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booksandbraids 's review for:
The Violin Conspiracy
by Brendan Slocumb
I spent so much of this book being so frustrated by how everyone other than the main character in this book behaved. His family? Awful. The former slaving owning family whose name I do not know how to spell because I listened to the audiobook? Awful. The uncle from the wedding? Awful. All of the police? Awful. The instrument sales/repair guy in NYC? Awful. The instrument sales/repair guy at the mall in Georgia? Awful.
I think being frustrated was the point though- to demonstrate what it is like to face this type of racism- how frustrating and terrible it can be. You will see just how frustrated I was by this book if you look at my commentary from while reading below.
Overall I thought this book was really great.But I did NOT like the ending. I suspected that Nicole was going to be the culprit, but how she got found out was just terrible. If she was smart enough to come up with this scheme and get away with it for as long as she did- she had the cops and insurance investigators completely fooled- then she would not be stupid enough to accidentally mention that she drove to NYC after clearly weaving her tale/alibi of flying to NYC. There is no way. Because of that alone, I am going to knock an entire star off this book. I also did not like how he broke into that guy's house. It was one thing to search around Nicole's house- she was technically his girlfriend. He had a key. He was allowed to be there with or without her. But when it came to this stranger's house, he should have let the professionals handle it once he figured out the connection to him via the magazines. They would have been able to find that he had gotten a storage unit... they would have found evidence of his relationship with Nicole. It would have been slower, but it would have been fine. And on that same note, I did not like how he conned his way into the storage facility.
And with that, I will leave my commentary below...
- Pre-Reading Thoughts: I’m not a huge fan of books that revolve around the classical music world. They can be okay or even good book, I just get turned off by the very idea of this world of classical music. I am reading this for a book club and it has good reviews, so I am hoping my initial expectations/hesitancy are disproved.
- 2% the one time you DONT want the hotel to clean properly and they actually clean the room thoroughly!
- 4% did she just say there is a flight to Russia for less than $500 dollars?? I had to Google it. That is apparently accurate. I am surprised by how reasonable that is.
- 7% Part of me thinks it is insane how he feels like he can’t practice with another violin… that his career is over without THAT violin…. But then I remember that I am emotionally attached to a dented water bottle and water doesn’t taste the same unless it comes from MY bottle, so maybe I understand it more than I realize 😂
- 11% he is making a fundraiser website to help him pay the ransom for his violin? Who the hell would donate to that. 1) why donate to a single person owning a particular highly experience instrument when there are so many other worthwhile causes? 2) this is basically supporting the thief! Who wants to give to charity in the form of paying a criminal!
- 13% his mother is atrocious
- 15% he better play perfectly to show these people up
- He is totally going to get blamed for the viola’s mistake
- 18% Grandmother’s are the greatest
- 23% I cannot stand his entire family minus his grandmother. Why are his mother and aunt such bitches? Why can’t he have the violin? You all think it is junk. It is the grandmothers, not theirs. If she wants to give it to the only decent person in the family who happens to appreciate the violin, why can’t she?
- 25% “your mom’s a good person”. NO SHE ISN’T
- 30% I just can’t. This woman is awful. I can’t stand this book just because I cannot stand this woman. She’s a complete piece of shit. How Ray turned out as such a great guy is beyond me. I don’t understand how he isn’t hitting back. He needs to extract himself from this toxic family and never return.
- 34% $36,000 for a violin?!? That is more than a car
- 36% his grandmother dying makes me think so much of when my Grandma Noel died. This whole time the Grandmother has been reminding me of Grandma Noel so it’s hitting extra hard
- 39% this violin guy in NYC is a crook. Is he seriously offering Ray $10,000 dollars when this thing is worth over $10 million?
- 40% why are they buying clothes in NYC? That is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard for a guy short on cash
- 42% I can’t stand this family. Why did he even tell them? Why is he even still in contact with them?
- 47% he was all annoyed with the other orchestra when they played faster than rehearsed. And here is is doing the same thing to another orchestra. Isn’t that sort of rude? He comments that he knows that the flutes are having a hard time keeping up
- 50% why are you humoring these people? Call the freaking police
- 51% NOWWWW they are showing their true colors.
- 55% these people are SCUM! Do not take out that loan for him!
- 56% still this family will not stop. They are so toxic and revolting with their greed that I am seriously tempted to stop reading. I can’t take it. I really really can’t. Both his own family and the former slave owners. At this point I am so distracted by the toxicity of these people that I forgot for awhile that the main plot point of the book is that the violin gets stolen.
- 58% why the heck is this random cop threatening to blow his head off for no reason?!
- 60% and now his own family is suing him! I. HATE. THEM.
- 66% and now they have the audacity to go on 60 minutes to talk about how the violin should belong to the family instead of Ray?! OMG THESE PEOPLEEEE
- I want them to do a DNA test. If Ray’s grandfather actually was the son of the slave owner, technically they are family. The only argument these white people have for owning it is that it should have been passed down to family.
- 68% I AM GOING TO THROW THIS BOOK OUT OF A FUCKING WINDOW
- OMG THESE PEOPLE. THESE FUCKING PEOPLE. AND THESE COPS!
- 69% I am literally in tears from how angry I am over this situation in Boston with this insane family and the cops.
- The only way this can end well is if this ducking family is sued in return for their harassment of this poor guy.
- 72% HE IS GOING TO PAY ALL 5 OF THESE ASSHOLES $100,000 EACH!?! What is WRONG with him! Doesn’t he realize that he isn’t rich? These are terrible people. They don’t love you. They don’t like your music. Don’t give them a penny more than you already have. HE IS EVEN ADMITTING THAT THEY WOULD TOTALLY HURT OR STEAL FROM HIM IN ORDER TO GET THE MONEY! He knows how toxic they are!!!
- ANOTHER $500,000 ?!? OH MY FUCKING LORD
- 75% I hate to say it, but I think Nicole stole it…
- Unrelated but I am now listening to classical violin music. Hillary Hahn. I don’t understand how people have been playing the same songs for hundreds of years and still get excited over it?
- 76% the case is most definitely not the slave owners! Are they going to try taking that too?!
- 79% a song called Dance with the Goblins?! Why does a song with such a cool name sound so terrible… I’m sorry but it’s terrible. Why would he pick to play this??
- 84% he is always talking about speed and playing as fast as possible. I feel like playing as fast as possible wouldn’t necessarily make the best music?
- 85% I hope they do not let him fly to Serbia on the slight chance that this is his violin. What could he even do? Nothing. He is better off continuing with the competition.
- The fuck whyyyyy whyyyy did they let him leave. This is insane.
- 86% how many extremely priceless stolen violins are floating around the world?!?
- 88% omg I’m so nervous for him
- Booooo!
- 91% I’m confused. Why is he so happy and relieved? He doesn’t have the violin back? Sure, there is the letter as evidence that the violin is his, but the violin is still stolen?
- 93% I’ve thought that Nicole stole it for awhile, but if she did, why would she mess up in such a stupid way as to now admit that she drove to NYC when clearly there is evidence that she flew and that is what she told the investigators? She can’t be that stupid. And if she is, the ending of this book is terrible.
- 94% why does he think the violin could be hidden in a thing of flour, box of pasta, container of powdered laundry soap?! A violin isn’t massive, but it’s not minuscule either.
- 95% is he about to break into this guys house?!?
- Going to jail is worth getting your violin back?! If you are in jail, you might as well not have your violin! You won’t be able to work to earn money to pay for the insurance. Your family will definitely sell it. YOU ARE A MORON
- YOU ARE LITERALLY BREAKING AND ENTERING! You are now a criminal. Your grandmother would not want this. Let the professionals handle it.
- 97% I completely believe that Nicole stole it, but I can’t believe that she would be stupid enough to mention the car miles and driving from NYC if she was smart enough to organize this whole thing
- I hope he gives the money back to everyone who donated it.
- 99% ummmm so is Janice dead? That seemed a bit unclear? I need to remember to ask about that at my book club meeting for this book later this month…
I think being frustrated was the point though- to demonstrate what it is like to face this type of racism- how frustrating and terrible it can be. You will see just how frustrated I was by this book if you look at my commentary from while reading below.
Overall I thought this book was really great.
And with that, I will leave my commentary below...
- 2% the one time you DONT want the hotel to clean properly and they actually clean the room thoroughly!
- 4% did she just say there is a flight to Russia for less than $500 dollars?? I had to Google it. That is apparently accurate. I am surprised by how reasonable that is.
- 7% Part of me thinks it is insane how he feels like he can’t practice with another violin… that his career is over without THAT violin…. But then I remember that I am emotionally attached to a dented water bottle and water doesn’t taste the same unless it comes from MY bottle, so maybe I understand it more than I realize 😂
- 11% he is making a fundraiser website to help him pay the ransom for his violin? Who the hell would donate to that. 1) why donate to a single person owning a particular highly experience instrument when there are so many other worthwhile causes? 2) this is basically supporting the thief! Who wants to give to charity in the form of paying a criminal!
- 13% his mother is atrocious
- 15% he better play perfectly to show these people up
- He is totally going to get blamed for the viola’s mistake
- 18% Grandmother’s are the greatest
- 23% I cannot stand his entire family minus his grandmother. Why are his mother and aunt such bitches? Why can’t he have the violin? You all think it is junk. It is the grandmothers, not theirs. If she wants to give it to the only decent person in the family who happens to appreciate the violin, why can’t she?
- 25% “your mom’s a good person”. NO SHE ISN’T
- 30% I just can’t. This woman is awful. I can’t stand this book just because I cannot stand this woman. She’s a complete piece of shit. How Ray turned out as such a great guy is beyond me. I don’t understand how he isn’t hitting back. He needs to extract himself from this toxic family and never return.
- 34% $36,000 for a violin?!? That is more than a car
- 36% his grandmother dying makes me think so much of when my Grandma Noel died. This whole time the Grandmother has been reminding me of Grandma Noel so it’s hitting extra hard
- 39% this violin guy in NYC is a crook. Is he seriously offering Ray $10,000 dollars when this thing is worth over $10 million?
- 40% why are they buying clothes in NYC? That is the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard for a guy short on cash
- 42% I can’t stand this family. Why did he even tell them? Why is he even still in contact with them?
- 47% he was all annoyed with the other orchestra when they played faster than rehearsed. And here is is doing the same thing to another orchestra. Isn’t that sort of rude? He comments that he knows that the flutes are having a hard time keeping up
- 50% why are you humoring these people? Call the freaking police
- 51% NOWWWW they are showing their true colors.
- 55% these people are SCUM! Do not take out that loan for him!
- 56% still this family will not stop. They are so toxic and revolting with their greed that I am seriously tempted to stop reading. I can’t take it. I really really can’t. Both his own family and the former slave owners. At this point I am so distracted by the toxicity of these people that I forgot for awhile that the main plot point of the book is that the violin gets stolen.
- 58% why the heck is this random cop threatening to blow his head off for no reason?!
- 60% and now his own family is suing him! I. HATE. THEM.
- 66% and now they have the audacity to go on 60 minutes to talk about how the violin should belong to the family instead of Ray?! OMG THESE PEOPLEEEE
- I want them to do a DNA test. If Ray’s grandfather actually was the son of the slave owner, technically they are family. The only argument these white people have for owning it is that it should have been passed down to family.
- 68% I AM GOING TO THROW THIS BOOK OUT OF A FUCKING WINDOW
- OMG THESE PEOPLE. THESE FUCKING PEOPLE. AND THESE COPS!
- 69% I am literally in tears from how angry I am over this situation in Boston with this insane family and the cops.
- The only way this can end well is if this ducking family is sued in return for their harassment of this poor guy.
- 72% HE IS GOING TO PAY ALL 5 OF THESE ASSHOLES $100,000 EACH!?! What is WRONG with him! Doesn’t he realize that he isn’t rich? These are terrible people. They don’t love you. They don’t like your music. Don’t give them a penny more than you already have. HE IS EVEN ADMITTING THAT THEY WOULD TOTALLY HURT OR STEAL FROM HIM IN ORDER TO GET THE MONEY! He knows how toxic they are!!!
- ANOTHER $500,000 ?!? OH MY FUCKING LORD
- 75% I hate to say it, but I think Nicole stole it…
- Unrelated but I am now listening to classical violin music. Hillary Hahn. I don’t understand how people have been playing the same songs for hundreds of years and still get excited over it?
- 76% the case is most definitely not the slave owners! Are they going to try taking that too?!
- 79% a song called Dance with the Goblins?! Why does a song with such a cool name sound so terrible… I’m sorry but it’s terrible. Why would he pick to play this??
- 84% he is always talking about speed and playing as fast as possible. I feel like playing as fast as possible wouldn’t necessarily make the best music?
- 85% I hope they do not let him fly to Serbia on the slight chance that this is his violin. What could he even do? Nothing. He is better off continuing with the competition.
- The fuck whyyyyy whyyyy did they let him leave. This is insane.
- 86% how many extremely priceless stolen violins are floating around the world?!?
- 88% omg I’m so nervous for him
- Booooo!
- 91% I’m confused. Why is he so happy and relieved? He doesn’t have the violin back? Sure, there is the letter as evidence that the violin is his, but the violin is still stolen?
- 93% I’ve thought that Nicole stole it for awhile, but if she did, why would she mess up in such a stupid way as to now admit that she drove to NYC when clearly there is evidence that she flew and that is what she told the investigators? She can’t be that stupid. And if she is, the ending of this book is terrible.
- 94% why does he think the violin could be hidden in a thing of flour, box of pasta, container of powdered laundry soap?! A violin isn’t massive, but it’s not minuscule either.
- 95% is he about to break into this guys house?!?
- Going to jail is worth getting your violin back?! If you are in jail, you might as well not have your violin! You won’t be able to work to earn money to pay for the insurance. Your family will definitely sell it. YOU ARE A MORON
- YOU ARE LITERALLY BREAKING AND ENTERING! You are now a criminal. Your grandmother would not want this. Let the professionals handle it.
- 97% I completely believe that Nicole stole it, but I can’t believe that she would be stupid enough to mention the car miles and driving from NYC if she was smart enough to organize this whole thing
- I hope he gives the money back to everyone who donated it.
- 99% ummmm so is Janice dead? That seemed a bit unclear? I need to remember to ask about that at my book club meeting for this book later this month…