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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
Frank, a shopkeeper in a London neighborhood that's seen better days, has a knack for choosing just the right vinyl records to make his customers feel better. He doesn't store records alphabetically or by genre, but rather by how they make you feel--less lonely, more open to wonder, amorous toward a long-time spouse. Brahms might be adjacent to Aretha Franklin or the Pet Shop Boys.
We're introduced to the community's collection of ordinary people, their quirky selves drawn lovingly. Joyce's style reminds me a lot of Fredrick Backman's (A Man Called Ove).
At first I thought The Music Shop hewed too closely to Little Paris Bookshop. And in fact the two books really do bear a lot of similarities. But Rachel Joyce builds this little community of lovable oddfellows so sweetly that I was transported. I also learned some arcana about classical composers. Turns out that Bach and Handel had the same charlatan eye surgeon, for instance, and that Moonlight Sonata was named so not by Beethoven but by a critic.
This is the first book I've binge read in quite a while, and also the first in years whose final pages I took in through happy tears.
We're introduced to the community's collection of ordinary people, their quirky selves drawn lovingly. Joyce's style reminds me a lot of Fredrick Backman's (A Man Called Ove).
At first I thought The Music Shop hewed too closely to Little Paris Bookshop. And in fact the two books really do bear a lot of similarities. But Rachel Joyce builds this little community of lovable oddfellows so sweetly that I was transported. I also learned some arcana about classical composers. Turns out that Bach and Handel had the same charlatan eye surgeon, for instance, and that Moonlight Sonata was named so not by Beethoven but by a critic.
This is the first book I've binge read in quite a while, and also the first in years whose final pages I took in through happy tears.
What a lovely story - I just wanted to hug every character in here. If youâre a fan of music, and believe that music can make a huge impact in a personâs life, youâll want to read this one!
I have read two of Rachel Joyce's earlier works, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Frye and The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy, and this current book tugs at the heart strings in all the same fashion and with similar strength.
Again, as with The Unlikely Pilgrimage…, this is not a book to read before bedtime, although I went against that suggestion this evening in my determination to finally finish the tale. This was a difficult story to read – it frustrated me, made me feel glum yet also inspired. I finally determined to sit down and read through to the end or else the book might remain indefinitely on the side table till it was way overdue at the Library. Semi-spoiler: the story is well worth finishing.
Rachel Joyce is adept at getting to the deep emotions and uncertainties of being human and having to deal with those emotions. Should I ever read another of her books, I will make a point of doing so in the summer and NOT in the winter!
Again, as with The Unlikely Pilgrimage…, this is not a book to read before bedtime, although I went against that suggestion this evening in my determination to finally finish the tale. This was a difficult story to read – it frustrated me, made me feel glum yet also inspired. I finally determined to sit down and read through to the end or else the book might remain indefinitely on the side table till it was way overdue at the Library. Semi-spoiler: the story is well worth finishing.
Rachel Joyce is adept at getting to the deep emotions and uncertainties of being human and having to deal with those emotions. Should I ever read another of her books, I will make a point of doing so in the summer and NOT in the winter!
I can't give them all 5 stars, even though I really liked this book. The back cover says something like, "If you loved High Fidelity, you'll love this book" - and I think that ended up being accurate. It probably helped that I could identify with the time period - 1988 - the year I graduated college. I could easily see this book being made into a movie and I would definitely go see it. I really want to know what all the characters look like. Maybe Colin Firth could be Frank and Rachel Weisz could be Ilse. I would have said Bill Nighy is the perfect Frank, but he might be a bit too old for the part. Maybe they all are. Stephen Merchant would definitely be Kit. Janeane Garofalo would be a good Maud - if she can do a British accent. No, maybe Alex Borstein. Oh well, it was a really good book.
Read this for bookclub and it was a fun read with lots of wonderful musical references. I don't love books where people are apart for a long time because of a miscommunication or some other reason. But, I do like how the author resolved this at the end.
Delightful premise, and a model of music appreciation! An engaging tale, poignant and affirmative, celebrating the complexity and the richness of humanity at a level of 'ordinary' people who are, of course, anything but.
A warm and sweet story for readers who love an underdog story, romance, music of course, and flawed characters with problems. Lots of emotions along the way, and finally a satisfying conclusion.
Thank you, Rachel Joyce. Another novel featuring flawed but recognizably human characters drawn to one another by geography or sensibilities or love. Lifts my spirits.
adventurous
funny
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Recommended & gifted by Tracy. A good one but not a great one for me. Excited to spend time with the playlist tho!!