Paris in the Present Tense -- Take 2

I have read a few Mark Helprin books before, mostly because Mom gave them to me.  I don't know that I would have gravitated to him independently.  For one, I'm a slow reader and his books tend to be lengthy.  Also, of the books of his that I've read, some of them have an element of the fantastic in them.  Although I am realizing that I like this (more on this soon), it is a fact that previously surprised me about myself, so I probably would not have picked up many of his books for that reason.

Paris in the Present Tense isn't magical, but Helprin's description of people is.  That is something he does incredibly well.  

Paris centers on the long life of cellist Jules Lacour.  He never really made it as a musician due to his debilitating stage fright, but has a respectable career as a music professor.  He also is a rower (not the only character of Mark Helprin's who is) who takes pride in his fitness despite being in his 70s.  His life hasn't been the same since the death of his beloved wife, but he dotes on his daughter and grandson; the latter is ill with leukemia and in desperate need of expensive treatments the family cannot afford.

Everything is thrown into stark relief when Jules finds himself defending a victim of some thugs on the street, and accordingly the subject of a police investigation.  As they are closing in, he stays true to himself while choreographing his own last symphony.