BOOK BRIEF

Orfeo

Richard Powers
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Orfeo

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2014

Book Brief

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Richard Powers

Orfeo

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2014
Book Details
Pages

400

Format

Novel • Fiction

Genre
Science Fiction

American Literature

Modern Classic Fiction
Setting

United States • 2010s

Topic
World History

Music
Publication Year

2014

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

In Richard Powers' novel, Orfeo, a composer named Peter Els explores the intersection of music and science. When his home laboratory attracts the attention of Homeland Security, he is propelled into an unexpected journey that intertwines his past compositions with a quest for artistic and personal redemption. The narrative delves into themes of creativity and freedom.

Contemplative

Melancholic

Emotional

Bittersweet

Mysterious

Reviews & Readership

3.8

7,744 ratings

62%

Loved it

25%

Mixed feelings

14%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Orfeo by Richard Powers intertwines music and science through the tale of an avant-garde composer. Critics praise the novel's intricate narrative and exploration of art and biotechnology's intersections. However, some find the prose dense and the pacing uneven. Overall, Orfeo offers a provocative meditation on creativity and freedom.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Orfeo?

A reader captivated by the intersection of music, science, and existential inquiry, akin to enthusiasts of The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt and The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera, will relish Richard Powers’ Orfeo. Its lush prose and intricate themes appeal to those seeking profound, intellectually stimulating narratives.

3.8

7,744 ratings

62%

Loved it

25%

Mixed feelings

14%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

400

Format

Novel • Fiction

Genre
Science Fiction

American Literature

Modern Classic Fiction
Setting

United States • 2010s

Topic
World History

Music
Publication Year

2014

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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