Book Reviews-
Csige is a scarily talented young fellow from Kailua-Kona who seems able to do just about anything. His latest effort is this coming-of-age novel — apparently, a disguised memoir — about a teenage lad sent off from Hawaii to attend a Scientology boarding school in the Pacific Northeast. Everything seems swell until he realizes that the teachers are more interested in indoctrination than in learning.
The thing about coming-of-age novels is that the protagonist comes out the other end changed. They're about metamorphosis. There's room, sure, for settling old scores — and teenage horrors stick with you for life — but the hero is essentially mutable clay, fired by experience.
Csige seems to understand the process instinctively, and also sets up a natural rhythm in the storytelling that matches the adolescent goofiness of a boy trying to grow up.
“Honolulu Star Advertiser”
In desperation, one often makes mistakes you regret even more later. "The Symphony of Leif"" is the story of Leif, a young man who in order to escape home, finds himself in a Scientology school. Faced with the horrors that the Scientology school holds along with it, Leif realizes that becoming an adult in this avenue was a mistake and holds on to what few friends he can find. "The Symphony of Leif"" is a fascinating tale, very highly recommended.
“Willis M. Buhle”
I bought this book for myself because I saw that it was about life for one boy at a Scientology boarding school. As soon as it arrived, I was still reading Janet Reitman's 'Inside Scientology' so I offered it to my teenager in the hopes that the book would take him away from his video games onto the reading list I planned for him for the summer.
My son could not put the book down until he was finished. I have never seen him like this about a book! When I told him I was going to write a review, he said to tell readers "This is an awesome book!" And indeed it is. I wish Janet Reitman had read it before she wrote about the exscientology kids in this new book of hers. She would have had a better perspective of what these kids are made to endure and perhaps ask more involved questions when she interviewed them.
This is an profound, touching and well written fictionalized story from the perspective of bright but dyslexic teenager who makes the choice to attend a boarding school he knows almost nothing about rather than become the failure his father has already decided he will probably be. Little does he know what he has gotten himself into and where it will take his life. We share in the often times harrowing adventure as he matures while learning to survive the Truman Show confines of the opressive and totalitarian Scientology based 'Lamia School', based, I suspect, on the infamous Delphian School of Sheridan, Oregon.
Now, I am a former long time scientologist who has seen first hand the harm that Scientology does to people and families. Especially the harm done to children. One only has to read the stories of other attendees of this school program, as well as the many exscientology kids testimonies on the internet, to understand.
This is, perhaps, the first book ever written about the life of a teenager entering the dark world of Scientology unawares. The fact that it is fictionalized is due to several factors:
1), who wants to be sued by Scientology? lol!
And 2) it gives the author option to allow the teen to take liberties with his experiences and imagination to arrive at his own form of retribution.
You follow the main character, Leif, through his efforts to make sense of and rise above the insanity and indoctrination while others succumb to one degree or another. In reading this, it reminded me of a magnified version of The Stepford Wives for teens. This is a good thing because the importances of a 14 year old are always magnified. It's the nature of the beast of puberty.
This is a must read book for readers of all ages but a word of of caution for parents that there is a small amount of profanity typical of teens and they may want to review it first. I suggest they do this anyway because it is an excellent look into the psyche of a teenager trying to make sense of and take a stand against evil influences. I am sure that this was a cathartic effort for Paul Csige and I am grateful that he has blessed us with this book. I hope many others, especially those concerned about cultic influences, make a point to read it.
“Mary McConnell”
Paul Y. Csige has all the potential for becoming an important writer - a sophisticated manner of weaving the current with the past, a gift for creating interesting characters and developing them as the story progresses, the courage to take on some controversial subject matter, and a solid drive toward an ending of a novel that is satisfying without feeling as though things are just too tidy.
Leif Csuba lives with his mother Rebecca and his Hungarian immigrant father Istvan in Hawaii - an idyllic setting but not one conducive to Leif happiness as far as school is concerned. Finishing 8th grade he is determined not to go to high school. His parents discover an alternative - a school called Lamia in the Pacific Northwest. Open for adventure and for being free from the usual teaching principles of his early education, Leif agrees to enroll in what happens to be a school controlled by Scientology complete with the learning techniques by Scientology guru L. Ron Hubbard. The school is regimented to the extreme with every student expected to participate in the upkeep of the institution. It takes a while for Leif to adjust and even longer to find friends, but what follows is a journey through a bizarre institution that feels more like a prison than a place of higher learning. But the experience strengthens Leif's vision of how he wants to lead his life - in music - and in the end our student hero has found his way toward maturity.
According to this information 'PAUL Y. CSIGE is a traveler, fisherman, surfer, writer, and filmmaker who holds degrees from Berklee College of Music and The New York Film Academy. He has worked in both television and film industries for several years as an editor and director. He was commissioned by the Kamuela Philharmonic to compose a full orchestral overture and successfully adapted the book "Voyage: The Discovery of Hawaii" by renowned historian and artist Herb Kawainui Kane into an award winning feature film. He has combined his creative experience in story telling through music and films to produce this fictional memoir. He currently lives in Kailua Kona, Hawaii.' Those are mighty credentials for a young artist. The bode well for a writer with obvious talent and it will be interesting to see how he fares in a non-memoir type story. This reader feels that he has the gift, but it will take another book to substantiate that feeling.
“Grady Harp”
Good trailer! This is a profound, touching and well written fictionalized story from the perspective of bright but dyslexic teenager who makes the choice to attend a boarding school he knows almost nothing about rather than become the failure his father has already decided he will probably be. Little does he know what he has gotten himself into and where it will take his life. This is a ' must read ' book!
“4Christ3ever”
The young author is masterful at blending internal dialogue with conversation, and captures the lingo and thought patterns of young women and men.
“Dr. Olaf Jorgenson”
'Catcher in the Rye' meets 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' in contemporary times.
“Kathleen Istudor”
I knew Paul to be a very gifted musician but when I found out he'd also written a book, I frankly was a little skeptical that it would be any good. I mean, seriously! No one can be that talented! Boy, was I wrong! Paul is an outstanding story teller and wove mystery and intrigue throughout the book. If my attention isn't captured within the first page or two, I sometimes will give a book a little more time to see if it changes, but then I put it down and never look back. This was not the case with "Symphony of Leif." I picked it up and had a hard time putting it down. It was a good story from start to finish. My only question is, "Paul, when is your next one?"
"Jazz Lover"
Just finished reading the novel, The Symphony of Leif, by Paul Y. Csige. I think it's absolutely great and am passing it along to my daughter and son-in-law. I'm very, very sincere when I say I really liked it. The following reasons are why I liked it so much:
1) I liked his overall design of the book--symphony of Leif as a symphony with a "Leif motif" which, I would assume, was the main character's determination to "win" or just have faith in himself no matter how many people were against him and also his piano or gift for music. i.e. belief in his innate goodness and uniqueness, his music.
2) The natural dialogue. Believable, natural, and funny.
3) The supporting characters, also very believable and endearing.
4) His references to Hawaii, explaining what it was like growing up there and the other references to his family, especially his mother, whom he truly seemed to love and respect.
5) The ending: very cathartic.
Would highly recommend this novel as light and enjoyable reading
"C. Bowman"
Don't get misled with the lightness, harmonious, airy sound of the title. What you are going to find inside this novel is a raw, fast-pacing, unapologetic, and sometimes irreverent story of a peculiar adolescent boarding the most uncanny school. The Symphony of Leif is the fictionalized account of the author's experience in the enigmatically orthodox world of a Scientology boarding school. Written in the vein of a modern Holden Caulfield, the novel is narrated by a fourteen year-old boy who finds himself trapped between the unusual disciplinary model of a school with no teachers and his rather misanthropic personality. Throughout the novel, the young protagonist manages to resist the oddly ubiquitous educational system by taking refuge in classical music, a small group of dysfunctional friends, and a cinematic view of life in which the main source of reality are movies and not vice versa. This story might be a symphony, yet a broken one: the broken symphony of life, where the quest for harmony is continuously interrupted by the atonal, discordant noises of frustration, pain, and disillusion. Based on true events, this dramatic narrative not only provides the reader with a rare glance into the well-guarded student life of a Scientology school but first and foremost, it presents a contemporary real coming of age story that, for the most part, feels stranger than fiction.
"Literature Prof"
Both my husband and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this well written novel by this young author. It will take you back to those days some of us remember so well. Trying times of seemingling neverending darkness and despair with some faint glimmers of hope and a triumpant realization. I didn't put it down from start to finish. We look forward to more novels from this very talented author.
“Lauren”
This book was a delightful surprise! I have never read anything by this author, so I didn't know what to expect. Mr. Csige's book was a 'Can't put it down' type. I look forward to reading many more of his books! The ending was totally unexpected!!!! This is a MUST READ!!!
“Jill M Jermann”
Gosh where to begin about this well written, gripping novel. First of all I read it in two days, I could not put this book down. A great coming of age story with a twist that is so honest and thought provoking its sure to provide thorough entertainment for the reader. I love how the author did not hold back any details when sharing about the awkwardness of adolescence or the horror of what scientology is really about. A great read for any teenagers seeking comfort in knowing their experience is shared or anyone curious about the scientology movement adorned by several celebrities. I look forward to seeing the success of this book and reading what comes next from this talented author Paul Csige.
"Kiera Anne"
This is an excellent, well-written book that gives people a peak of what life is like for kids who go to schools run by founders and followers of Scientology. But it is more than that, it also shows the coming-of-age of a boy who has to grapple with both puberty and the dictates of a cult on his own. My understanding is that most of this story is true, which makes it that much more powerful. I raced through this book and could not put it down. Enjoy!
"Dr. Joan"
A compelling story of one young man's journey that is one of the most unputdownable books I have read. Paul Csige has a style and wisdom that Steinbeck would have admired.
"Eddyakko"
A riveting story of adolescent angst during the transition from teenager to man. Like watching a car crash, you won't be able to tear your eyes off the pages until you've reached the last one.
"Julie Klaz"
As a nostalgic look at teenage life in the mid 1990s, Csige's book is an enjoyable blend of the coming-of-age novel and cautionary tale. Filled with dry wit and nuance, The Symphony of Leif serves as a metaphor for the dangers of a conformist society and mass delusion in modern American by allowing us to inhabit such a world by proxy through very likable characters. Very funny as well.
"John"
