Take a photo of a barcode or cover
marycel 's review for:
The Violin Conspiracy
by Brendan Slocumb
There is a lot I appreciate about this book, but I almost wish it had either been more mystery or no mystery, and preferably no mystery. The coming-of-age story, based on (as the author's note says) some of the author's own experiences with racism in classical music and the broader world, is much stronger than the plot twists I saw coming from the beginning of the book. It felt like the author was trying to figure out how to make a novel about classical music exciting, so he threw in a heist, but I don't think it needed it.
I also wish some of the characters (Ray's mother especially) had gotten a little more dimension, because it felt like he was constantly being exploited and disrespected by his own family, yet he seems to find that acceptable, and never really explores any reason for their behavior. In fact, everyone in this book aside from Ray, Janice, and one of Ray's aunts are horrible people incapable of love. It was a little much. Can the poor kid have a couple of true friends, or at least a few neutral parties?
I also wish some of the characters (Ray's mother especially) had gotten a little more dimension, because it felt like he was constantly being exploited and disrespected by his own family, yet he seems to find that acceptable, and never really explores any reason for their behavior. In fact, everyone in this book aside from Ray, Janice, and one of Ray's aunts are horrible people incapable of love. It was a little much. Can the poor kid have a couple of true friends, or at least a few neutral parties?