The Music of Us

Still Life with Memories, Book 3

By: Uvi Poznansky

Narrated by: Don Warrick

Length: 5 hrs and 50 mins

Publisher's summary

In 1970, Lenny can no longer deny that his wife is undergoing a profound change. Despite her relatively young age, her mind succumbs to forgetfulness. Now, he goes as far back as the moment he met Natasha, when he was a soldier and she a star, brilliant yet illusive. Natasha was a riddle to him then, and to this day, with all the changes she has gone through, she still is.

Digging into the past, mining its moments, trying to piece them together this way and that, dusting off each memory of Natasha, of how we were, the highs and lows of the music of us, to find out where the problem may have started?

To their son, Ben, that may seem like an exercise in futility. For Lenny, it is a necessary process of discovery, one that is as tormenting as it is delightful. He often wonders: can we ever understand, truly understand each other - soldier and musician, man and woman, one heart and another? Will we ever again dance together to the same beat? Is there a point where we may still touch?

©2015 Uvi Poznansky (P)2015 Uvi Poznansky

So much more than I expected!

What a well written book regarding mental health. I fell in love with Lenny and Natasha. Their story has so many facets. The narrator did a spectacular performance with his emotions and character voices. I requested this review copy audiobook and have voluntarily written this review. This book is a standalone listen and part of a series. I loved how the author wrote such a love story that spans time and is beautifully written. I will definitely listen to more books by this author and narrator.

A Tale of Long Lasting Love

This is a beautifully written story of just how love can see us through the most difficult times in life. Dealing with Alzheimer disease is a very hard thing to do and Uvi Poznansky does a wonderful job portraying everyone's emotions. The characters are nicely developed and the story well written. I enjoyed listening to the memories Lenny shared with us. Seeing the love form from a bud and blossom into a beautiful flower was wonderful. The narration was well done. Each character had their own voice and emotions. Don Warrick has a nice voice and read at a good pace. He helped to bring the story to life and made it more enjoyable. Even though this is book three you don't have to have listened to the other two to enjoy this one.

I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

A heartfelt masterpiece

I was given this free review copy audio book at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

This was a touching tale of Lenny and Natasha when they first met. It was so interesting to hear their love story from the beginning after the first two books tell their current story. The story is grounded in the present, where the last books left off, but is focused on memories, vividly told, from Lenny's perspective. The realistic emotions portrayed in this book are tangible. I found myself feeling genuine emotion while listening to their story. The narration is very well done. All in all, this is a masterpiece of an audio book and well worth the time.

A Beautifully Narrated Tale of Love and Loss

I read The Music of Us a few months before this audiobook came out, and loved it so much I jumped at the chance to listen to the characters as portrayed by Don Warrick.

Uvi Poznansky is a literary tour de force in a contemporary age when the quality of writing often takes a back seat to the quick thrill, or to be more precise, the quick buck. She writes as she paints, with careful, vibrant strokes of amazing clarity and color. Whether you are a reader or writer, teacher or student, you owe it to yourself read her work. You will be transported to a world where life is examined from a poet’s point of view, where you live in vignettes so real that you can’t help but love and care for the characters.

I have read and listened to all of Poznansky’s work, but this book resonated more deeply with me than all the previous titles, which I truly enjoyed. I suppose it is because I am an inveterate romantic. I ached for the young, “flashback” characters to come together. I shouted at them to wake up and smell the coffee when they missed opportunities to get together, and I reveled in the sweet endings when they finally connected.

The atmosphere of the 1940s is beautifully portrayed, and on a secondary level only to the (mostly) unrequited love story, it was my next treasured experience while reading this book. I loved the sounds and sights of the era, the music, the cars, and the lifestyles so well depicted. It was a fascinating dip into the life of those dynamic times.

Don Warrick is simply amazing. I loved his voice for the main character, Lenny, which was perfect for whatever age the character spoke from, whether middle aged or young. The other characters were amazingly portrayed and consistent throughout the story - Natasha, her annoying but delightful mother, Lenny's Uncle Schmeel, and even the announcer at Carnegie Hall who had me thinking, "Ed Sullivan," by his unique voice and pronunciation. Emotions flowed from Mr. Warrick's voice in such a way that you couldn't help but choke up or feel excited for "him," and the characters. But most surprising was this amazing narrator's singing voice. I loved hearing him sing various snippets of imaginary songs from the forties, and also lullabies sung by Natasha's mother, etc. They were beautifully done and his voice is very enjoyable.

If you are aching for a lyrical listen, for something above and beyond the usual offerings in the field of fiction, I highly recommend you pick up a copy of Uvi Poznansky’s The Music of Us.

Sensitive, lyrical, powerful work

What made the experience of listening to The Music of Us the most enjoyable?

I loved the way the Don Warrick translated Uvi Poznansky's wonderful story to audio: After listening, I felt as if I'd seen the tale on film.

What did you like best about this story?

I am a fan of Uvi Poznansky -- her fresh look at reality through her characters' eyes always enthralls me. So, although I love the narration, it is the respectful and sensitive way that the narrator translated the dramatic values of Poznansky's prose that most fascinated me.

Which scene was your favorite?

The moment Lenny met Natasha, and then Ben's moment of discovery.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Music for the Soul

A FINE READ AND NARRATION

Would you consider the audio edition of The Music of Us to be better than the print version?

Although I thought the audio was great, I particularly loved the book in print because I'm a visual person. Absolutely no reflection on the narrator!

Who was your favorite character and why?

I was very touched by the main female protagonist. To be so talented at such a young age with a domineering mother would be a very difficult situation and Uvi Poznansky portrayed her feelings and surroundings very well.

What about Don Warrick’s performance did you like?

I thought for a man, he used a subtle touch, which went well with the author's delicate, lyrical prose.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When the two main protagonists, having been separated for long, finally got together. Very moving...

Any additional comments?

Here is my reviewHaving read Uvi Poznansky’s, THE MUSIC OF US (Vol 3), I knew going in just how lovely this book was. In fact, it’s my favorite of all her books. Still, to be honest, I wasn’t sure a man’s voice could give justice to her delicate, touching prose. But I was happy to be proven wrong! Don Warrick did a great job, adding just the right interpretative coloring to this author’s fine writing, and at the same time, pulling the reader in that much more. Highly recommended!

Loved it

Magnificent listen, will listen again, plot well liked out and delivery of story was awesome.

Well Done

Lenny and Natasha and the subject of mental illness, within a love story. The narration by Dan was excellent bringing out.the emotion of the story and how they had faced them.a stand alone or part of the series. Given audio for my voluntary review.

Moving. Tragic. Loving.

The Music of Us. A wonderfully well written story of romance that will stick to me for awhile.
I was gifted a complimentary Audible copy of this book from Story Origin. Narrated with lots of feeling. An excellent listen.
Lenny tells the story of how he met and pursued Natasha through a very moving flashback. He is dealing now with her memory failing at age 45. Tragic. Frustrating. Challenging.

Melalncholy Memories

Framed by the departure of his son for Italy and an appointment for his ailing wife's medical tests, a man remembers back to happier days when he first met and fell in love. Beautifully told. Natasha is beautiful, innocent and, even as a 16 year old, a melancholy soul, beautifully crafted by the author's loving touch. Lenny is brash, and funny and eternally hopeful, and the America they are set in, early in WWII is a world that is portrayed with a lyrical language that is at once beautiful and dream like - a world that can only exist in that "still life" the title refuses to.
Like the other books in this series, Natasha and Lenny's story is one every lover of great literature should read.