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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-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
This was a very enjoyable read. I would like to read other books by this author as well!
I don't know what I liked more about this book - the characters or the music education that went along with reading it. Music shop owner Frank falls for mysterious German stranger Ilse, and a love affair over music ensues - kind of. This is one of those novels in which the plot isn't particularly original or important, but the characters and the attention to detail draw the reader into the lovely world of the book.
How can you not root for Frank? Poor Frank was raised by a mother who refused to let him call her Mom or any other related word, and gave him little in the way of motherly affection. But she gave him a musical education - and an emotional education through the music - that formed his character. I'm not always a fan of flashbacks, but the way Joyce wove the flashbacks to Frank's time with his mother in with relevant moments from the present was flawless.
In addition to Frank, the whole cast of characters from the dying street of shops spoke to my heart.
There's a former priest who's a recovering addict Frank saved with his music, a bumbling, but well-meaning shop assistant, and a female tattoo shop owner who is secretly in love with Frank.
The little details of the story - the cactus Ilse brings to Frank, the pencil sharpener she fixes (or was it a tape dispenser, oh well?) - set it apart from other books. Joyce creates a vivid portrait that comes to life for the reader. I was a little hesitant to read the book at first, because Joyce's previous work "The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry" came off as a bit corny to me. I didn't feel that way about this book.
I found myself searching for online recordings of the music mentioned throughout the book and playing them as I read along - especially "Moonlight Sonata" and Barber's "Adagio for Strings." The effect was fantastic.
I know this book has drawn lots of comparison to Nick Hornby's "High Fidelity" - which I enjoyed as well - but I feel like it's a different story completely and works well on its own.
This will be one I will re-read. I almost hope it gets made into a movie, because that would be lovely, but then again, maybe not.
How can you not root for Frank? Poor Frank was raised by a mother who refused to let him call her Mom or any other related word, and gave him little in the way of motherly affection. But she gave him a musical education - and an emotional education through the music - that formed his character. I'm not always a fan of flashbacks, but the way Joyce wove the flashbacks to Frank's time with his mother in with relevant moments from the present was flawless.
In addition to Frank, the whole cast of characters from the dying street of shops spoke to my heart.
There's a former priest who's a recovering addict Frank saved with his music, a bumbling, but well-meaning shop assistant, and a female tattoo shop owner who is secretly in love with Frank.
The little details of the story - the cactus Ilse brings to Frank, the pencil sharpener she fixes (or was it a tape dispenser, oh well?) - set it apart from other books. Joyce creates a vivid portrait that comes to life for the reader. I was a little hesitant to read the book at first, because Joyce's previous work "The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry" came off as a bit corny to me. I didn't feel that way about this book.
I found myself searching for online recordings of the music mentioned throughout the book and playing them as I read along - especially "Moonlight Sonata" and Barber's "Adagio for Strings." The effect was fantastic.
I know this book has drawn lots of comparison to Nick Hornby's "High Fidelity" - which I enjoyed as well - but I feel like it's a different story completely and works well on its own.
This will be one I will re-read. I almost hope it gets made into a movie, because that would be lovely, but then again, maybe not.
I really enjoyed this book. Firstly, I love books with a music soundtrack as part of the story. Secondly, i enjoyed the flawed characters and thirdly, I liked the setting - London as it changes through the 80s to today. And finally, best of all, the book's soundtrack is on Spotify so you can listen to it afterwards!
A charming love story that's centered around how important music can be in one's life, and the simple joy of just helping other people. It'd be easy to call this a kinder version of High Fidelity, but I think that does it a disservice, as it is it's own story.
“Would you wait for the person you loved?”
“Yes,” he said. “Would you?”
“Yes,” she said. “I would.”
“And all the time they spoke, the rain fell, just like the Chopin prelude, hitting the window in beads that ran the length of the glass then disappeared.”
What a fun, heart-warming story filled with endearing characters and nostalgia of vinyl records and music. Rachel Joyce writes beautifully; the story smoothly flows along at just the right pace as you develop relationships with the imperfect, lovable characters that fit together like puzzle pieces in each other’s lives.
They characters are an unlikely bunch, but they care about each other and at times had me laughing out loud with their banter. Beginning in the 1988, their story carries us through the next 20+ years and many of the changes that occur in their lives, community, and trends in the music industry that leave vinyl behind. The story unfolds to show us how our past not only shapes who we are, but also our perceptions, which at times can lead us to incorrect conclusions, fear, and lack of faith in ourselves, yet how love and faith in each other ultimately lifts us up in our most difficult times.
What I loved most about this story is the clever setting of the music shop and the owner, Frank, who staunchly sells only vinyl records. He helps people with his unique talent. Frank can sense the music inside people and knows the exact genre, artist, and piece of music they need. He knows music. He doesn’t just hear the music, he FEELS it. As he helps his customers and internally reflects on his childhood memories with his mother, we learn about the music as he did - what to listen for, the background and experiences of the composer and musicians, and most of all how to feel the story in the music and allow it to become part of you.
If you like romantic comedies or dramedies, you’ll enjoy this book. And I’m willing to bet you’ll gain a greater appreciation of music to boot!
“Yes,” he said. “Would you?”
“Yes,” she said. “I would.”
“And all the time they spoke, the rain fell, just like the Chopin prelude, hitting the window in beads that ran the length of the glass then disappeared.”
What a fun, heart-warming story filled with endearing characters and nostalgia of vinyl records and music. Rachel Joyce writes beautifully; the story smoothly flows along at just the right pace as you develop relationships with the imperfect, lovable characters that fit together like puzzle pieces in each other’s lives.
They characters are an unlikely bunch, but they care about each other and at times had me laughing out loud with their banter. Beginning in the 1988, their story carries us through the next 20+ years and many of the changes that occur in their lives, community, and trends in the music industry that leave vinyl behind. The story unfolds to show us how our past not only shapes who we are, but also our perceptions, which at times can lead us to incorrect conclusions, fear, and lack of faith in ourselves, yet how love and faith in each other ultimately lifts us up in our most difficult times.
What I loved most about this story is the clever setting of the music shop and the owner, Frank, who staunchly sells only vinyl records. He helps people with his unique talent. Frank can sense the music inside people and knows the exact genre, artist, and piece of music they need. He knows music. He doesn’t just hear the music, he FEELS it. As he helps his customers and internally reflects on his childhood memories with his mother, we learn about the music as he did - what to listen for, the background and experiences of the composer and musicians, and most of all how to feel the story in the music and allow it to become part of you.
If you like romantic comedies or dramedies, you’ll enjoy this book. And I’m willing to bet you’ll gain a greater appreciation of music to boot!
The end saved this one for me. Really great character development (I felt like these were all people I know in my real life) but the story was pretty dull. The end brought it all together but didn’t necessarily tie it in a nice bow like some stories would. There was still tragedy in the way things turned out - the real human condition.
3.5 rounding down. I liked this book, but I didn’t love it. I had to really make an effort to read it instead of feeling like I couldn’t put it down. Plus, there was just enough cheesiness and cliche to make it a little annoying. Still, I would recommend it.
What a cute & cozy read! I really enjoyed the characters. I must say, it started off a little boring to me, but it picked up nicely. & I loved the ending. Would recommend, and would read again!