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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Racism, Slavery, Murder
Excellent writing. Excellent story of a young black man determined to become a world-class violinist. This book has it all -- desire, love, greed, mystery, racism, determination.
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
The mystery of what happened to the violin will pull you in. The character of Ray McMillian and the phenomenal storytelling is what will keep you coming back to the book. A favorite part of the book was the experience of reading about Ray's playing - I could imagine how the music sounded based on how Brendan Slocumb wrote about it. This will be one of my top reads of 2023 without a doubt.
This book impressed me, the writing was efficient yet informative which I love. Characters were properly fleshed out, only as much as they needed to be, no clutter. I loved Ray's grandma, and his Aunt Rochelle, they were delightful and sweet and I appreciated their support of Ray and his talents. I also found this more suspenseful than I thought I would simply because I like Ray and I was panicking with him when the violin went missing. I also didn't even see it coming in the end, which is probably mostly why I was so impressed, they got me! This was a great read and I recommend it, especially to anyone that likes a mystery with some heart & history, but doesn't like grizzly murder.
Never thought I'd be so entranced by a book about a violin. Turns out I enjoy reading about someone playing a violin way more than actually listening to it. Either way, this was a captivating story, rich character building, and perfectly encaptured emotions I've definitely felt, like the frustration and guilt of losing something important to you, as well as emotions I can only imagine, like the scene outside the diner in Boston where the Marks family orchestrated everything to look like Ray was about to attack them. (The whole Marks family storyline was captivating and very creative. They were excellently written villains, very easy to hate.) Why did that scene have to be in Boston, though? The city did not make a great impression in the book. We are working on it, I promise.
My other main complaint was that the character of the mother just felt unrealistic and needlessly cruel. I understand being a realist, but still trying to get him to work at Popeye's after he's gotten a free ride to college, and all so she can get a bigger TV? She just didn't seem like that realistic of a character to me, but who knows.
Great book.
My other main complaint was that the character of the mother just felt unrealistic and needlessly cruel. I understand being a realist, but still trying to get him to work at Popeye's after he's gotten a free ride to college, and all so she can get a bigger TV? She just didn't seem like that realistic of a character to me, but who knows.
Great book.
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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:
No