The Metropolis Case by Matthew Gallaway

Order from:
Reason(s) for Reading:
  • Opera, sweeping characters from old to new, Wagner, it sang to me.
I recommend:

Summary from GoodReads:

From the smoky music halls of 1860s Paris to the tumbling skyscrapers of twenty-first-century New York, a sweeping tale of passion, music, and the human heart’s yearning for connection.

Martin is a forty-year-old lawyer who, despite his success, feels disoriented and disconnected from his life in post-9/11 Manhattan. But even as he comes to terms with the missteps of his past, he questions whether his life will feel more genuine going forward.

Decades earlier, in the New York of the 1960s, Anna is destined to be a grande dame of the international stage. As she steps into the spotlight, however, she realizes that the harsh glare of fame may be more than she bargained for.

Maria is a tall, awkward, ostracized teenager desperate to break free from the doldrums of 1970s Pittsburgh. When the operatic power of her extraordinary voice leads Maria to Juilliard, New York seems to hold possibilities that are both exhilarating and uncertain.

Lucien is a young Parisian at the birth of the modern era, racing through the streets of Europe in an exuberant bid to become a singer for the ages. When tragedy leads him to a magical discovery, Lucien embarks on a journey that will help him—and Martin, Maria, and Anna—learn that it’s not how many breaths you take, it’s what you do with those you’re given

My Review:

The Metropolis Case is a book in which the story revolves around Wagner’s Tristan and Isolde (one of my favorite operas).  It’s sweeping dissonance and harsh demands on its singers voices makes it an incredible piece to listen to and capable of catching the attention of even the most reluctant opera listener.
When I read the summary of this book I could feel my heart begin to beat faster – finally it seemed someone else could put into words a story that seemed worthy of that opera and I couldn’t wait to open the book and begin my foray into the worlds of Martin, Lucian, Maria and Anna.
However, what the summary does not tell you is that, in their searches for love, there are less than traditional forays into that path.  While I could have dealt with this aspect of the story (and potentially even enjoyed it), what I struggled with were the graphic, and sometimes a bit crude, descriptions of actions performed.  This is not something I struggle with in just this type of book, but one I struggle with in other books as well.  As my reading style has developed I’ve learned that to say less is sometimes all you need – the readers imagination provides plenty and there are some things which I really do not need spelled out for me.
So while I loved parts of this novel, the descriptions of the music, the intense love of opera shown (it’s very clear that the author feels much of the passion toward the music as his characters feel), I was disappointed by the graphic sexuality of the book.
Matthew Gallaway has a way with words, it’s impossible to deny that.  His witty chapter titles, his descriptive passages, the ability to infuse his characters with passion, it’s all there.  Once again, I am feeling my “prude” nature, however, and it’s that prudishness which keeps this book from a higher rating and will keep me from recommending it as much as I would have loved to.

About the Author

Matthew Gallaway is a first-time novelist originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  He now lives in New York City.

Connect with Matthew:

On his website

On his blog

On Twitter

On Facebook

For more reviews on The Metropolis Case by Matthew Gallaway, please follow the book tour.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from TLC Book Tours. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

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