What’s the difference between a viola and a trampoline?
You take your shoes off to jump on a trampoline.
Somehow that joke’s stayed with me for over ten years. I was never one for strings. Give me a brass chorale anyday.
Still, it was nice to delve once more into the world of music – although I can find faults with this book, musical accuracy is not one of them.
An equal music is essentially a love story; a love that’s lost, found and then lost again. The players are all part of the European music scene and this is a defining theme within the book.
Michael, our protagonist, is a professional violin player within a quartet. As we get to know him, it becomes increasingly obvious that he has never recovered from the loss of Julia – a fellow music student and Michael’s true love.
Ten years after their breakup, a chance encounter brings them together once more and romance blossoms, even though she is married and has a child.
The situation and environment are both very well defined and the characterisation is extremely strong. For the majority, this reads very well.
However, there are some very confusing section, mostly interalised monologue. Sections break down into rambling incoherent sentances that seem to have little to do with the story.
It’s a real shame that the rest of the book isn’t as good as the first 200 pages. Still, this is a worthwhile read, though some musical knowledge is necessary to enjoy it fully.
Rating: 
