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4.32 AVERAGE
4.32 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
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:
Complicated
challenging
emotional
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:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'd thoroughly enjoyed Brendan Slocumb's debut novel "The Violin Conspiracy", so jumped at the chance to read his newest novel.
"Symphony of Secrets" opens on Professor Bern Hendricks, a music professor at UVA, receiving an unexpected call from a board member of the famed Delaney Foundation, started by famed musician and composer Frederick Delaney. Delaney has long been Bern's idol, and as a recipient of the foundation's generosity as a child, he immediately flies into NYC to take on their assignment for him. Bern learns that Delaney's last and final composition known as RED, which seemingly disappeared almost a century ago, has been recovered and needs to be transcribed. Bern calls in a favor with a former colleague, Eboni Washington, and begins the daunting work - only to uncover more than he ever expected.
The novel shifts perspectives to the 1920s, when young Josephine Reed meets a struggling musician known as Fred Delaney a jazz club in Manhattan. Josephine understands the nuances and techniques that Fred is unable to grasp, and an unconventional partnership is formed between them - while Fred offers her a place to stay and a small income, she aids him in his musical skills and eventually, in composing music that he monetizes on. His rise to fame comes at a cost to Josephine, though, and the number of injustices that she suffers at his hands, especially as a black woman, has been buried from history - until Bern and Eboni begin to unravel the truth behind her identity and her true contribution to the music that has been attributed to the wrong person.
I loved how seamlessly Slocumb was able to blend elements of mystery, music, historical fiction, and critical race theory all in one novel. Despite this being his second novel, the writing is incredibly well developed and complex, and flowed seamlessly across chapters and perspectives. It's clear Slocumb has a deep knowledge of music as well, covering both the technical and descriptive range of sounds and music that were covered in the novel. The ending is an emotional and climactic one, and I think many readers will connect to and empathize with the struggles Bern and Eboni go through, and the tragedy and injustice that Josephine endured.
Very much a recommended read when this is released on 4/18/23!
Thank you Anchor Books for the advance copy of this novel!
"Symphony of Secrets" opens on Professor Bern Hendricks, a music professor at UVA, receiving an unexpected call from a board member of the famed Delaney Foundation, started by famed musician and composer Frederick Delaney. Delaney has long been Bern's idol, and as a recipient of the foundation's generosity as a child, he immediately flies into NYC to take on their assignment for him. Bern learns that Delaney's last and final composition known as RED, which seemingly disappeared almost a century ago, has been recovered and needs to be transcribed. Bern calls in a favor with a former colleague, Eboni Washington, and begins the daunting work - only to uncover more than he ever expected.
The novel shifts perspectives to the 1920s, when young Josephine Reed meets a struggling musician known as Fred Delaney a jazz club in Manhattan. Josephine understands the nuances and techniques that Fred is unable to grasp, and an unconventional partnership is formed between them - while Fred offers her a place to stay and a small income, she aids him in his musical skills and eventually, in composing music that he monetizes on. His rise to fame comes at a cost to Josephine, though, and the number of injustices that she suffers at his hands, especially as a black woman, has been buried from history - until Bern and Eboni begin to unravel the truth behind her identity and her true contribution to the music that has been attributed to the wrong person.
I loved how seamlessly Slocumb was able to blend elements of mystery, music, historical fiction, and critical race theory all in one novel. Despite this being his second novel, the writing is incredibly well developed and complex, and flowed seamlessly across chapters and perspectives. It's clear Slocumb has a deep knowledge of music as well, covering both the technical and descriptive range of sounds and music that were covered in the novel. The ending is an emotional and climactic one, and I think many readers will connect to and empathize with the struggles Bern and Eboni go through, and the tragedy and injustice that Josephine endured.
Very much a recommended read when this is released on 4/18/23!
Thank you Anchor Books for the advance copy of this novel!
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
slow-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
ladies and gentlemen, my first page-turner and unputdownable book of the year! it was a bit intimidating to start this book since it was filled with numerous musical jargons & my experience in a choir wasn’t enough to make up for it. but as you start to get comfortable, you’ll understand why i rated it 5 stars. never have i ever read such a compelling book that centers around musical composition and racial injustice like this before. every word is as colorful as the next— definitely more colorful than the cover— and i enjoyed every second reading it. what a spectacular way to start my Black History Month read! brilliant is not enough of a word. wow.
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
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:
Complicated
adventurous
informative
inspiring
mysterious
sad
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:
Complicated
mysterious
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:
Yes