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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
This book was remarkable! Especially if you enjoy classical music, it is such a joy to read a novel that speaks passionately about the music and the art of playing that music, while also having the compelling issue of solving the mystery of who has stolen his violin. The emotional journey of trying to find the music within him while missing his precious family heirloom is so masterfully told. I found it hard to believe this was a debut novel.
DNF at 82 pages
Honestly this book is not my thing, but I know some people will like it so I encourage others to read it
Honestly this book is not my thing, but I know some people will like it so I encourage others to read it
Not all mysteries involve a murder. In this case, Ray McMillian has a love of classical music and is gifted a violin by his beloved grandmother. Turns out this fiddle is actually a rare Stradivarius that is worth a lot of money, everyone wants a piece, and it is stolen and held for ransom.
What makes his mystery interesting to me is that it is also a coming of age story of a young black man who loves to play the violin and has to struggle to make it in the classical music industry with little to no support from it or his family. The protagonist's kind heart and determination are what drew me in. I wanted the violin to be found and returned because of how precious it was to him. I didn't care too much about who actually stole it. The mystery was intriguing but it was the well-developed main character that resonated with me emotionally that makes this a great debut novel.
What makes his mystery interesting to me is that it is also a coming of age story of a young black man who loves to play the violin and has to struggle to make it in the classical music industry with little to no support from it or his family. The protagonist's kind heart and determination are what drew me in. I wanted the violin to be found and returned because of how precious it was to him. I didn't care too much about who actually stole it. The mystery was intriguing but it was the well-developed main character that resonated with me emotionally that makes this a great debut novel.
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
okay WOW. an incredible story about the perseverance, dedication, strength, and resilience of young ray macmillan as he passionately pursues a career in classical music. the blatant racism that he experiences as a black man in a predominantly white industry is shown in both big and small moments that infuriated me. he wasn’t ever supported by a majority of his family and could only count on a few people to encourage and look out for him. yet, every step of the way, ray met each challenge with respect and compassion in a way that i found commendable. his characterization was some of the best i’ve ever seen!
if you’re a music lover, a performer, or just a fan of the arts in general, you will adore this. i am a huge fan of classical music and the way this exposed the perfect balance of both the technical and creative aspect of the art was done perfectly. the music floated off the page and ray’s love was bountiful in its melody.
the mystery itself was nerve wracking as his whole life revolved around the missing fiddle. and i did figure out the plot twist but it still gutted me, especially with the way it affected ray. he’d already been through so much! but his passion for music never strayed, there was always hope in his heart and he was such an endearing character.
an absolutely phenomenal book!
if you’re a music lover, a performer, or just a fan of the arts in general, you will adore this. i am a huge fan of classical music and the way this exposed the perfect balance of both the technical and creative aspect of the art was done perfectly. the music floated off the page and ray’s love was bountiful in its melody.
the mystery itself was nerve wracking as his whole life revolved around the missing fiddle. and i did figure out the plot twist but it still gutted me, especially with the way it affected ray. he’d already been through so much! but his passion for music never strayed, there was always hope in his heart and he was such an endearing character.
an absolutely phenomenal book!
I really loved this book! It was a great story, and I appreciated walking in the shoes of someone very different from me.
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book, if only because I’ve been away from the mystery genre for a while after a few disappointments in a row. But this is so much more than a mystery: multi-layered, emotionally complex, enough surprises along the way to keep you engaged (even if the resolution eventually felt inevitable). Like other reviewers mentioned, I highly recommend the audiobook! I didn’t want to press pause.
The New Hanover County "Read Across The County" book was a good read. I was surprised by the ending!! Good job Brendan Slocumb
O carte buna. Mi-a placut intriga. Primul capitol e oarecum dezamagitor, insa urmatoarele compenseaza. Mi-a placut toata intoarcerea in timp, fapt ce explica pas cu pas finalul, motivele. E una dintre acele carti la care am vrut sa citesc direct finalul, insa actiunea e captivanta, asa ca am vrut sa aflu cum s-a gandit autorul sa faca totul sa evolueze. As vrea sa vad un film dupa aceasta carte. Am si cateva lucruri pe care nu le-am inteles, careva al caror rost nu il gasesc in economia naratiunii, cateva care parca nu se justifica.
Had seen good reviews of this debut novel and am now convinced of their value. This is a refreshing and sickening look at the highly competitive world of classical music performance and the experiences of minorities in it.
Refreshing because classical music is not embraced as much as it could be and should be. It really highlights the very hard work put in by dedicated musicians and their teachers. Many specific music pieces are mentioned (including my college textbook from the late 1970s!) so have Spotify/Pandora handy. There is glamour in this world also. Our main character jet sets all over the country and across the pond as he eventually performs at universities and the great concert halls.
Then there is the most unfortunate downside of racism in this musical world. Because music lessons and instruments are expensive, less than 2% of musicians are diverse. Poverty is a factor. The author is a black music teacher and performer. He incorporates in the novel some of his personal experiences with police and rich white men. From insensitive comments to outright abuse, he has seen a great deal.
Finally it is interesting that our main character's own family offers no support for his incredible talent, preferring that he take a fast food job out of high school just so he can start contributing to the bills. It is clear the black community cannot even relate to what this opportunity might mean. Only his grandmother believes in him. Fortunately, that can be all it takes.
As a musician, I wish all kids could experience creating music. Alas, there is apparently a long way to go. Just think of the possibilities!
Refreshing because classical music is not embraced as much as it could be and should be. It really highlights the very hard work put in by dedicated musicians and their teachers. Many specific music pieces are mentioned (including my college textbook from the late 1970s!) so have Spotify/Pandora handy. There is glamour in this world also. Our main character jet sets all over the country and across the pond as he eventually performs at universities and the great concert halls.
Then there is the most unfortunate downside of racism in this musical world. Because music lessons and instruments are expensive, less than 2% of musicians are diverse. Poverty is a factor. The author is a black music teacher and performer. He incorporates in the novel some of his personal experiences with police and rich white men. From insensitive comments to outright abuse, he has seen a great deal.
Finally it is interesting that our main character's own family offers no support for his incredible talent, preferring that he take a fast food job out of high school just so he can start contributing to the bills. It is clear the black community cannot even relate to what this opportunity might mean. Only his grandmother believes in him. Fortunately, that can be all it takes.
As a musician, I wish all kids could experience creating music. Alas, there is apparently a long way to go. Just think of the possibilities!