Review: Lyrical writing and magical plot
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 10 25, 2013
I loved Denise Kahn's Split Second Lifetime. The story revolves around music, which sits at the core of the novel. Kahn's writing is lyrical and magical. Her main character Jebby is a music ethnomusicologist, and she takes the reader on a journey of discovery of the music of Uzbekistan in Central Asia. Jebby and her team are producing a series of CDs on native music from around the world. She meets Dodi on the plane to Paris before she embarks on her journey. The meeting is powerful, but the visions Jebby begins to see while on this journey are at once disturbing and intriguing. Those visions--set in the southwestern United States--haunt her as she attempts to figure out the connection. In Uzbekistan, it all comes together as she travels through the country with Dodi, her team, and escort.Music creates the setting and influences the characters. Kahn's descriptions of her surroundings are always at the forefront, whether in real time or in her visions of past lives.The novel is rich in description, symbolism, and synchronicity. The two story lines--present day and past life exploration--eventually meld together as Jebby continues her journey in search of talented musicians and soul-lifting music.I recommend reading this book if you are willing to transport yourself into an adventure beyond what can be seen right in front of you. Kahn knows her music and her setting, and she combines it all with a creative touch in her writing. I loved the story and the lyrical prose. I've already downloaded her latest release, Obsession of the Heart.