‘August Blue’ by Deborah Levy is a beautifully contracted pandemic-set novel, about a 30 something former child prodigy pianist who a few years prior, walked off stage at a concert and left the music world behind. She now travels through Europe, teaching children to play piano, having experiences with locals and seeing a mysterious woman, her “psychic double” everywhere she goes. All of this plays out as her adoptive father and teacher is becoming increasingly ill.

The novel, as all of Deborah Levy’s work, invites you to bring your own experiences and meaning to the narrative, making it universal and personal simultaneously. There are themes of loneliness, identity, processing great global change, understanding where we come from, and the importance of living in our own reality, suffering and joy as opposed to escaping into the experiences of others. There is a coming of age tone to it, that I appreciate in novels that center 30-40 year old women. Growing up, evolving is an ever present journey and Deborah Levy does a beautiful job with this type of storytelling.

I loved the tactile descriptions of the weather, the city and sea, food and even the undeniable discomfort of masking, hand sanitizer and the constant cleaning we were doing. It feels quite tender and quiet and I found myself tearing up a couple of times.

I was given early access to this novel thanks to NetGalley and the audiobook publisher, Macmillan Audio (who is so kind and nearly always accepts my requests). I highly recommend the audio. Alix Dunmore does a terrific job narrating the story and carries a depth in her voice that compliments the melancholy that is present throughout. Just wonderful.

I definitely want a copy of my own to revisit down the line, but what a treat!

August Blue by Deborah Levy is a stunning novel that captures the essence of a piano prodigy and the impact of her unusual upbringing on the rest of her life. Levy's writing style is captivating and truly a work of art. The book is not something to be rushed through, but rather savored slowly, allowing the reader to fully immerse themselves in the world that Levy has created.

The story follows a woman who finds herself at a crossroads in her life, experiencing a career crisis. Without giving away any spoilers, there is so much more to this book than just that. Levy delves deep into the complex emotions of her protagonist, exploring her past and present with great care and sensitivity.

At only 200 pages, August Blue is a short read, but it packs a powerful punch. The audio version, narrated excellently, makes the experience even more immersive. I cannot recommend this book enough. It is a must-read for anyone who enjoys literary fiction and appreciates beautiful writing.

I want to extend my gratitude to Macmillan Audio and @netgalley for providing me with an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. August Blue has left a lasting impression on me, and I will be recommending it to all of my book-loving friends.

3 stars

The synopsis of this very quick read sounded fascinating to me, but in practice, this didn't grab me in the way I had hoped.

Elsa, the m.c., is a talented musician who is coming off of a crushing episode, and readers find her in two forms buying and coveting the same object. I'm an English professor, so the psychoanalytic potential immediately hooked me, but then...I just got a bit bored. I listened to this straight through in part because it's brief but also because I kept waiting to connect in the way that I expected, and it just did not happen. This felt too *literary* for my taste (i.e., that the goal was to achieve something aesthetic and esoteric rather than a meaningful insight or connection).

I remain surprised by the disconnect between my hopes and expectations and the end result, and this compels me to want to read more of Levy's work for reference. This is an intriguing concept, but the journey was not what I anticipated.

AH! Omg, I'm so thankful to Deborah Levy, NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and FSG for sending me audiobook access and a physical ARC of August Blue before it publishes on June 6, 2023. It's looking like June 6th will be a HUGE publication day, and I can't wait to celebrate!

August Blue tells the tale of our piano prodigy, Elsa, who's burnt out from concert piano circuits and is bumbling around Europe aimlessly after bumping into her near-doppelganger, or double. With her adopted father on his deathbed and her life not yet begun, she's left confused on many matters, including sexuality, her biological mother, her future, and her current state of being.

This quick read is a feel-good narrative with a settled ending and a manic journey that many people likely feel as they grow and mature.

Wow. I am at a loss for words, and if you knew me, you'd know that is rare.

August Blue is my first Deborah Levy book, but if the Goodreads community is correct, she is a writer to check out and all her books leave the reader with emo.

I cannot say a lot about August Blue, because this is a thinker that is best read with little knowledge. Go in cold. Watch for the layers and nuances and Easter eggs you'll discover as you read. Although it's a short read at a little over 4 hours for the audio, and slightly over 200 pages for the paper version, there is a ton to unpack. I'm unsure the last book I read that was not what I expected, and I'm better for having read it.

A genuine heartfelt thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for allowing me to listen in advance of the June 6, 2023 release date.

August Blue
Elsa is an accomplished pianist who froze during a performance and walked out of the theater. She now works giving piano lessons and seems haunted by a familiar looking woman she keeps seeing.

This is a poetic and layered story filled with lots of metaphors. Although I was left with many questions, it was no doubt beautifully written. This one is hard for me to rate, so based on the beautiful writing, I’m settling on a 4 and then I’m putting Hot Milk on my TBR to I can read another book by this author.

At 208 pages, this is a quick read. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator has a lovely voice.

Thank you to @netgalley for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.