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4.32 AVERAGE
4.32 AVERAGE
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
This book is two stories in one. Each one is captivating. It's a long book to listen to, but the narrator did a wonderful job and I zoomed through it. Hard to "put down."
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
It was interesting to learn about the early publishing business. Found some of the situations unbelievable, but perhaps it’s my privilege speaking. Was definitely an entertaining story.
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I've had this book since it was first released, and I'm so happy I finally found the time to read it. I found it to be an interesting look at music, history, and the long-overlooked contributions of Black artists to the canon of American art. Through dual timelines, the author weaves a compelling story about cultural theft and the lengths people will go to keep a secret.
The book begins in the 2020s when Bern Hendricks, a music scholar, gets a call from the Delaney Foundation asking him to authenticate a recently discovered operatic score by famed composer Fred Delaney. Bern has studied Delaney for years, and to be involved in the possible discovery of the legendary opera is too exciting an offer to pass up. But as he begins his inspection along with Eboni - a close friend and computer whiz - the two realize that Delaney may not have composed his own music.
We also visit the 1920s, where we witness young, white composer Fred Delaney befriend Josephine Reed, a young, neurodivergent Black woman with an extraordinary gift - she can hear music in the sounds of everyday life. Her talent is unmatched, but because of her race, gender, and social status, she has no opportunities to develop said talent on her own. Josephine becomes Delaney's uncredited collaborator, feeding him compositions that will make him one of the most celebrated composers of the twentieth century.
The more Bern and Eboni dig and uncover about Josephine, the more they are determined to expose Fred Delaney and finally give Josephine the recognition she never received when she was alive. But the Delaney Foundation is very powerful and will do anything to keep this a secret.
At its heart, this novel is about how white institutions and individuals have systematically taken credit for Black artistry, profited from it, and done everything in their power to maintain the illusion of "white genius". The Delaney Foundation, a powerful organization dedicated to preserving Delaney's legacy, serves as a stand-in for the many real-life institutions that have long profited from stolen Black artistry.
The characters are all very layered. I liked watching Bern grapple with the fact that Delaney - someone Bern has studied and admired for years - was not the man he thought he was. I also appreciated how he fought to bring the truth to light.
Speaking of Delaney, he is not a cartoonish villain but a white man whose dreams and aspirations are bigger than his actual talent. You could tell that he was a good guy at one point, but his greed and dreams of fame got the better of him. His relationship with Josephine is complex. You can tell he admires her, but that admiration is always overshadowed by exploitation.
Josephine is the heart of the novel. Her story is deeply emotional and, at times, heartbreaking. She represents the countless Black artists throughout history who have been used and discarded, their contributions buried under whitewashed versions of history. Her neurodivergence added another layer of complexity and made her a character I wanted to scoop up and protect at all costs.
For readers who enjoy historical fiction with a mystery element, this book is a must-read. It's a slow-burn thriller, but the stakes are high, and the revelations hit hard. It also raises important questions about how we attribute artistic genius and who gets to be remembered. This book is not just about music - it's about race, privilege, and the fight for justice in an industry that has long been built on exclusion and theft.
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes