their resonances is inescapable.
“The Piano Tuner” is about music. And it’s written like a musical piece. What some readers may interpret as dissonance is, in my view, the story asking you to feel that dissonance, feel the tear it forms on your soul. The characters are in pain and the friction in narrative is not bad writing. This story can’t be a symphony. It needs to be a song sung by amateurs. After all, who can claim to be a professional at life?
If you just listen to this book and don’t hold it too tightly, you’ll be deeply moved by what it has to say. Because underneath the musical theory and the metaphors is a tale about regret. A questioning look at the road more travelled by. And a longing for that other note to harmonise with. I understand that “The Piano Tuner” isn’t for everyone. But if you’re the kind of person who can handle a book that asks for a little bit of respect, consider this marvel from Taiwan. And be sure to listen closely.
just thoughts 