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Ghost Quartet |
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G host Quartet byRichard Burgin Northwestern University Press 312 pages, 1999 ISBN 0810150956 Reviewed by Julie Failla Earhart I wanted to read Richard Burgin’s GHOST QUARTET after hearing him read a short story at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. His work is so accessible and speaks to the common person that it really sticks with me. However, given his reputation about only allowing "literary" fiction and established authors to be published in BOULEVARD, the magazine of which he is the editor, I was prepared not to like his novel. GHOST QUARTET is Richard Burgin’s debut novel. There is a huge difference between novel writing and short story writing. A quick look at William Faulkner’s works can attest to this statement. Luckily for me, I decided to give this novel a try and was well rewarded with an unexpected reading delight. GHOST QUARTET is the story of Ray Stoneson, a talented young composer. Ray is reported to be ambitious. He desperately wants to be recognized and played, but he doesn’t work at marketing himself. He’s one of those people who expects the world to come knocking on his door. Then he meets Perry Green, the most famous American conductor (ala Leonard Bernstein). The sixty-ish-year-old Perry falls madly in love with the thirty-two-year-old Ray. He offers to help Ray by arranging to conduct a piece of Ray’s music. All he asks in return is a little affection. Unfortunately, Ray is not gay. He is trying to re-capture a former lover, Joy. He allows Perry to seduce him very slowly, and feels he must give Perry what he wants so that his music can be heard. He even confronts Perry, but the maestro refuses to acknowledge Ray’s heterosexuality. As Perry arranges another concert and for his work to be included on a CD anthology, Ray feels he must continue their little game in order to keep Perry’s succor. Ray feels extremely guilty about his involvement with Perry, and he realizes his relationship with Joy is in danger. Joy broke-up with him two years earlier when Ray cheated on her with another woman. God knows how she’ll feel about his deception with a man, even if he is the most influential musician of the time. Ray also knows that Bobby, Perry’s other lover, is being hurt merely by Ray’s presence in the house. But the allure of fame is just too great, and Ray allows his seduction to continue. Set in the contemporary classical musical world of Tanglewood and New York City, Ghost Quartet explores sexual and self-identity, compromises and the various levels and types of love. It is an excellent work and Burgin has found a new fan. I hope he’s working on a new novel. |
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