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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
I read this book based on my love of the author's "The Unlikely Voyage of Harold Fry," which I read while traveling in the UK several years ago. While this has some of the elements of that earlier book--love, community, and quest--it had less sparkle for me. The idea that music can heal has been strong for me forever, and that is Frank's gift, finding the right music, usually a cluster of vinyl albums, for each person as they present their needs. The book has echoes of "This Song Will Save Your Life" (about young adults, music, and community) and "The Little Paris Bookshop" (where the bookseller finds each person the exact right book). It was interesting reading the backstories, particularly about classical music and composers as Frank's mother taught him (yes, Bach and Handel really did each have trouble with their eyes). The side story of failing British small shops is truly tragic as are one or two of the other things that befall people in the book. The journey of vinyl and CDs through the years of the book, 1988-2009, is something that continues, and the 2009 section includes a musical phenomenon which was easy to guess.
What a lovely book! This is a story complete with quirky characters, interesting settings, and enhanced wth beautiful descriptions of music that will feeds your soul. There is tension with the unspoken love affair between Frank and Ilsa, humour with the cast of characters on Unity Street, all interspersed with stories of music and musicians told by Peg. The ending is magnificent!
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-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
Utterly delightful, but then I’m a sucker for any novel with a quirky cast of characters. If you decide to give it a go, take the time to read with your iPod and pause and find the music Frank prescribes...it will make the experience all the richer.
I listened to this a while ago (April? Mid May?) and forgot to review it! I really enjoyed it, though it did get to the point where its sadness made me itchy with desire for it to move forward to a happier mindset. . . oh, wait: maybe that was our current political environment?
But in all seriousness, I enjoyed the background of this book a lot and the quirkiness of the characters and would love a hard copy to follow up on all the musical groupings. It seemed like a fluff book but had a lot to recommend it and to think about.
Reader was great.
But in all seriousness, I enjoyed the background of this book a lot and the quirkiness of the characters and would love a hard copy to follow up on all the musical groupings. It seemed like a fluff book but had a lot to recommend it and to think about.
Reader was great.
Bittersweet with a touch more sweet than bitter. Real life with a touch of magic. Real love, both heart-swell and heartache.
There is something about Ms. Joyce’s stories. They seem simple (and are) but then they aren’t. Learned about music that I probably should have learned in school.
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a delightful read on many levels but perhaps my favorite aspect was the descriptions of the songs mentioned in the book. I highly recommend searching for and listening to the songs mentioned while you are reading about said song. It was a wonderfully new sensation for me.