A
critic says, “All of Mark Salzman’s characters are beautifully
drawn.”It’s true that good books often have characters that seem
like people we might meet in real life.Do you agree with the critic, or do you think some characters
are more “beautifully drawn” than others?
Trace
all the mentor-pupil relationships in the novel.VonKemper/Renne/Kyung-hee are the obvious ones.But what about Renne and the beautiful juror (Marie-Teresa)
with whom he tries to have an affair?What about Renne and the cat?Notice how the mentor becomes the pupil and vice-versa.
Just
like you and I might choose a suit or dress one day, jeans and
sweatshirt another, authors may choose a writing style that suits
their novel’s subject or theme.Salzman’s style in The
Soloist has been called “simple yet exquisitely fluid.”Assuming the quote is accurate, why is a style like this just
right for this story?
One
of the book’s points is that Sundheimer was too harsh and critical
of himself.Some
readers may see themselves in Sundheimer and, perhaps, try to take
life a little less seriously.Do
you think a book’s message is what makes it valuable or good?What about a novel that is not well written but has an
inspiring message?
Discuss
the relationship between Renne and his mother and between Kyung-hee
and his mother as it relates to the quote:“When do you let children follow their own instincts, and
when do you push them to do what you wish you had done yourself?”
(p. 71)
During
the trial, Mr. Weber takes responsibility for the crime committed by
his son.To what degree
are parents responsible for their children’s failures?How about their successes?
Some
critics found Renne Sundheimer’s lack of sexual experience hard to
believe.Salzman made
this character up.The
author could have made Renne less innocent.Why didn’t he?Why
is it important to the novel to have its narrator and main character
so sexually naïve?
Immigrants
who were once very successful in their native country must sometimes
take menial jobs in this country because of language difficulties,
non-transferable educational degrees, etc.In what way do you think this might affect their sense of
self worth?How might this influence their hopes for their children’s
future?How might it affect how their children see their own future?
“The
Zen master Lin-chi was once asked by a monk, ‘What would you do if
you were going somewhere, and you suddenly met the Buddha in the
road?’Lin-chi answered, ‘If you meet the Buddha in the road and
he stands in your way, kill him!If you meet the great Zen teachers of the past, kill them!If you meet your parents, kill them!That is the only way to be free!’ ” (p. 109)What do you think this means?What do you think this means to Renne?What do you think this means to Philip?
“In life, one must show both strength and
gentleness.” (p. 57) How is this demonstrated in Renne’s life?Does this seem true in your life?
“We all crave a sense of dignity in our lives,
but most of us find it an elusive goal.” (p. 284) Why was a sense
of dignity (or self-worth) so hard for Renne?Why is it for most of us?
How do we deal with not
fulfilling our early dreams?Is
this much harder for a prodigy or is it true for everyone?Is it related to the impossibility of the goal (perfect
intonation, pure Zen enlightenment) or imperfections in ourselves?
Dr. Libertson gives the opinion that “religious
experiences are episodes of nervous exhaustion brought on by sensory
deprivation…” (p. 124) How does one tell the difference between
a religious vision and euphoric delirium?
Renne speaks of music having texture.“When I was very young one of the reasons I was able to
hear a piece of music and then play it right back without having to
look at a score was that for me each musical phrase had not so much
a color or flavor as a texture, and if I could remember the sequence
of textures, I could automatically reproduce the sounds.” (p. 154)
What other senses can come into play when we listen or create music?
Do you believe that music/art can build bridges
between cultures?If
so, how?
Do
you think that justice was served in this case?Does
our current system of jury selection guarantee a “jury of our
peers” and therefore a just outcome?
Attorney
Mr. Graham reminds the court “mental illness by itself does not
automatically make a man legally insane.” (p. 131) If someone has
a mental illness such as schizophrenia, should they be held
responsible for a crime they may commit?
Has there been a time you felt pressure to go along
with others?What are
some of the challenges and issues encountered by standing up for
your moral convictions?
“You
cannot make great music happen, you can only prepare yourself for it
to happen.”(p. 274) Why did forcing himself to “go deeper” make
Renne unable to play at all?Can this also apply to other areas of our lives, such as
sports, work, or relationships?
In what way was Renne’s experience
in the trial his “graduate recital?” (p. 275)
