'The devil in this book is in the detail, the accumulation of every detail that disables middle class life when the unexpected lands, in this case a musically gifted child. You turn the pages with a tremble, in case you crush the fragile family. Unbearably real.' * Yasmin Alibhai-Brown *
'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 on RITES OF SPRING *
'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 on RITES OF SPRING *
'Duchen skilfully balances the conventions of the genre with the authority of a writer who really knows her subject. ALICIA's GIFT is a wonderful read. But make sure you keep the Kleenex handy when you tackle it.' *
Music Teacher on
Alicia's Gift *
'This is a very well written study of the problem of being and having a child prodigy.... it's a gripping read and it's very easy to get caught up in the excitement of wanting Alicia to succeed... I enjoyed this book a lot' *
Muso on
Alicia's Gift *
'A sensitive and thought-provoking novel that will resonate all the more for those with musical leanings.' * Femke Colborne,
MUSO on RITES OF SPRING *
'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 Bolero, 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 on RITES OF SPRING *
'If your child seems headed for a glorious career in the arts, how hard
should you push her or him? Having explored a similar topic in last
year's enjoyable Rites of Spring, pianist and music journalist Duchen
considers the impact a prodigy can have on an average middle-class
family in her second novel. The Buxton-based Bradleys boast at their
core the pitch-per
*
Classic FM Magazine *
'An imaginative novel about a music writer, her violinist husband their daughter, with themes of miscommunication, perfectionism and adolescence.' *
Eve on RITES OF SPRING *
'As in Rites of Spring, Duchen demonstrates a gift for vividly sketching, with a few deft lines, the environment in which the characters move as well as their internal emotional landscape, and again her compassion for her characters in persuasive.' *
BBC Music Magazine *
'Beautiful' *
Buxton Advertiser *
'Wonderful! Thank you for hours of absorption - I had to know what happened to the characters.' * Steven Isserlis on
Rites of Spring *
'The devil in this book is in the detail, the accumulation of every detail that disables middle class life when the unexpected lands, in this case a musically gifted child. You turn the pages with a tremble, in case you crush the fragile family. Unbearably real.' * Yasmin Alibhai-Brown *
'Duchen skilfully balances the conventions of the genre with the authority of a writer who really knows her subject. ALICIA's GIFT is a wonderful read. But make sure you keep the Kleenex handy when you tackle it.' *
Music Teacher on
Alicia's Gift *
'This is a very well written study of the problem of being and having a child prodigy.... it's a gripping read and it's very easy to get caught up in the excitement of wanting Alicia to succeed... I enjoyed this book a lot' *
Muso on
Alicia's Gift *
