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againanew's review against another edition
2.0
This is a well written book. I didn't find the plot to be all over the place like some other reviewers. That's really all I can say about Frog Music that is positive and the only reason I'm giving two instead of one star. It was a very boring storyline with flat characters. The main character is at times downright unlikable, but not in a fun or interesting way. I couldn't wait for this book to end. Once the murderer was finally revealed and the main character accomplished all her goals I realized I didn't care at all. I was just happy I was done.
ellipsiscool's review against another edition
4.0
I am in love with listening to books via Playaway, checked out from my local library. I just put in my pocket, pop in my earbuds, and go about my business. So if you haven't caught the gist of what I am on about, I listened to this book using a Playaway audio book device.
The audio was really great. I loved all the voices the narrator managed. I could tell the difference between all the characters, which sometimes is difficult with an audio book. She does multiple accents as well.
As far as the book, I did enjoy it. There were parts of it where I was wondering if I could continue. I don't usually read mystery-ish books and honestly I cared more about finding out where the baby was, than I did solving the murder.
There are jumps in time, but as long as you keep in mind that the murder took place on the 15th of September, it's not difficult to figure out where in the timeline the narrative is currently coming from.
If you don't like books where terrible things and imagery happen or books with cuss words (in French too!) and sex happen a lot, then don't read this book, just don't. I see so many reviews where the reviewers are all upset because of violent/sexual imagery and/or bad language. Sorry folks, things like that happen in real life! Prostitutes exist, abuse exists, people swear, people have sex. If you don't like it, then don't read it!
Anyway, I rather enjoyed "Frog Music." I found Blanche to be rather annoying at times, but learning about Jenny and other characters through her eyes was rather interesting.
The audio was really great. I loved all the voices the narrator managed. I could tell the difference between all the characters, which sometimes is difficult with an audio book. She does multiple accents as well.
As far as the book, I did enjoy it. There were parts of it where I was wondering if I could continue. I don't usually read mystery-ish books and honestly I cared more about finding out where the baby was, than I did solving the murder.
There are jumps in time, but as long as you keep in mind that the murder took place on the 15th of September, it's not difficult to figure out where in the timeline the narrative is currently coming from.
If you don't like books where terrible things and imagery happen or books with cuss words (in French too!) and sex happen a lot, then don't read this book, just don't. I see so many reviews where the reviewers are all upset because of violent/sexual imagery and/or bad language. Sorry folks, things like that happen in real life! Prostitutes exist, abuse exists, people swear, people have sex. If you don't like it, then don't read it!
Anyway, I rather enjoyed "Frog Music." I found Blanche to be rather annoying at times, but learning about Jenny and other characters through her eyes was rather interesting.
ninasbooks57's review against another edition
1.0
Not worth the time/ I didn’t finish it. It was so scattered I couldn’t even follow it. I usually enjoy non-linear books but this gave me whiplash ! I also didn’t like having to interpret a lot of the words and phrases which were in French. Scenes began to become more graphic as the book went on and I finally had enough. I won’t bother with any more of this authors books.
analea_lucille's review
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
limeykiss's review against another edition
5.0
As with all of Donoghue's book, an excellent, gripping, heart-breaking novel. Her attention to detail and her commitment to research and proper representation of history and its characters is something to aspire to.
ag_berry's review against another edition
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
4.0
katykelly's review against another edition
4.0
A very different beast to Room.
I was reminded of The Suspicions of Mr Whicher and Fingersmith as I read this. Emma Donoghue has used a real murder case, as did Kate Summerscale (Mr Whicher), and used excellent historical detail of the same period, that of Victorian San Francisco suffering a heat wave, to make the setting come alive.
A young woman, Jenny, known for wearing men's clothing, is gunned down in a small town near San Francisco. Blanche is certain she knows who murdered her friend right in front of her. We spend the novel discovering what led these two women to run away from the city, meeting Blanche's suave but dangerous lover and her farmed-out baby boy along the way, while seeing all the sights of a hot, murky 1870s Chinatown.
It's a long book, but I found that once I started it flowed easily and passed quickly. The setting comes to life: the heat, poverty, characters, all seem vivid as you read.
Like Sarah Waters' Fingersmith, your perceptions of the Victorian mystery keeps changing, though the twists aren't anything you couldn't guess. The author notes at the end that the crime was never actually solved so has used some guesswork and dramatic licence. I liked the way the plot unfolded, the eventual conclusion and loved following Blanche as a protagonist - a dancer, a (high clas) prostitute but unapologetic about it.
Reading a Kindle version, I do have one complaint. The glossary of French phrases at the end comes in order in which terms appear in the text. With no reference to page numbers or chapters I gave up checking the words, too much trouble to keep going back and forth looking for whole phrases. I would have preferred either page references or alphabetical order.
You don't need to be a fan of a Room to enjoy this. If you like historical fiction, crime mysteries and interesting female protagonists, this is worth a read.
Review of a Netgalley advance copy.
I was reminded of The Suspicions of Mr Whicher and Fingersmith as I read this. Emma Donoghue has used a real murder case, as did Kate Summerscale (Mr Whicher), and used excellent historical detail of the same period, that of Victorian San Francisco suffering a heat wave, to make the setting come alive.
A young woman, Jenny, known for wearing men's clothing, is gunned down in a small town near San Francisco. Blanche is certain she knows who murdered her friend right in front of her. We spend the novel discovering what led these two women to run away from the city, meeting Blanche's suave but dangerous lover and her farmed-out baby boy along the way, while seeing all the sights of a hot, murky 1870s Chinatown.
It's a long book, but I found that once I started it flowed easily and passed quickly. The setting comes to life: the heat, poverty, characters, all seem vivid as you read.
Like Sarah Waters' Fingersmith, your perceptions of the Victorian mystery keeps changing, though the twists aren't anything you couldn't guess. The author notes at the end that the crime was never actually solved so has used some guesswork and dramatic licence. I liked the way the plot unfolded, the eventual conclusion and loved following Blanche as a protagonist - a dancer, a (high clas) prostitute but unapologetic about it.
Reading a Kindle version, I do have one complaint. The glossary of French phrases at the end comes in order in which terms appear in the text. With no reference to page numbers or chapters I gave up checking the words, too much trouble to keep going back and forth looking for whole phrases. I would have preferred either page references or alphabetical order.
You don't need to be a fan of a Room to enjoy this. If you like historical fiction, crime mysteries and interesting female protagonists, this is worth a read.
Review of a Netgalley advance copy.
whimsicaljune's review against another edition
4.0
I received this book as a Goodreads First Reads.
This is a book unlike any other I have ever read, and that is a good thing. The story takes place in the summer of 1876. In the beginning Jenny Bonnet gets shot and her new friend Blanche does some investigating to find out just what happened. The story jumps back and forth between the "present" and the "past" (although they are only mere weeks apart)intermingling the two stories as they go.
There is some French through out the book. Don't worry, the translation is in the back. At first I was annoyed by this flipping back and forth, but as the story went on I could swear I knew French. It is a beautiful story of both friendship and a mothers love. I would definitely recommend it.
This is a book unlike any other I have ever read, and that is a good thing. The story takes place in the summer of 1876. In the beginning Jenny Bonnet gets shot and her new friend Blanche does some investigating to find out just what happened. The story jumps back and forth between the "present" and the "past" (although they are only mere weeks apart)intermingling the two stories as they go.
There is some French through out the book. Don't worry, the translation is in the back. At first I was annoyed by this flipping back and forth, but as the story went on I could swear I knew French. It is a beautiful story of both friendship and a mothers love. I would definitely recommend it.
hamilgrom's review against another edition
3.0
In regards to its entertainment value I believe the Frog Music is a success. I was rarely bored with the characters and, while I may not always have felt emotionally connected to them, I enjoyed seeing where the plot would take them next. San Francisco makes an excellent backdrop for this story and Donoghue's page are rich in detail about the city and its many creatures. Where the book fell flat for me was in the originality and execution of its plot. I agree with several other reviewers - this book is incorrectly categorized as a mystery or true crime novel. While a murder takes place the central focus of the book is on Blanche and her personal struggles with which the audience is not always able to sympathize. Over all I enjoyed the book for what it was but I am not sure I will be returning to it any time soon.