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A review by julie_reads15
A Thousand Perfect Notes by C.G. Drews
3.0
Summary
A Thousand Perfect Notes by C.G. Drews is a young adult contemporary novel about the power of music to create both darkness and light.
Fifteen-year-old Beck lives with his abusive mother, nicknamed the Maestro, and vibrant five-year-old sister Joey.
Ever since a stroke ended his mother's career as a famous pianist, Beck is forced to play the same etudes on the piano over and over again every day. The Maestro desperately wants her legacy to live through Beck. She will go to any extreme, including physical and emotional abuse, to make sure she's not forgotten.
Beck dreams of composing his own music and sharing it with the world. However, he's too scared to stand up to the Maestro.
When Beck meets August, she becomes a beacon of hope for him. She's full of happiness and energy. She shows him the importance of friendship.
A powerful story of domestic abuse with glimpses of hope.
Review
It was a heartbreaking and intense read.
The instances of detailed abuse were a little hard to read at times due to their intensity and recurrence.
I sympathised for Beck. His internal conflict was heartbreaking. However, he needed more character development, particularly near the end.
Beck and August's friendship was refreshing to read, and I liked their banter. However, I would've liked to see more depth in August. She's happy and bubbly all the time, and it made her seem a little one dimensional. I would've liked to learn more about her backstory.
I liked Beck and Joey's relationship and how he was protective of his younger sister and tried to remain positive around her. Joey's personality was vibrant and energetic.
The theme of music and its varying degrees of lightness and darkness was interesting. I liked how I could imagine the music in my head.
I liked how there was humour incorporated. It was a refreshing break from the darkness.
I liked the poetic writing style, but there were times when the writing seemed too flowery.
I recommend this book for anyone who's 14 years and older and is interested in a music-themed novel about domestic abuse with glimpses of hope.
A Thousand Perfect Notes by C.G. Drews is a young adult contemporary novel about the power of music to create both darkness and light.
Fifteen-year-old Beck lives with his abusive mother, nicknamed the Maestro, and vibrant five-year-old sister Joey.
Ever since a stroke ended his mother's career as a famous pianist, Beck is forced to play the same etudes on the piano over and over again every day. The Maestro desperately wants her legacy to live through Beck. She will go to any extreme, including physical and emotional abuse, to make sure she's not forgotten.
Beck dreams of composing his own music and sharing it with the world. However, he's too scared to stand up to the Maestro.
When Beck meets August, she becomes a beacon of hope for him. She's full of happiness and energy. She shows him the importance of friendship.
A powerful story of domestic abuse with glimpses of hope.
Review
It was a heartbreaking and intense read.
The instances of detailed abuse were a little hard to read at times due to their intensity and recurrence.
I sympathised for Beck. His internal conflict was heartbreaking. However, he needed more character development, particularly near the end.
Beck and August's friendship was refreshing to read, and I liked their banter. However, I would've liked to see more depth in August. She's happy and bubbly all the time, and it made her seem a little one dimensional. I would've liked to learn more about her backstory.
I liked Beck and Joey's relationship and how he was protective of his younger sister and tried to remain positive around her. Joey's personality was vibrant and energetic.
The theme of music and its varying degrees of lightness and darkness was interesting. I liked how I could imagine the music in my head.
I liked how there was humour incorporated. It was a refreshing break from the darkness.
I liked the poetic writing style, but there were times when the writing seemed too flowery.
I recommend this book for anyone who's 14 years and older and is interested in a music-themed novel about domestic abuse with glimpses of hope.