Struggling for Perfection: The Story of Glenn Gould

Struggling for Perfection: The Story of Glenn Gould. By Vladimir Konieczny. Napolean & Company, 2007. 97 pages. Tr. $15.95 ISBN 978-1894917483

Summary: Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a musical genius? Well, The Story of Glenn Gould is a perfect entry into this mysterious world. Vladimir Konieczny follows the life of Canadian pianist Glenn Gould, who lived between 1932 and 1982. Glenn’s musical talent was noted at an early age: he could read music before he could read words. His talent blossomed into that of a world-class pianist. Glenn transformed the way we perform Bach’s music on the piano. His 1955 recording of the Goldberg Variations was an instant bestseller, turning Glenn Gould into a household name. Concertgoers flocked to hear Gould perform across North America and Europe. We witness these events, especially his landmark journey to Russia. While Glenn excelled at performing at live concerts, there were other things he wanted to do in his life. We follow his other pursuits, as well as his multiple eccentricities.  Are musical geniuses more eccentric than the average person? Is there value with being different? You’ll only be able to answer these questions if you pick up and read this wonderful book!

Critical Review: Konieczny’s biography on the Canadian pianist Glenn Gould is a forerunner in the field of tweens literature, engaging tween readers through Gould’s peculiarities and exceptional musical talent. Topics are chronologically spaced in one-to-two page segments. Glenn could play the piano before he could speak, and he excelled at the Toronto Conservatory of Music. When he was in his early thirties, he retired from the concert stage, devoting the rest of his life to the recording studio. His recordings of J.S. Bach have substantially shifted our understanding of Bach’s music.

Genre: Biography

Reading/Interest Level: 9-12 years

Awards: Shortlisted for BC’s Red Cedar Award

Reviews: School Library Journal (2004, September 1); Booklist (2004, July 1); Quill & Quire (2004, May 1)

Series: Stories of Canada Series

Subjects/Themes: Glenn Gould biography; pianists; classical music; Canada; musicians

Brief Annotation: The genius and peculiarities of the Canadian pianist Glenn Gould (1932-1982) are described in this biography for tweens.