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4.32 AVERAGE
4.32 AVERAGE
Libby audio. Great sophomore novel. The musicality in this was intense. Neurodivergent character. Many racial slurs and racism.
One of the best books i've ever read. The story was incredibly unique and the writing was really fantastic. My only complaint is that I wish we could've explored Josephine and Howard's background more.
emotional
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
such a wonderful exploration of creativity, acceptance, genius. Brings up the question of choose to celebrate and why we consider someone strange for the same reasons
4.4 stars, rounded down
An absolutely infuriating story told so well. A glimpse into the racial politics of the 1920s that are still prevalent today, personal & systemic abuse, genius, neurodivergency, and vindication when it’s far too late but also just in time. Really enjoyed this one, finished it in less than a week.
You can tell from the get go that the author has a serious passion for both music and storytelling. He makes it fun even in the face of the white mans delusions, and keeps you wanting to turn the page. Definitely recommend.
***Slight spoiler below***
The only thing I disagree with is the implied sex scene between Bern & Eboni. It felt forced, rushed, and unnecessary. Even earlier in the book when he was hinting at them crushing on one another, it felt like it was added after the fact to add a sense of romance. Maybe the editors insisted upon it, who knows. But this novel does not need it, and would have been absolutely complete without it.
Otherwise, no notes! Well done. And I absolutely LOATHE Freddy’s delusional, narcissistic, no-talent-having @$$!!!
An absolutely infuriating story told so well. A glimpse into the racial politics of the 1920s that are still prevalent today, personal & systemic abuse, genius, neurodivergency, and vindication when it’s far too late but also just in time. Really enjoyed this one, finished it in less than a week.
You can tell from the get go that the author has a serious passion for both music and storytelling. He makes it fun even in the face of the white mans delusions, and keeps you wanting to turn the page. Definitely recommend.
***Slight spoiler below***
The only thing I disagree with is the implied sex scene between Bern & Eboni. It felt forced, rushed, and unnecessary. Even earlier in the book when he was hinting at them crushing on one another, it felt like it was added after the fact to add a sense of romance. Maybe the editors insisted upon it, who knows. But this novel does not need it, and would have been absolutely complete without it.
Otherwise, no notes! Well done. And I absolutely LOATHE Freddy’s delusional, narcissistic, no-talent-having @$$!!!
Mystery, motive, intrigue, music, history....Brendan Slocumb wove so much into the fabric of this book that it was impossible to put down!
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
What a read! This was a pick for my bookclub and it was perfect! Highly recommend if you're in a bookclub and you guys are trying to figure out what to read next. This one definitely provided great context for a bookclub discussion.
This book shared a lot of similarity with Yellow Face, however, whereas Yellow Face describes everything in present time, Symphony of Secrets has chapters in present time and then chapters where the author goes back in time. So, if you're not a huge fan of that, just be aware. The book tends to also jump around POVs, however, I appreciated this. Normally I'm not a huge fan of dual/multi POV, but if done correctly, I think it really makes a difference in how a story unfolds.
This book really opened my eyes to how history could potentially be incorrectly written and made me question the authenticity of a lot of our history today. Knowledge, history, and access are so powerful! And this book clearly displays how those three privileges can impact an individual's life, and how the inequalities of people back in the day prevented great minds from many opportunities so easily offered to others. Overall, I enjoyed this read. It had a great storyline and I would love to see this one become a film or TV show.
This book shared a lot of similarity with Yellow Face, however, whereas Yellow Face describes everything in present time, Symphony of Secrets has chapters in present time and then chapters where the author goes back in time. So, if you're not a huge fan of that, just be aware. The book tends to also jump around POVs, however, I appreciated this. Normally I'm not a huge fan of dual/multi POV, but if done correctly, I think it really makes a difference in how a story unfolds.
This book really opened my eyes to how history could potentially be incorrectly written and made me question the authenticity of a lot of our history today. Knowledge, history, and access are so powerful! And this book clearly displays how those three privileges can impact an individual's life, and how the inequalities of people back in the day prevented great minds from many opportunities so easily offered to others. Overall, I enjoyed this read. It had a great storyline and I would love to see this one become a film or TV show.
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-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:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes