Reviews

The Lost Melody by Joanna Davidson Politano

allisongiovanetti's review

challenging emotional hopeful mysterious medium-paced

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

4.0

"Sometimes all it takes is one person, no matter how insignificant, to look at the world differently. Then invite others to do the same."

As a musician, I don't usually gravitate toward music-themed books, but I felt like The Lost Melody was really well done! I also loved the general advocacy for mental health and for people with disabilities. It was a bit cheesy at times, and I personally could have done without the numerous religious references, but a great read overall! 

Be the light in the darkness.

dolphinlvr0920's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad slow-paced

3.5

As a counselor and a music lover, I thought this would be right up my alley.  However, I found it slow and hard to maintain my interest. It wasn't until the final 100 pages that I was probably fully engaged.

squeegybeckinheim's review against another edition

hopeful medium-paced

2.75

Too much proselytizing. 

anji's review

dark mysterious slow-paced

2.0

cordialkim's review against another edition

slow-paced

0.5

My main problem is that this book was in a subscription and it was a hidden Christian book. Nowhere in the fly leaf or even in the author bio is this mentioned. I can’t blame the author for that I guess. But suddenly, halfway into the book it starts mentioning God and St. Paul and religious themes so frequently that I felt tricked and uncomfortable and frankly pissed off. Sometimes there’s four in a single paragraph! I will read religious fiction once in a while but when I know what I’m getting. They buried it and that ended any enjoyment I might have had. Also there were more than a dozen references to the term gaslit, gaslight or variations thereof in the first 130 pages. And if you don’t like references to how bright or dim or candlelit a place might be, especially corridors, hallways and corners over and over and over again - then this might not be for you. The idea is an asylum as a setting was intriguing and quotes from famous musicians were lovely. That’s all I could recommend. I did not invest in the characters or their outcomes because I was distracted by all of the rest of it listed above. 

melissawi's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

icedcoffeelea's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad

5.0

smoocheee's review

dark inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated

4.0

jess33allen's review against another edition

2.0

When I got this book in a subscription, I was intrigued by the asylum and music aspects. While reading, I was surprised at the immensity of religious content forced at me. I would have enjoyed the book a lot more without all the Christian undertones 

bookishmel's review

dark mysterious sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75