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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
This book was such an unexpected delight. I think if I had read a print version, my rating would have been in the 4-star range, but the audio version really brought it to life. I loved the characters’ friendships and the author’s dry wit. I definitely plan to pick up more Rachel Joyce books now.
Sooo I decided to make a criteria for my ratings/reviews and I'm going to start with this particular book! (All the categories are rated out of 5)
Feels - 4.0
I teared up a bit at the end! I liked how the book made me curious and it was really thrilling to witness the ups and downs of all the characters.
Characters - 5.0
All the characters in this book were really endearing in their own way. They all had diverse personalities that came together so well that I can't bring myself to think of any of them apart from the other. It was beautiful how they made their own little family among one another really.
Plot- 4.5
Honestly, I was so busy trying to guess what was going to happen next or what the big revelation would be that I was stunned with what actually happened. Of course, I expected a more shocking climax or a more heartbreaking ending, but surprisingly the plot generally worked out even if there was no Big Thing, or if the Big Thing was not as big as one would have expected. The story was actually refreshing in a way that I've never read something with this type of concept and string of events before, so it was really not hard to like.
Writing - 4.5
The writing was really, really beautiful, especially when the author talked about music. I absolutely loved that there was a brief mention of the leitmotif!!! All the stories about the classical music that we still hear today really drew me to the story even more because I personally love digging deeper into a musical piece and taking note of all its aspects and what the musician is trying to convey. I learned a lot of things too, and discovered more classical music that I would have overlooked.
Overall, it was a great way to calm your mind a bit and just let the words take over. It's the type of book I'd love to read when I'm outside and the wind is whistling a melancholic song and the sky is threatening to let its tears fall.
Feels - 4.0
I teared up a bit at the end! I liked how the book made me curious and it was really thrilling to witness the ups and downs of all the characters.
Characters - 5.0
All the characters in this book were really endearing in their own way. They all had diverse personalities that came together so well that I can't bring myself to think of any of them apart from the other. It was beautiful how they made their own little family among one another really.
Plot- 4.5
Honestly, I was so busy trying to guess what was going to happen next or what the big revelation would be that I was stunned with what actually happened. Of course, I expected a more shocking climax or a more heartbreaking ending, but surprisingly the plot generally worked out even if there was no Big Thing, or if the Big Thing was not as big as one would have expected. The story was actually refreshing in a way that I've never read something with this type of concept and string of events before, so it was really not hard to like.
Writing - 4.5
The writing was really, really beautiful, especially when the author talked about music. I absolutely loved that there was a brief mention of the leitmotif!!! All the stories about the classical music that we still hear today really drew me to the story even more because I personally love digging deeper into a musical piece and taking note of all its aspects and what the musician is trying to convey. I learned a lot of things too, and discovered more classical music that I would have overlooked.
Overall, it was a great way to calm your mind a bit and just let the words take over. It's the type of book I'd love to read when I'm outside and the wind is whistling a melancholic song and the sky is threatening to let its tears fall.
While the premise of this book sounded interesting, I was not prepared for how quickly Joyce pulled me into this story, or how I couldn't stop thinking about the characters until all I wanted to do was read. As someone who also loves music, the references to many, many works that I love was engaging, for sure, but the way that characters describe well-known pieces, the way that characters share the way music helped them heal added to the magic already present through Frank's ability to hear which works others need to listen to. It was a brilliant reading experience and I will be recommending this book to all kinds of people.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-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
I found this a beautiful, refreshing and simple read with a deep message. The main characters are Frank; who runs a record store that only stocks vinyl. Frank seems to weighed down by his past but he believes in the therapeutic value of music and brings this to his customers. Also Isle a German lady with problems of her own. Other characters Kit, Maud and Father Anthony are so well drawn and you can engage with them all fully. All these people mix together and form a great story that builds and swirls to a satisfying conclusion.
I recommend you to read this book and invest in these characters.
I will say it again, a beautiful refreshing and simple read with a deep message.
Thanks to Rachel, publishers and Lovereading for the ARC.
I recommend you to read this book and invest in these characters.
I will say it again, a beautiful refreshing and simple read with a deep message.
Thanks to Rachel, publishers and Lovereading for the ARC.
4.5 I was lucky enough to win this book as a Goodreads give away. The book did not disappoint. The main character runs a music shop that sells only vinyl in a rundown part of London. Frank has the uncanny ability to know exactly the right music to sell to each of his customers. Ilse faints outside his shop one day setting the stage for the rest of the story. Rachel Joyce has the ability to make you fall in love with her unusual and quirky characters. I found the book easy to read and difficult to put down. Fans of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and The Love Song of Miss Queen Hennessy will not be disappointed.
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
informative
inspiring
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 book is about a man who runs a struggling vinyl shop in London in the 1980s. He's built a small community with the other shop keepers on his street, but things start changing around the time a mysterious woman shows up on his doorstep. This book isn't a page-turner, but an enjoyable look at relationships, forming your own community and the power of music.