“Get Beethoven!”

I found the first volume of Paul Cassidy's memoir absolutely riveting. It is very well written and engaging with a cast of the characters who inhabit his life made vivid. I've never visited Northern Ireland but his account of growing up in Derry gave me a feeling for the geography of his home city. I appreciated his sense of the absurd and comic but I was also shocked at the violence and bullying of the Catholic teachers and the lived experience of a young man growing up during the Troubles. In the midst of pervasive violence he charts his developing love of music through key moments until his realisation that it had to be the focus of his life. I loved his account of listening to Beethoven in the stock room cupboard. And growing up as the youngest child of sixteen with sisters who encouraged his violin playing leading to his determination to become a professional musician and concluding with the beginning of his new life as viola player with the renowned Brodsky Quartet. This is a very enjoyable read and you don't have to be a fan of the classical string quartet to enjoy it!

Paul Cassidy's "Get Beethoven” is a brilliantly-written, inspirational page-turner that skilfully describes the complexities of growing up in Northern Ireland during "The Troubles”. I vacillated between laughing out loud, crying, squirming, feeling horrified, whilst glued to this book to discover what happened next. There is no sugar-coating about the circumstances that young people- men in particular- found themselves in because of where they lived on this planet. Every aspect of life is touched in this book- with the honesty and wisdom of one who " got out” and underwent the most amazing self-development. His ability to express the feeling of being an outsider, in so many different circumstances – not least arriving in London as a young NI man during the early troubles- is remarkable. The fact that he was an outstanding musician facilitated his path into the world of professional artistes. He recounts his incredible journey - including encounters and friendships with living legends in the world of music- with exceptional humility, which speaks volumes about at least one additional key element to his success. His fortitude, sense of humour, ability to facilitate conversation with anyone and everyone- which exudes from every aspect of this book- are qualities that have undoubtedly also contributed. I feel so privileged to live in this era when such an honest and highly-entertaining account of life growing up in the troubles could actually be written. Thank-you Paul Cassidy, for your courage to even write this, and your skill in making it such a " read-in-one-sitting” book. This memoir should be on the "modern studies”/ "modern history” school curriculum- in the whole of the UK and the island of Ireland-IMHO.

Having been a long-time fan of the Brodsky quartet, I was fascinated to hear that Paul Cassidy had written a memoir, and immediately bought a copy. Reading the book opened a window on a time and a place - Northern Ireland in the 1970s - about which I knew very little. At the heart of the story is Paul, youngest of 16 children and (initially at least) the apple of everyone's eye. Over the course of the book, which is by turns hilarious, terrifying and deeply moving, Paul charts his childhood and adolescence with a rare perspicacity and wit. It's a beautifully written memoir, and deserves to reach a wide audience.

Get Beethoven! is a delightful, little memoir about the musician Paul Cassidy's life. This book is fun and spunky and far more intriguing than I expected it to be! Memoirs aren't always fun, and instead educational, but this one stood out with quite the personality. Paul's tone in this is highly amusing and kept me pulled in and entertained. This is how biographies should be written - with a fun, loud voice that pulls you in and keeps you there. I had heard of Paul Cassidy before but didn't know much about him, so I truly enjoyed grabbing this book! If you like non-fiction, biographies or music then grab this book!

Fascinating on so many levels. Very funny & a tribute to achievement in face of a life of challenges.. Brilliant read & had me in stitches. Thankyou x