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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
I really have to remember that most fiction is not for me. Where is the magic and the aliens?? I jest but also … this was fine? Nothing really new or interesting. Perhaps if I wasn’t as involved in the music world, and especially the challenges BIPOC artists face in the classical world it would have read differently. I also didn’t love the narrator, and as much as I’ve been trying to NOT listen on 2x speed, this one was solidly on 1.75x for about 90% of the book.
Young African-American boy loves the violin, is talented and gets the education he needs. Finds out the family violin is a Stradivarius and then gets embroiled in legal battles from the white family that owned his great-grandfather (ew) and his own immediately family who just want the payout (sad). Faces racism and calls it out a lot. Then the violin gets stolen and he has to go compete while trying to get it back.
The whodunnit is sad.
Young African-American boy loves the violin, is talented and gets the education he needs. Finds out the family violin is a Stradivarius and then gets embroiled in legal battles from the white family that owned his great-grandfather (ew) and his own immediately family who just want the payout (sad). Faces racism and calls it out a lot. Then the violin gets stolen and he has to go compete while trying to get it back.
The whodunnit is sad.
FANTASTIC adventure!! I loved the historical perspectives, multigenerational approaches, and focus on music. Grandma Nora is a beautiful character and her relationship with her grandson is heartfelt. It’s heartbreaking how much of the negative interactions are true events and it’s so important that these stories are heard.
adventurous
mysterious
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
Classic underdog story. Loved it
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The mystery was fun enough, but not really the point of the book. The author’s descriptions of music made my heart soar and the depictions of racism and discrimination made my gut ache. The fact that these were based on real instances in the author’s life are infuriating and serve to underline that the America that people of color (even those who are “privileged”) experience is vastly different from the America I know.
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
mysterious
medium-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:
No
adventurous
emotional
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-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
This is one of the best books I have read this year. An outstanding story about music, family, history, mystery, racism, and most of all following one passion.
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
tense
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:
No