3/5 stars
Little, Brown and Company, 2013
308 pages
YA Contemporary
Source: Library
I haven't had the best of luck with Zarr books despite consistently finding her premises interesting (Once Was Lost was promising; How to Save a Life left me cold). Therefore I approached this new release with trepidation: yes, I loved the idea of dealing with music but how would I feel about the characters? As expected, I loved the music section but really struggled with main character Lucy and her trials and tribulations.
Probably my big problem with Lucy is one that's not even really her fault. As she often appears older than her sixteen years, is noted for her cosmopolitan behavior due to her unconventional career path, and as a reader who is a bit older than sixteen years, I wanted her to behave with a lot more maturity. I also wanted her crush, Will, her brother's older married piano teacher, to act with a lot more maturity as he skirted the boundary of appropriate friendship and flirtation far too much for my liking (and for his wife's liking). But all these factors contributed to me not really liking her. I tend to prefer books where I feel a connection with the main character-this is often because we have similar backgrounds (hey, I played piano too but nowhere near Lucy's level) but can be shaken when her actions differ from what I imagine my own would be and Lucy's did.
As for the other elements, another big part of the book is Lucy reclaiming her love of music. When she quit on stage before an important performance, her controlling grandfather said it meant that she quit piano forever. But while she felt burned out at that moment, it didn't mean she never wanted to play again. This also means standing up to family expectations of how she will live her life, which normally I can get behind but in this case since I didn't feel much for Lucy, I didn't want to invest that much in her growth.
My favorite part would definitely be in the beginning with her sweet little brother who now bears the family's expectations on his back. As the book progresses, he becomes more of a brat with his jealousy over Lucy and Will's relationship and presumably his own (unexplored) feelings about being expected to carry on the family's musical legacy.
Overall: Honestly I just feel like this was a book that left me cold-where I wanted to feel excitement and drama and anticipation, I didn't feel anything but ennui or frustration.
Other Opinions:
Books and Things
Chick Loves Lit
Jen Ryland/YA Romantics
Rather Be Reading
The Compulsive Reader
I just finished this also, and my review (I think it posts next week) is very similar! I didn't like Lucy, and I also thought some of the plot elements got dropped or didn't fit (like what about Aruna and Will and what about that whole Daly City bit and what about the English teacher and why do her two BFFs forgive her anything). And why didn't the DAD get blamed for Prague?!!!
ReplyDeleteI wanted to know so much more about all of that too-it just didn't feel quite fully formed.
DeleteI am not sure about this, its hard when you feel not attachment to the main character. I think I might like the music aspect, I took piano for about ten years so music is something I like to read about. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
ReplyDeleteI loved the music element so much and I thought that would help me connect but alas it just wasn't enough.
DeleteAh, see -- we don't always agree. Lucy is definitely an unusual character - someone who has spent her time with adults in an adult world -- and while I can see your point, I liked her!
ReplyDeleteI know-I was so sad that this was one of the books where we did! I just couldn't click with her.
DeleteI was really excited about this book and then I started seeing the mixed reviews and when I picked up my ARC and saw where the story was heading, I didn't finish it. I had high hopes after enjoying How to Save a Life (which I know wasn't to your liking) and because it was about a pianist but this book wasn't for me either.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad we agreed on this one-hope we both have better books in our near future!
DeleteHm. Good review, even if we didn't come out feeling the same way. We actually quite liked this one, as well as SWEETHEARTS. (That said, those are the only Sara Zarr books we've read so far.) Still, we understand what you're saying here, and it makes sense. Sorry you didn't enjoy it more!
ReplyDeleteI can see the good points in this book but I just couldn't like it. I do hope to try Sweethearts and love it!
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