Friday, November 12, 2010

The Piano Teacher

Book Discussion –November 18, 12:30 pm

Join Judy Levin for a discussion of The Piano Teacher by Janice Y.K. Lee on Thursday, 11/18/10 in the downstairs meeting room.

This debut novel received a starred review in Publisher’s Weekly and has gone on to become a popular selection for reading groups.

Set in war-torn Hong Kong in the mid-20th century Lee’s story deals with love, survival and the consequences of choices made in difficult times. In 1942 Englishman Will Truesdale falls headlong into a relationship with Trudy Liang, a beautiful Eurasian socialite. But their affair is threatened as World War II breaks out in Asia. The snobbish insulation of British high society implodes with the invasion of the Japanese. Thrust from privilege into imprisonment virtually overnight, the characters are caught up in intrigue and collusion, a common occurence of wartime survival. Ten years later, Claire Pendleton comes to Hong Kong to work as a piano teacher and also begins a fateful affair. As the threads intertwine, impossible choices emerge setting the present against the past.

Janice Y. K. Lee was born and raised in Hong Kong and went to boarding school in the United States before attending Harvard College. She is a former features editor at Elle and Mirabella magazines in New York.

Take a look at Penguin’s website for an interview with Janice Y.K. Lee and a list of discussion questions.    http://us.penguingroup.com/static/rguides/us/piano_teacher_janiceyklee.html

We look forward to seeing you.

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