Chris Cander - THE WEIGHT OF A PIANO

Brazos Bookstore is pleased to host this exciting, multi-media event to celebrate the launch of Chris Cander's third novel, THE WEIGHT OF A PIANO. 

This event will take place on Tuesday, January 22, 2019 at 7pm. It will be held in the social hall at Christ Church Cathedral, 1117 Texas St, Houston, TX 77002.

Instead of a traditional book reading, Cander has written a brief stage play that interprets three key scenes from the novel. "I want attendees to experience the story the way I imagined it as I was writing," she says. The play will be directed by local director Elizabeth Keel, and performed by renowned local actors Bonnie Langthorn, Ian Lewis, Robert Meek, Tasha Gorel, and Blake Jackson. 

In addition, Konner Scott, the musician who composed the original piece of music that appears at the end of THE WEIGHT OF A PIANO, will debut "Die Reise" as well as perform other pieces that appear in the novel.

After the performance, Cander will appear in conversation with author and bookseller Mark Haber. There will also be a drawing to take home one of eight stunning 11x14 canvas prints of images that Cander took during her research trip to Death Valley National Park.

The book follows the interweaving stories of two women—a Soviet concert pianist and a young mechanic in California—and their shared, devastating connection to the same Blüthner piano, its tragic history, and to each other. It has already received rave reviews, including starred reviews from Kirkus and Publishers Weekly.  

“Deftly plotted and well written, a gentle meditation on the healing power of art — and its limitations….Cander grabs the reader in her bravura, thickly detailed opening pages [and] expertly parcels out her revelations [as] she builds parallel narratives [toward] an odd but beautiful finale.” —Kirkus Reviews (STARRED)

“Cander brilliantly and convincingly expresses music and visual art in her writing, capturing both within a near-alien but surprisingly stunning landscape.” —Publishers Weekly (STARRED)

This is a non-ticketed event, but RSVPs are appreciated. There will be a book sale and signing, but you may also pre-order your copy of THE WEIGHT OF A PIANO here.