Gone

Praise

“Moving… An honest account of what it is like to have a life knocked off course by a freakish occurrence… Particularly intriguing is her account of her early years, which deals with the experience of being a ‘child prodigy’ and effectively rebuts many of the myths that surround musically talented children…. She writes beautifully of her own anxiety as she was forced to choose between devotion to her violin career and her desire to have a more ‘normal’ childhood.”
—Wall Street Journal

“A vivid, vulnerable portrayal of…life as a child prodigy…. Kym gives a beautiful description of the feeling of performing with a Stradivarius.”
—Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

“Riveting…Her story of bereavement and resilience, and the determination to pursue one’s art no matter what obstacles stand in one’s way, is as enchanting as Kym’s recording of a Brahms concerto.” 
—Harper’s Bazaar 

“The hours fell away as I read this spellbinding tale of love, loss, and above all devotion to art. You probably don’t know what it feels like to be a child prodigy or a world-class violinist, but you will after reading this luminous memoir. And though you may already know what it means to grieve and to love, you’ve never had the chance to experience these things through the far-seeing eyes of Min Kym.”
—SUSAN CAIN, author of Quiet

“A pellucid memoir of letting go and coming to terms.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Kym’s evocative writing style will make even nonmusicians appreciate her passion for music and for her violin.”
—Booklist


Praise from the UK

“Intense, elegiac and completely mesmerizing…. A beautifully pitched memoir which hits many different registers”
—The Bookseller (Book of the Month)
 
“A heart-wrenching, raw and deeply intimate tale that’s also a poignant glimpse into the life of a child prodigy”
—Glamour
 
“A remarkable and original memoir…. Thrilling”
—Observer
 
“A remarkable story of love and loss…. Also a gripping thriller that contains a hint of scandal, as well as money, villains and a secret”
—Sunday Times
 
“Fascinating….A tragic musical love affair…told in admirably lucid and uncluttered prose”
—The Arts Desk