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gus_reads's review
3.0
Creía que iba a leer una novela romántica con slowburn, un poco tipo Daisy Jones, y me he encontrado con una novela dramática, que explora la parte más triste de las relaciones humanas y los problemas psicológicos (no necesariamente trastornos mentales, sino 'trautimas' que muchas personas arrastran y que condicionan sus vidas).
También se trata la importancia de la familia y el machismo en la industria musical. Pero curiosamente no diría que la música es el tema central del libro.
No sé si me ha acabado de gustar. Esas 4⭐ son más bien 3.5⭐. A ratos se me ha hecho pesado, el simbolismo de las canciones un poco pedante y las acciones de Jane difíciles de entender. Otras partes, además, me han parecido bastante relleno.
Creo que lo que más me ha gustado es el final (SPOILER: agridulce). Me parece la parte más madura del libro y lo que se explica te ayuda a entender muchas cosas que han pasado, y te hace 'perdonar' a la autora por haberte presentado ciertos personajes y situaciones desde una perspectiva un poco estereotípica.
Mi impresión global, así en caliente, es que es un libro bastante parecido a Malibú Renace en cuanto a vibes, pero mucho más triste y duro, sobre todo en relación a las expectativas que crean su premisa y la portada. No os lo recomiendo si estáis pasando un mal momento o necesitáis una lectura ligera.
También se trata la importancia de la familia y el machismo en la industria musical. Pero curiosamente no diría que la música es el tema central del libro.
No sé si me ha acabado de gustar. Esas 4⭐ son más bien 3.5⭐. A ratos se me ha hecho pesado, el simbolismo de las canciones un poco pedante y las acciones de Jane difíciles de entender. Otras partes, además, me han parecido bastante relleno.
Creo que lo que más me ha gustado es el final (SPOILER: agridulce). Me parece la parte más madura del libro y lo que se explica te ayuda a entender muchas cosas que han pasado, y te hace 'perdonar' a la autora por haberte presentado ciertos personajes y situaciones desde una perspectiva un poco estereotípica.
Mi impresión global, así en caliente, es que es un libro bastante parecido a Malibú Renace en cuanto a vibes, pero mucho más triste y duro, sobre todo en relación a las expectativas que crean su premisa y la portada. No os lo recomiendo si estáis pasando un mal momento o necesitáis una lectura ligera.
haleybrennan's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
relaxing
sad
fast-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
4.75
lydiamrichards's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
suzyq436's review
5.0
Yass! Love, love love!
This is my favourite sub-genre of historical fiction for sure!
This story had such a sadness throughout but so beautiful at the same time.
This is my favourite sub-genre of historical fiction for sure!
This story had such a sadness throughout but so beautiful at the same time.
bargainsleuth's review
3.0
For this and other book reviews, visit www.bargain-sleuth.com
Ever since I read Daisy Jones and the Six, I’ve been looking for similar books. One of the books I found was The Final Revival of Opal and Nev and now Songs in Ursa Major.. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Knopf Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review:
I have to say that initially, this book drew me in and captivated me. This book is loosely based on the relationship between real-life singer/songwriters James Taylor and Joni Mitchell, but I don’t know enough about it to tell you what’s real and what is the author’s imagination. The early 1970’s music scene on Martha’s Vineyard was well-drawn, but the character development was lacking at times. Jane’s family dynamic isn’t explained well at all and I wondered for a long time who was the mom, the aunt, the Grandma and the cousin. One minute Jane and The Breakers takes the stage, the next they’re on the road with Jesse Reid as an opening act. And just as quickly, Jesse and Jane hook up without much explanation. The sex scenes seemed like they were thrown in. I believe the chance was wasted to make me really invested in these characters.
About halfway through the book is when the plot lost me. Jane learned quickly about the pitfalls of being a woman in the early 1970’s and the misogyny of the music business at that time, and then she just goes off the rails. I found myself not caring about Jane as she doesn’t seem to care much about herself, either. I won’t rehash the plot, there are enough reviews out there that do that, but her choices left me scratching my head a lot. The story seemed to meander a bit before getting back on track. And the big reveal of Jane’s secret wasn’t that big of a deal to me.
When Jane returns to her life on the island, the story picked up for me again. The resolution of Jane’s story is not a surprise at all, based on how the book went. Ultimately, this is a coming-of-age story involving growth as a human being and as an artist, and taking a chance on having your heart broken. It also touches on mental illness and illegal drug use that was prevalent in some circles in the early 1970’s. This book was good, but I feel like it could have been so much more.
Ever since I read Daisy Jones and the Six, I’ve been looking for similar books. One of the books I found was The Final Revival of Opal and Nev and now Songs in Ursa Major.. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Knopf Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review:
I have to say that initially, this book drew me in and captivated me. This book is loosely based on the relationship between real-life singer/songwriters James Taylor and Joni Mitchell, but I don’t know enough about it to tell you what’s real and what is the author’s imagination. The early 1970’s music scene on Martha’s Vineyard was well-drawn, but the character development was lacking at times. Jane’s family dynamic isn’t explained well at all and I wondered for a long time who was the mom, the aunt, the Grandma and the cousin. One minute Jane and The Breakers takes the stage, the next they’re on the road with Jesse Reid as an opening act. And just as quickly, Jesse and Jane hook up without much explanation. The sex scenes seemed like they were thrown in. I believe the chance was wasted to make me really invested in these characters.
About halfway through the book is when the plot lost me. Jane learned quickly about the pitfalls of being a woman in the early 1970’s and the misogyny of the music business at that time, and then she just goes off the rails. I found myself not caring about Jane as she doesn’t seem to care much about herself, either. I won’t rehash the plot, there are enough reviews out there that do that, but her choices left me scratching my head a lot. The story seemed to meander a bit before getting back on track. And the big reveal of Jane’s secret wasn’t that big of a deal to me.
When Jane returns to her life on the island, the story picked up for me again. The resolution of Jane’s story is not a surprise at all, based on how the book went. Ultimately, this is a coming-of-age story involving growth as a human being and as an artist, and taking a chance on having your heart broken. It also touches on mental illness and illegal drug use that was prevalent in some circles in the early 1970’s. This book was good, but I feel like it could have been so much more.
salamanda's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
super promising until it became unnecessarily chaotic. ending was also super disappointing
elliebeadle's review against another edition
emotional
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? It's complicated
4.0
maya0710's review
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
caaarlaaaa's review
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.25