Sonata: A Memoir of Pain and the Piano

A rich and vibrant memoir that weaves chronic illness and classical music into a raw and inspiring tale of grace and determination.
Andrea Avery, already a promising and ambitious classical pianist at twelve, was diagnosed with a severe case of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) that threatened not just her musical aspirations but her ability to live a normal life.
As Andrea navigates the pain and frustration of coping with RA alongside the usual travails of puberty, college, sex, and just growi…