A review by danajoy
Every Note Played by Lisa Genova

challenging emotional informative sad medium-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

This book was devastating and difficult. It's a pretty unflinching and very sad. The characters stuggle to communicate long before ALS starts taking away his voice. It has the tendency to become a bit procudural in parts but it is overall handled with dignity and respect. It is not an easy read but it is not an easy disease. ALS is heartbreaking and cruel. Every Note Played doesn't sugar coat it.
I don't entirely know how to rate this, there were times I was tempted to stop it (especially with some graphic descriptions of excrement which were hard to listen to). I just wanted more from the characters. I wanted the father-daughter relationship to be unpacked and explored more. I wish the relationship between Richard and Karina made me feel more. Grace was really underutilized as a character and felt one dimensional. 
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