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    Good Things I Wish You: A Novel
    Unavailable
    Good Things I Wish You: A Novel
    Unavailable
    Good Things I Wish You: A Novel
    Ebook289 pages2 hours

    Good Things I Wish You: A Novel

    By A. Manette Ansay

    3.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    “A lyrical, haunting exploration of loves past and present. Witty, sprightly, surprising, this deeply original and utterly captivating new novel … beguiles the senses and dazzles the heart. A beautiful book.” —Diana Abu-Jaber

    “As the parallels between the two relationships multiply, the novel catches fire. . . . Ansay is a gifted and sure-handed storyteller.” —Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

    From the critically acclaimed New York Times bestselling author of Vinegar Hill and Midnight Champagne comes a beautifully written story of two summer romances—one of a brilliant pianist, one of a struggling novelist—separated in time by nearly two centuries. If you enjoy the novels of Ann Patchett (Bel Canto), Claire Messud (The Emperor's Children), and Lionel Shriver (We Need to Talk About Kevin), you’ll find much to love in A. Manette Ansay’s stunningly original Good Things I Wish You.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateJun 30, 2009
    ISBN9780061887871
    Unavailable
    Good Things I Wish You: A Novel
    Author

    A. Manette Ansay

    A. Manette Ansay is the author of eight books, including Vinegar Hill, Midnight Champagne (a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award), and Blue Water. She has received the Pushcart Prize, two Great Lakes Book Awards, and a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. She teaches in the MFA writing program at the University of Miami.

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    Reviews for Good Things I Wish You

    3.5/5

    65 ratings7 reviews

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    • 5/5
      I recently read Clara by Janice Galloway, which is another novelisation of aspects of Clara Schumann's life (mostly before marrying Schumann), which I enjoyed, but it didn't spark the same sort of emotion which this one did. I thought this beautiful and emotive and despite (or perhaps because of) the interspersed modern sections, I really felt I was getting into Clara's life... Will now have to look out for other things by this author.
    • 4/5
      This is a story within a story. Newly divorced Jeanette is a novelist writing about pianist Clara Schumann's relationship with composer Johannes Brahms. Through a dating service, Jeanette meets an intriguing man named Hart, who takes an interest in the Schumann story and offers to help her out with it. Ansay does a nice job alternating between the past and the present to tell Clara's story and develop Jeanette's relationship with Hart.
    • 3/5
      Another one of those novels which draw a parallel between the experiences of the contemporary characters and the experiences of the historical characters in which they are interested; in this case, about which one of the characters is writing. I'm not fond of this literary tool. It always seems very affected to me, and far too "pat." In this case, the problem is mitigated somewhat by the fact that Clara Schumann is one of those fascinating historical characters about whom I really enjoy reading. Sadly, this book doesn't go far toward feeding that hunger for information. The "history" is necessarily speculative but is constantly apologizing for providing the reader what he/she should have expected---a work of fiction based on the life of a historical character. It's quite a muddle.
    • 3/5
      Before reading this book, I did not know anything about Clara Schumann and her (love)life, which is a pinnacle this story revolves around. The other main character is a single mother, writing a book about Clara. I think the concept of the book is good, but the characters failed to grip me. It's not a bad novel, but not one I will reread again.
    • 4/5
      If you are interested in music history and a little romanc mixed together this is the book for you. This story begins with an author trying to write the histrorical relationship between Clara Shumann and Johannes Brahams and ends up living a parralell love in the process. I delightful romance, a very fast, easy read.
    • 4/5
      This book was well-written and very timely. It stoked my curiosity to learn more about musical contemporaries. It also helped me, as a writer, to realize that not every story must be linear nor does it have to be wrapped up neatly at the end. Life isn't wrapped up neatly, is it?I like very much Ansay's writing style and her ability to capture the world as we live in it today. She also handled well the interior life of the story's narrator. As I was thinking about the book, I realized that I never quite pictured the narrator Jeanette in my head because I was reading her first person from the first person. At times, it felt like the story was mine. (But that's for another day.)I was a little disappointed in how the idea of deja vu was interwoven into the story, but as I finished reading it, I became less anxious that that particular thread wasn't going to come to fruition because I understood that it was just one part of the over-arching story. And, frankly, since time shifting, reincarnation and deja vu all play a part in the story I am currently writing, I was glad to see that I am, in no way, repeating any part of this story.I would recommend this story to anyone who enjoys music, discovery and well-written stories about the untidiness of life.
    • 4/5
      From My blog...Is it possible for men and women to be just friends and in the same vein how does one define art? Two seemingly arbitrary questions are proven to be inter-related in Good Things I Wish You by A. Manette Ansay through her use of relationships both historical and contemporary. These questions and many more are covered in this novel, rich in lyrical prose, charming characters with similar lives centuries apart. Jeanette is recently divorced and misses her husband Carl. When not at the University, spending her time with her daughter or playing piano, Jeanette is working on her book about the 40-year relationship between Clara Schumann and her husband’s protégé Johannes Brahms. As Jeanette begins her story, she is waiting for her date to appear. Reinhardt Hempel, a scientist from Leipzig, the birthplace of Clara, intrigues her and is the first man she has dated in nineteen years. Ansay writes in a beautiful and lyrical manner, alternating from her childhood as a piano student, to present, and back to the 1850s with Clara and Robert Schumann and his protégé, Johannes Brahms. As the stories unfold one becomes involved in two affairs, the present with Jeanette and Reinhardt and the past between Clara, Robert and ultimately Johannes. There are similarities in the two parallel relationships and even though this is a work of fiction one gets a glimpse at the complex relationship between the Schumanns and Brahms through letters and photos Ansey weaves into the story. Good Things I Wish You is a beautiful, tender, and wonderful read and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a delightful book to read in an afternoon.