William Boyd is an extraordinary wordsmith. This aptly-named novel is rich in plot and characters. It is the story of Brodie Moncur at the end of the 19th century when he is 24 years old. He works for the Channon Piano Company as a skilled piano tuner in their Edinburgh showroom. He comes from a large family headed by his father, a cruel fundamentalist minister. We follow Brodie as his expertise and innovative ideas are soon recognized by the owner of the company, and he is moved to the Paris office. Unfortunately, Brodie contracts tuberculosis, which plagues him throughout his life.
He soon becomes obsessed with a Russian opera singer named Lika. Lika is the paramour of his most important customer, John Kilbarron. Brodie is forced to leave the Channon Piano Company when the owner's son falsely accuses him of embezzlement. He then follows the Kilbarron brothers and Lika on their tours of France, Switzerland and Russia while his surreptitious love affair with Lika becomes increasingly passionate. Malachi Kilbarron is an increasingly ominous presence in Brodie's life and career.
This novel gets better as it progresses when layers of tension are revealed. The numerous literary and historical references add additional interest, and the ending is unexpected. ( )

William Boyd has written a captivating novel that charts the life of Brodie Moncur in the 1890s and early 1900s. Starting from humble beginnings in rural Scotland, he trains as a piano tuner, a career that takes him from Edinburgh, to Paris and on to St. Petersburg. In a wonderfully evocative tale, Brodie falls in love with Lika Blum, a Russian singer, but in doing so, incurs the jealousy and hatred of her lover and his employer, John Kilbarron. As a consequence of the revelation of their affair, brodie and Lika are obliged to flee across Europe in what becomes a heartening, but threatened life as John and his brother Malachi are always seeking them. Their emotions and sacrifices are sensitively portrayed and create much sympathy for the difficult decisions that they are required to make.

Brodie Moncur, the protagonist of William Boyd's 2018 novel “Love Is Blind,” has perfect pitch, leading to a successful career as a piano tuner in late 19th century Europe when the piano industry is highly competitive and live musical events are a prime source of entertainment. He proves much less capable of keeping his own life in tune, especially after Lika Blum walks into it.

Brodie is hired by John Kilbarron, a gifted pianist, to tour with him and keep his pianos in perfect condition for his own needs, complicated by the fact that Kilbarron has a weak right hand that requires keys sensitive to the lightest touch. Brodie falls in love with the pianist's Russian mistress, Lika, who wants to become a great opera singer but lacks the necessary talent. Kilbarron mostly ignores her, making it possible for her and Brodie to begin a secret affair.

The bigger problem proves to be Malachi Kilbarron, John's brother, who manages the pianist's career and includes keeping an eye on Lika as one of his responsibilities. Strangely Lika seems more connected to and more fearful of Malachi than John, yet she declines to tell Brodie why. And she refuses to marry him when they finally are able to run away together.

A further complication is that Brodie develops tuberculosis, at a time when that is a death sentence.

Brodie has opportunities to retreat to a simpler life in a warm climate that would be better both for his health and his peace of mind. But, as Boyd's title reminds us, love is blind, and our young piano tuner gives up financial success, takes part in a duel and flees from country to country to escape his pursuer, all for the love of Lika.

The reader knows all this cannot possibly end happily, but it makes compulsive reading. Boyd's novels are always a pleasure. ( )

Boyd is an author whose works I have always enjoyed reading. Sadly this is the first that left me feeling decidedly ambivalent. The writing is as elegant, clever and powerful as ever, but none of the elements were satisfying in themselves, nor was the sum greater than the parts. Time, place, characterisation, storyline: none of them struck me as convincingly portrayed. It is hardly a startling revelation that people can be very blind regarding those they fall in love with and I had no sense that this shone any light on that matter. Worth reading for the quality of the writing, but not for much else. May 2020 ( )

Elegant prose from Boyd. Engaging story with a deeply romantic conclusion ( )