The Score
Escalator Press, 2013
A grand piano crashes off a crane that’s lifting it into a block of council flats. Stefan, piano restorer and illegal immigrant, has the impossible task of trying to rebuild it. His future depends on it. And – for better or worse – a misfit bunch of tenants decides to help him.
This novel is about immigrants, it’s about a ramshackle community thrown together, it’s about the kindness and violence that co-exist in council flats, it’s about music, and it’s about a piano, the real heart of it all.
The Score combines the love of a good story with a love of language.
Wellington writer Renée describes The Score as ‘Magic – a broken instrument, a group of broken people – just the mix Adrienne Jansen delights in and writes about so well.’
‘Jansen has marked out for herself a territory that is uniquely hers. It’s the difficult space where New Zealand immigrants struggle to come to grips with new lives and a new culture… Jansen gives a present-day voice to the outsiders who live among us like good children, seen but not heard. She does this with respect, affection and considerable skill.’ (Sue McCauley, New Zealand Books)
‘Jansen paints on a small canvas with skill and insight into the tough task of rebuilding a life with few resources past your own fortitude. A warm, unpretentious gem.’ (Catherine Robertson, The Listener)
‘a story that moves along at a great pace, with smatterings of comedy, and a bunch of eclectic characters.’ (Mike Crowl, Otago Daily Times)
This is a charming, thoughtful and moving work of New Zealand fiction which I thoroughly enjoyed and warmly recommend. An excellent book club title too I suggest. (Graham Beattie – Beattie’s Book blog)
Chosen by The Listener reviewer Catherine Robertson as one of the most memorable books of 2013.
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Notes for book groups are available from Escalator Press
Book trailer for The Score
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The Score
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