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Hi,
I'm indebted to @stringy for suggesting this excellent book to me in a post and I think it deserves highlighting. I bought my copy through eBay only costing around £3.50 inc. P&P.
It's an heart breaking story of a violin child prodigy who quickly became a top class violin soloist who had her Strad violin stolen. Min lived for her violin and was absolutely devastated to have the love of her life stolen. I won't go into detail otherwise it would spoil reading the book but I confess I was so moved at times by her sad story I filled up with tears a number of times feeling so sorry for her.
@stringy kindly recommended this book to me and I'm more than happy to recommend it to members. Thanks once again @stringy.
Kind regards, Colin.
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@Retired -
I have to admit, Colin, you've built this book up to be quite depressing.
My emotions already roll about way too freely, as if on top of a teeter-totter. The last thing I need is a book weighing down my darker side - so, declined further consideration.
I did look for a live performance and was caught, by surprise, by this short video clip:
Min-Jin Kym 'delighted' £1.2m violin stolen from Euston recovered
So, I searched further and found this wonderful, but lengthy, recorded interview that left me feeling inspired, not depressed!
...so, is this book a "tragedy", or actually a "triumph over tragedy" story?
@SharonC -
You might also find this interview interesting, especially the discussion of Bach, where she expresses her love of his music and describes it as, "the ultimate detox". (lol)
I also happened upon this list of books (some for young readers) at bookriot.com:
Read, Play, Love: Books About Violins And Violinists
- Emily
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Emily I think its a triumph, I think Colin found it particularly sad because the start of the book related to him personally, but the story has a great ending and is enthralling reading, especially as all the characters and things that happened are true, I think you would really enjoy it as it covers all kinds from the concert world to violins and their prices as well as dealers and the value musicians put on their instruments.
Cant beat a sunny day
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As an aside, she sold that violin in auction, December, 2013.
‘ex-Kym’ Stradivarius of 1696
This 1696 Stradivarius violin, famous for being stolen from London’s Euston Station in 2010 and later recovered, was sold by Tarisio in a special auction in December 2013. At the time of theft the violin belonged to the international soloist Min-Jin Kym; it was fortunately recovered in excellent condition and remains a fine example of Stradivari’s 1690s work. The story of the theft received worldwide attention and sympathy, and the violin was sold for £1.385 million, or about $2.3 million.
The old curmudgeon!
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john it was the insurance company that sold it, you would have to read the book to understand why. Its a great story.
Cant beat a sunny day
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@stringy -
Thank you!
That's what I was hoping for and what I understood from the interview!
@JohnG -
It was my understanding, from the interview, that she couldn't afford to buy it back from who owned it at the time the police found it - in other words, did they find who actually stole it? Or, just locate the current owner at that time?
...guess I'll have to read the book. 😊
*@stringy -
...didn't see your post in time. (lol)
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Hi,
Oh dear Emily @ELCBKK I'm sorry if my comments about the book are depressing; I do highly recommend reading the book because it's a very good read indeed. I didn't want to add too much detail in order not to spoil the story for anyone wishing to read it but now the storie's out..
Thanks for the links too; having read the book I also browsed the web and YouTube for more information abut Min.
@stringy kindly recommended the book to me so knows the full story. It was fascinating reading about Min's rise to fame but what a sad story along the way. The book opens up the world of violins from the bottom to the top and I found it hard to put the book down once I started to read it.
Thanks @stringy yes indeed the story mirrors my own life in so many ways not regarding violins in fact it couldn't be further away from this but I could relate to Min's hardships and stuggles. Like Min I too suffered asthma it being severe often keeping me away from school or playing out with the other kids; I was just too weak and in those days there weren't inhalers to give relief; it sounds dramatic but with asthma it was a case of live or die and I have horrible memories of asthma; our GP told my parents I'd grow out of asthma when I reached the age of 11 and how true this proved to be; I'd just started secondary modern school which I attended from 11 to 15. Now at school full time feeling a lot better and fitted with four eyes I made ground up rapidly; I left school with seven exam passes and two distinctions so I learned a great deal in the four years.
As a child I was in a number of ways worse off than Min coming from a coal mining family; with severe asthma I lived with my parents two brothers and sister in a one bedroomed cottage; we kids upstairs parents in the back room; a single coal fire was the only source of heat; we didn't have electricity until I was about five years old; the cottage was cockroach infested and my parents at the time smoked cigarettes. Shoes and clothes had holes in them; food was scarce and we walked to school in all weather.
May I suggest you buy a copy of "Gone" Emily @ELCBKK you won't be disappointed and these books can be bought very cheaply indeed as used.
I still have my lovely Bron but feel sorry for Min who lost the love of her life.
Kind regards, Colin.
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ELCBK said
@SharonC -
You might also find this interview interesting, especially the discussion of Bach, where she expresses her love of his music and describes it as, "the ultimate detox". (lol)
@ELCBK I haven't had a chance to sit & watch this yet, but I've seen the discussion you all have been having about Min Kym & her book--I plan to definitely check both of them out. 
Characterize people by their actions and you will never be fooled by their words.
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