'there is no contemporary american writer quite like richard powers ... it is rare to find a novel as intellectually and emotionally engaging as this' guardian 'formidable ... rewarding' sunday times 'an astonishing performance' new york times jonah, ruth, and joseph are the children of mixed-race parents who aspire to raise them beyond the constraints of time and identity, immersing them in a world of song. however, they cannot shield them from the realities of the outside world forever. jonah, a talented young tenor, finds that the opera world remains preoccupied with his race. ruth, rejecting classical music, disappears instead into a life dedicated to activism and a new relationship. over the years, joseph - the middle child, a pianist, and our narrator - struggles not only to stay connected to his siblings but also to carve out a future on his own. a powerful story of a tragedy of race in america, the time of our singing is an enthralling, harrowing novel about the lives of choices of one family at the crossroads of identity.