Overture: A Novel.(Book review)

* Overture: A Novel, by Yael Goldstein. Doubleday (www.randomhouse.com/doubleday; (212) 782-9000), 2007. 293 pp. $24.95.

Overture tells the story of concert violinist Natasha Darsky, her mother, and her daughter, Alexandra. Set in the present with flashbacks to Natasha's youth and early adult life, it chronicles her glamorous life in New York City, university days at Harvard and international concert tours. Although at heart a story about coming of age and the complex relationship between mothers and daughters, the book is thoroughly saturated with music.

Natasha is likeable from the very beginning of the book when she responds to a reporter's naive question, "I'd hardly compare myself to Niccolo Paganini." It is the best of all possible worlds when this common sense attitude is added to extraordinary artistic gifts, plenty of money and remarkable good looks. Yet Natasha does have her share of problems. Her father, a snobbish art-dealer, takes her out of school at age 10, her music teachers are too demanding (imagine that!), and she finally has to leave an egocentric, smothering boyfriend. However, these woes are nothing compared to those inflicted by teen-age daughter ...