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A review by kelly_inthe419
The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb
4.0
We’re here for a reason. I believe a bit of the reason is to throw little torches out to lead people through the dark.
The Violin Conspiracy was an amazing and unexpectedly delightful story! I had heard great things about it and decided to jump on the bandwagon since I had a copy of the audiobook. I'm so glad I took the chance.
Ray McMillian loves playing the violin more than anything, and nothing will stop him from pursuing his dream of becoming a professional musician. But when his grandmother gives him his greatgrandfather's old fiddle, Ray has no idea what's in store for him. He endures racism and classism as a young man and into adulthood, but he is also lifted up by a college professor who sees the potential in him and his violin. Then an unexpected discovery throws Ray directly into the spotlight of classical music and the prestigious Tchaikovsky Competition—the Olympics of classical music.
I know very little about classical music or musicians, but Brendan Slocumb brought Ray and his world to life through nuanced writing balanced with interesting and thoughtful insight to the world of music. When Ray's most cherished possession is stolen mere days before the competition, his world is upended but Ray stays the course. I loved the mystery (though it wasn't too hard to figure out what happened) and Ray's anxiety in the face of such scrutiny is palpable. He's a character you can't help but love.
Brendan Slocumb’s author’s notes at the end were icing on the cake. As a Black musician himself, Slocumb recounts his personal experience with some of the same barriers and racial profiling that Ray encountered in the story. Rounding this up to 4.5 stars but not quite 5 due to a bit of a slow start and a somewhat predictable ending.
Thank you to Penguin Random House audio for the complimentary audiobook! It was exceptionally well done.
The Violin Conspiracy was an amazing and unexpectedly delightful story! I had heard great things about it and decided to jump on the bandwagon since I had a copy of the audiobook. I'm so glad I took the chance.
Ray McMillian loves playing the violin more than anything, and nothing will stop him from pursuing his dream of becoming a professional musician. But when his grandmother gives him his greatgrandfather's old fiddle, Ray has no idea what's in store for him. He endures racism and classism as a young man and into adulthood, but he is also lifted up by a college professor who sees the potential in him and his violin. Then an unexpected discovery throws Ray directly into the spotlight of classical music and the prestigious Tchaikovsky Competition—the Olympics of classical music.
I know very little about classical music or musicians, but Brendan Slocumb brought Ray and his world to life through nuanced writing balanced with interesting and thoughtful insight to the world of music. When Ray's most cherished possession is stolen mere days before the competition, his world is upended but Ray stays the course. I loved the mystery (though it wasn't too hard to figure out what happened) and Ray's anxiety in the face of such scrutiny is palpable. He's a character you can't help but love.
Brendan Slocumb’s author’s notes at the end were icing on the cake. As a Black musician himself, Slocumb recounts his personal experience with some of the same barriers and racial profiling that Ray encountered in the story. Rounding this up to 4.5 stars but not quite 5 due to a bit of a slow start and a somewhat predictable ending.
Thank you to Penguin Random House audio for the complimentary audiobook! It was exceptionally well done.