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A review by erickibler4
The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb
4.0
A well-done story in the mold of “Rocky”, where an underdog defies the odds and prejudices and succeeds. It’s also a detective story and a meditation on racial prejudice. A real page turner, and I fully expect Hollywood to take notice and turn this novel into a blockbuster film.
A few things:
1) Slocumb says in the afterword that a lot of white people don’t believe the stories of prejudice that he has taken from his own life and incorporated as incidents in this book. I was probably one of those people at one time. Wait a minute…isn’t this the 21st century? People don’t act like that anymore, right? Well, yes they do. I’ve heard enough stories from people I respect to believe them. Racism is not a thing of the past. It’s almost as bad as ever. Don’t get all defensive, fellow white people. Just listen, and try to be better.
2) I’d like a refresher course on classical music. I loved the music appreciation course I took in college. I’d like to take an even more extensive course. I’m familiar with more classical pieces than the average person, but reading this book makes me realize I don’t know nearly enough.
3) SPOILER WARNING
As a lawyer, I don’t think any court I know would have allowed the star witness in a criminal case to testify by video. The Sixth Amendment gives defendants the right to confront (face to face) and have their attorney cross-examine the witnesses against them. Maybe a court has allowed it, but it would seem to me to be pretty good grounds for appeal if it happened.
Anyway, Brendan Slocumb is an author I’d like to read more from, and someone I look forward to meeting at the upcoming Booktopia event in Vermont. I just hope I don’t babble too much about comic books, as I’ve read he is also a fan.
A few things:
1) Slocumb says in the afterword that a lot of white people don’t believe the stories of prejudice that he has taken from his own life and incorporated as incidents in this book. I was probably one of those people at one time. Wait a minute…isn’t this the 21st century? People don’t act like that anymore, right? Well, yes they do. I’ve heard enough stories from people I respect to believe them. Racism is not a thing of the past. It’s almost as bad as ever. Don’t get all defensive, fellow white people. Just listen, and try to be better.
2) I’d like a refresher course on classical music. I loved the music appreciation course I took in college. I’d like to take an even more extensive course. I’m familiar with more classical pieces than the average person, but reading this book makes me realize I don’t know nearly enough.
3) SPOILER WARNING
As a lawyer, I don’t think any court I know would have allowed the star witness in a criminal case to testify by video. The Sixth Amendment gives defendants the right to confront (face to face) and have their attorney cross-examine the witnesses against them. Maybe a court has allowed it, but it would seem to me to be pretty good grounds for appeal if it happened.
Anyway, Brendan Slocumb is an author I’d like to read more from, and someone I look forward to meeting at the upcoming Booktopia event in Vermont. I just hope I don’t babble too much about comic books, as I’ve read he is also a fan.