Reviews

The Lucy Variations by

ec_newman's review against another edition

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4.0

I got worried a bit and the worry was right but I liked how it was resolved.

Also Zarr writes beautifully. I want to be able to write good story and pretty sentences.

More later.

deepower7's review against another edition

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2.0

There was nothing really wrong with this book, but I just felt so disconnected from it, and nothing actually happened.

alicebme's review against another edition

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2.0

The family, the premise, the fallibility of the main character, and the music were all good. However, I didn't enjoy the older man crushes subplot.

hatonkinson_23's review against another edition

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1.0

Dnf'd - why doesn't Goodreads have a dnf button? That's should be a thing

roseleaf24's review against another edition

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3.0

I enjoyed this book, but I don't think it's one that will stick with me. Coming-of-age story about a concert pianist who quits suddenly after her grandmothers death.

taylorlechat's review against another edition

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1.0

easily Sara Zarr's worst book.

themaggiemch's review against another edition

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lighthearted reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.75

This sadly was not very good. As a musician myself, I was looking forward to reading it and connecting with Lucy as a character, but she was just SO ANNOYING. Whiny about everything and kinda spoiled too. She had relationships with older men and this just wasn't talked about enough? Like not really condemned at all, even though she was a literal CHILD talking to 30-year-olds. The writing style was pretty good, but the plot was non-existent and the characters were insufferable.

franuary's review against another edition

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2.0

I wanted to like this so much. I've really enjoyed what I've read of Sara Zarr previously, especially Sweethearts. But as much as I tried to ignore it, I couldn't get past the complete ick factor of a "will they or won't they?" romance between a teenager and a 30-something year old man. Even though it's ultimately revealed that her married mentor has been leading her on for his own gain and not because he's interested in her romantically, I couldn't help but wonder what would have happened to Lucy if Will was just a run of the mill ephebophile rather a manipulative scum bag.

Two stars for the potential this book had, but I can't imagine a situation where I would feel comfortable recommending this to a teenager.

missbookiverse's review against another edition

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4.0

3.5 Sterne

Ich liebe Klaviermusik, von daher hatte die Protagonistin Lucy hier schon mal das perfekte Hobby. Allerdings übertreibt ihre Familie es ein wenig und triezt Lucy und ihren Bruder immer über den Rand der Perfektion. Spielen zum Spaß scheint es nicht zu geben. Diese unglaublich reiche, erfolgsorientierte Familie fand ich spannend zu beobachten. Das war mal was ganz anderes. Zwar irgendwie abgehoben, weil mir so eine Welt völlig unbekannt ist, aber gleichzeitig hat es sich realistisch angefühlt.

Neben Lucys persönlicher Entwicklung ist ein zentrales Thema des Romans die Spannung zwischen Lucy und älteren Männern. Zum einen gibt es ihren Englischlehrer, zum anderen den Klavierlehrer ihres Bruders. Letzter ist auch noch verheiratet. Am Anfang fand ich dieses Knistern in der Luft aufregend und habe gehofft, dass sich die Geschichte in diese Richtung entwickeln würde. Die Autorin lässt einen aber ganz schön lange zappeln und umso mehr Lucy sich in einen der beiden verguckt, desto unangenehmer wurde mir das ganze. Ich weiß nicht, ob Sara Zarr das beabsichtigt hat. Irgendwann fand ich es einfach nur noch eklig wie Lucy von einem erwachsenen Mann behandelt wird (nicht im Sinne von sexuellen Tätigkeiten).
Am Ende
Spoilerentpuppt sich diese Person auch als Verräter, was ihn wiederum zu einer vielschichtigen Figur gemacht hat. Krass fand ich wie leicht Lucy ihm dieses Verhalten verzeiht.

readmoreyall's review against another edition

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1.0

Enjoyed the style but the creepy relationship and her selfishness turned me off. 1/5