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noahfladie 's review for:
Symphony of Secrets
by Brendan Slocumb
“This opera is her masterpiece,’ he said. ‘And her name is Josephine Reed.’ ” p. 424
5 Stars
Symphony of Secrets is a story about every voice, no matter who they are, should have a voice, and it should be known. I could not put this book down, and I could not stop thinking about it when it was down. This is a real page-turner. I feel like I had every emotion reading this book. The way that Brendan Slocumb wrote the characters and the scenes made it feel like I was in them and was visually seeing everything in my head. Every time there was a scene with pizza, I was always hungry because Slocumb was so descriptive, and it was great. Also, the ways that he would describe the music and tell what everything sounded like. I could hear everything like I was listening to the music myself. Also, the neurodivergent representation was excellent because that topic is overlooked, and the way that Slocumb wrote it was a perfect representation of someone with high-functioning Autism. The central theme of this book was the role of race and power.
This book has a lot of racial slurs and racial themes, but that sadly is how it was during that period, and sadly, it is still happening today. Reading this has opened my eyes so much, and I have more of an understanding of how they feel every day. We say so many things during that day that could hurt someone or be taken the wrong way, and we don’t even know it.
I have read his first book, Violin Conspiracy (5-star read), and this one was so much better. I will read anything that Brendan Slocumb writes.
Liked: I like the beginning of the friendship and work relationship between Fredrick and Josephine because he was with her all the time, and the moment when she heard her music for the first time with the band was so sweet, and I teared up a little. Also, I am all for the little romance with Bern and Eboni at the end of the book.
Disliked: I did not like how horrible Fredrick got throughout the end of the book. He turned into the average white male in the 1920s and treated Josephine like everyone would treat her. He did not care about her anymore and only cared about the music and making a name for “himself.”
Shocked: I was so shocked when Fred Killed Miles and then Josephine. When he killed Josephine, I was so mad. Why, what was the reason? Also, it haunted him for the rest of his life, like, dude, that was the biggest regret. Also, I was shocked that the board agreed with the proposition faster than I thought it would. I thought there was a point that it was going to court.
5 Stars
Symphony of Secrets is a story about every voice, no matter who they are, should have a voice, and it should be known. I could not put this book down, and I could not stop thinking about it when it was down. This is a real page-turner. I feel like I had every emotion reading this book. The way that Brendan Slocumb wrote the characters and the scenes made it feel like I was in them and was visually seeing everything in my head. Every time there was a scene with pizza, I was always hungry because Slocumb was so descriptive, and it was great. Also, the ways that he would describe the music and tell what everything sounded like. I could hear everything like I was listening to the music myself. Also, the neurodivergent representation was excellent because that topic is overlooked, and the way that Slocumb wrote it was a perfect representation of someone with high-functioning Autism. The central theme of this book was the role of race and power.
This book has a lot of racial slurs and racial themes, but that sadly is how it was during that period, and sadly, it is still happening today. Reading this has opened my eyes so much, and I have more of an understanding of how they feel every day. We say so many things during that day that could hurt someone or be taken the wrong way, and we don’t even know it.
I have read his first book, Violin Conspiracy (5-star read), and this one was so much better. I will read anything that Brendan Slocumb writes.
Spoiler
Loved: I loved how the MCs in the present wanted to do everything to bring justice to Josephine. They risked everything they had to find a way to show the world that She wrote the music, not Fredrick. The way that Josephine would write and describe her music was fascinating. I wish there were pictures of what the papers looked like.Liked: I like the beginning of the friendship and work relationship between Fredrick and Josephine because he was with her all the time, and the moment when she heard her music for the first time with the band was so sweet, and I teared up a little. Also, I am all for the little romance with Bern and Eboni at the end of the book.
Disliked: I did not like how horrible Fredrick got throughout the end of the book. He turned into the average white male in the 1920s and treated Josephine like everyone would treat her. He did not care about her anymore and only cared about the music and making a name for “himself.”
Shocked: I was so shocked when Fred Killed Miles and then Josephine. When he killed Josephine, I was so mad. Why, what was the reason? Also, it haunted him for the rest of his life, like, dude, that was the biggest regret. Also, I was shocked that the board agreed with the proposition faster than I thought it would. I thought there was a point that it was going to court.