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english_lady03's review against another edition
4.0
The Lost Melody was a book which could have been very dark, like a Thomas Hardy novel. His books always leave me depressed. There were certainly Gothic notes, but this book had enough undertones of hope and courage to leave the reader satisfied. It is about a young woman who is convinced she is mad and committed to an Asylum under a false name. Vivienne doesn’t even realize she has been sent there at first, and in the first chapters she is merely searching for someone who was sent to the asylum until it turns out she is, in fact, a patient.
Vivienne knows she’s not mad, but someone wants to make out she is. The longer she stays, the more she finds out there is something strange going on in the asylum. There are “secret” patients they deny the existence of someone is lying about the background of mysterious female patient, and one of the doctors seems to have a connection with her. A connection which he denies, and which he and others will apparently do anything to keep a secret.
Apart from being about the healing and encouraging impact of music, I think I would suggest the other theme of this book is judging by appearances. Vivienne (and others) dismisses many of those in the Hurstwell Asylum as mad or dangerous when they’re not. Many are just struggling with trauma or disability and don’t know how to express themselves. The author’s note also suggests that Victorian Ayslums were not what we think either: the majority of patients were male, not female. It seems like then, as now, mental illness was more common among men.
As Vivienne uncovers the secrets in Hurstwell, she learns that her light can shine even in the darkest of places, and her gift for music can make a difference to any lives even when she does not see its purpose. It also provides a valuable exploration of attitudes to disability, mental health, neurodiversity, and artistic expression. Some beliefs, especially about the former, still have not changed. There are still people who believe people with certain conditions such as PTSD are just bad and dangerous or are simply lazy and need to put effort in to “cure” themselves. Disabled people are still being judged and subject to discrimination now.
Why the slightly lower rating? A few of the usual issues with some language and details which weren’t quite right for the setting, but nothing that was too serious.
I would recommend this for everyone interested in Historical Fiction and clean Fiction with Inspirational overtones.
Thanks to Revell for approving my request for this title on Netgalley. This did not influence my review, and all opinions expressed are my own.
Vivienne knows she’s not mad, but someone wants to make out she is. The longer she stays, the more she finds out there is something strange going on in the asylum. There are “secret” patients they deny the existence of someone is lying about the background of mysterious female patient, and one of the doctors seems to have a connection with her. A connection which he denies, and which he and others will apparently do anything to keep a secret.
Apart from being about the healing and encouraging impact of music, I think I would suggest the other theme of this book is judging by appearances. Vivienne (and others) dismisses many of those in the Hurstwell Asylum as mad or dangerous when they’re not. Many are just struggling with trauma or disability and don’t know how to express themselves. The author’s note also suggests that Victorian Ayslums were not what we think either: the majority of patients were male, not female. It seems like then, as now, mental illness was more common among men.
As Vivienne uncovers the secrets in Hurstwell, she learns that her light can shine even in the darkest of places, and her gift for music can make a difference to any lives even when she does not see its purpose. It also provides a valuable exploration of attitudes to disability, mental health, neurodiversity, and artistic expression. Some beliefs, especially about the former, still have not changed. There are still people who believe people with certain conditions such as PTSD are just bad and dangerous or are simply lazy and need to put effort in to “cure” themselves. Disabled people are still being judged and subject to discrimination now.
Why the slightly lower rating? A few of the usual issues with some language and details which weren’t quite right for the setting, but nothing that was too serious.
I would recommend this for everyone interested in Historical Fiction and clean Fiction with Inspirational overtones.
Thanks to Revell for approving my request for this title on Netgalley. This did not influence my review, and all opinions expressed are my own.
suvata's review against another edition
5.0
#StoryGraph: fiction historical romance dark emotional reflective
384 pages • first pub 2022
#OUABC Once Upon A Book Club December 2022 (Custom Edition)
This edition includes:
384 pages • first pub 2022
#OUABC Once Upon A Book Club December 2022 (Custom Edition)
This edition includes:
vibeke_hiatt's review against another edition
4.0
I've been debating with myself whether this is a 4-star book or a 5-star book. Politano continues to use her gift for seamlessly weaving God into her story. I enjoyed the connections to A Midnight Dance and the use of music throughout the story. Politano paints a vivid portrait of life and isn't afraid to delve into uncomfortable situations. Seeing flawed Christians and being reminded that they are not beyond God's help and compassion is a great blessing to readers. Still, it could have used a few more pages at the end to wrap everything up.
reneeknightauthor's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
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
5.0
testar's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
brittsbooknook's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
3.75
This author is an auto-buy for me. Though it has taken me a while to start this book as one of my least favorite plots is in this book - false imprisonment (in this case it's an asylum).
What I Liked: 👍
-Message that God is with you in the dark places
-Music therapy
-The depth (all her books have a depth to them)
**Definitely read A Midnight Dance (one of my top, favorite books!) first as there is a spoiler to that book in this one.
What I Liked: 👍
-Message that God is with you in the dark places
-Music therapy
-The depth (all her books have a depth to them)
**Definitely read A Midnight Dance (one of my top, favorite books!) first as there is a spoiler to that book in this one.
jennbehindthebooks's review against another edition
emotional
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? Yes
5.0
The Lost Melody by Joanna Davidson Politano… where do I even begin??
The words in this novel will tug at your heartstrings and not let go. It’s a tale of broken people trying desperately to overcome everything life throws at them. A tale of loves lost and loves found. It’s both endearing and devastating at the same time, to the point that I really just don’t have the words to describe it. It’s beautiful—go read it. 🩶
The words in this novel will tug at your heartstrings and not let go. It’s a tale of broken people trying desperately to overcome everything life throws at them. A tale of loves lost and loves found. It’s both endearing and devastating at the same time, to the point that I really just don’t have the words to describe it. It’s beautiful—go read it. 🩶
erincataldi's review against another edition
2.0
Loved the concept but the book was poorly executed. A young Victorian woman finds herself "liberated" after her domineering father died. She's a concert pianist and owns a piano repair shop and she is thrilled to make her own way. When a man at a concert calls her a light in the darkness and suggests she play in asylums to brighten patients life - she scoff - but it gets her to thinking. With her father gone she wants to help young women in anyway she can. While going through her father's estate she discovers that he has been making monthly payments to an asylum for a woman called Rose. When she contacts the asylum they say there is no one there by that name but something feels off. She decides to "get a job" as an aid to do a little investigating. While digging around she starts to make some enemies with the staff and doctors and soon finds herself an inmate instead of an employee. Is she really going crazy?! The story is disjointed and there are too many leaps and jumps around making it hard to follow. I just didn't care about the protagonist after a certain point.
thestagedstory's review against another edition
5.0
We know I’m a sucker for a pretty cover. It’s even better when the book inside is just as good! “The Lost Melody” is such a beautiful story! I wasn’t sure what I was expecting with this so it took me a minute to get into but by the end I was captivated. This was the first book I’ve read by Politano but it definitely won’t be the last! The story was intriguing and so well put together! The writing almost has a lyrical quality to it which is just so fitting. I feel like this would be an amazing book for book club because there so much you could discuss!
wedreads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0