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Song Reader
In der kleinen Stadt Tainer, tief im Süden der USA, bewundern alle Mary Beth. Denn diese junge Frau hält nach dem plötzlichen Tod der Mutter und dem spurlosen Verschwinden des Vaters den Rest der Familie mit ganzer Kraft zusammen. Und Mary Beth hat eine ungewöhnliche Gabe: Sie kann aus den Liedern, die den Menschen um sie herum nicht mehr aus dem Kopf gehen, ihre verborgenen Ängste und Sehnsüchte lesen. Doch eines Tages stößt sie so auf ein sorgsam gehütetes Geheimnis, und ihre Enthüllungen bringen einen Stein ins Rollen, der das Leben vieler Menschen in Tainer für immer verändert …
328 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2003
18 people are currently reading
3942 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Tucker
28 books142 followersLisa Tucker is the author of six novels: The Winters in Bloom, coming this September; The Song Reader, Shout Down the Moon, Once Upon a Day, The Cure for Modern Life, and The Promised World.
Her books have been published in twelve countries and selected for Borders Original Voices, Book of the Month Club, the Literary Guild, Doubleday Book Club, People magazine Critic’s Choice, Redbook Book Club, Amazon Book of the Year, Barnes & Noble Reading Group program, Target “Breakout” Books, Books A Million Fiction Club, the American Library Association Popular Paperbacks, the Indie Next list and the Book Sense Reading Group Suggestions.
She grew up in Missouri, and has lived in Philadelphia and Santa Fe, NM. She has graduate degrees in both English and math. She has taught creative writing at the Taos Writers' Conference and UCLA.
She's also a mom who says "raising my son has been the best part of my life".
Her books have been published in twelve countries and selected for Borders Original Voices, Book of the Month Club, the Literary Guild, Doubleday Book Club, People magazine Critic’s Choice, Redbook Book Club, Amazon Book of the Year, Barnes & Noble Reading Group program, Target “Breakout” Books, Books A Million Fiction Club, the American Library Association Popular Paperbacks, the Indie Next list and the Book Sense Reading Group Suggestions.
She grew up in Missouri, and has lived in Philadelphia and Santa Fe, NM. She has graduate degrees in both English and math. She has taught creative writing at the Taos Writers' Conference and UCLA.
She's also a mom who says "raising my son has been the best part of my life".
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 172 reviews
July 2, 2008
When I think of “Chick Lit,” I don’t think of books by women but rather I think romance and fluff. Sure, this novel is as easy to read as tepid butter is when spread on hot toast in summer, but it’s not fluff. It’s about the every day, complicated, real life of family. It’s about how growing up – whether in an unusual or an average family – is rarely easy. It’s about relationships and emotions and all the ways we avoid as well as work through them. It’s also about compassion.
When the title character is discussing how it would be hell to not help when she knows a problem she explains, “I’m not talking about the place filled with flames. I mean the hell the world is when cruelty doesn’t have a reason. When suffering is unrelenting and unrelieved by love.” That’s the compassion I’m speaking of – that natural, unforced compassion that embraces the broken with a simple word or gesture. It’s beautiful.
It’s also a little bit sad when the same character doesn’t have that compassion for herself, but as the story unfolds in all the horror of self admonishment, this deep and intense and haunting struggle suddenly becomes vital and real and… strangely beautiful.
This book was a gift for me in the reading… of connection and relationship. Of what can finally come of brokenness. Of what hardness and a lack of love can do. But even more, of what a simple act of kindness, a bit of compassion, an action born of love can do. It was frightening and healing in these revelations.
And in all of that, I find The Song Reader is anything but fluff or Chick Lit. It is instead a multifaceted and unfolding story of how to understand, and where hope resides, and in all its complexities, how rich… and how flexible love is.
When the title character is discussing how it would be hell to not help when she knows a problem she explains, “I’m not talking about the place filled with flames. I mean the hell the world is when cruelty doesn’t have a reason. When suffering is unrelenting and unrelieved by love.” That’s the compassion I’m speaking of – that natural, unforced compassion that embraces the broken with a simple word or gesture. It’s beautiful.
It’s also a little bit sad when the same character doesn’t have that compassion for herself, but as the story unfolds in all the horror of self admonishment, this deep and intense and haunting struggle suddenly becomes vital and real and… strangely beautiful.
This book was a gift for me in the reading… of connection and relationship. Of what can finally come of brokenness. Of what hardness and a lack of love can do. But even more, of what a simple act of kindness, a bit of compassion, an action born of love can do. It was frightening and healing in these revelations.
And in all of that, I find The Song Reader is anything but fluff or Chick Lit. It is instead a multifaceted and unfolding story of how to understand, and where hope resides, and in all its complexities, how rich… and how flexible love is.
November 27, 2014
Cute story, but I didn't like the ending so much. It was an open ending and no real conclusion. I wish there had been another chapter or so to wind things up. Instead, I don't know what became of the characters. Strong storyline but weak ending.
March 16, 2013
Mari saya ringkas isi novel ini:
Novel ini berkisah tentang Mary Beth yang tinggal bersama adiknya Leeaan di sebuah kota kecil Tainer. Mereka hanya tinggal berdua semenjak sang ayah pergi dan ibu mereka meninggal dunia akibat kecelakaan lalu lintas. Mary Beth bekerja sebagai pramusaji restoran untuk membiayai hidupnya bersama sang adik, Leeaan yang masih SMA. Mary Beth memiliki semacam kemampuan untuk 'menerawang' seseorang. Bukan dengan kartu tarot, bola kristal, ataupun membaca pikiran. Tapi dengan membaca lagu yang terngiang di kepala kliennya. Banyak dari 'terawangannya' yang berhasil sehingga Mary Beth dipercaya oleh hampir seluruh warga kota untuk menjadi penasihat mereka. Malah entah apa alasannya salah satu kliennya memberikan anak lelakinya untuk diadopsi Mary Beth, anak itu bernama Tommy yang tak Mary Beth tau siapa ayahnya. Mereka akhirnya hidup bertiga Mary Beth, Leeaan, dan Tommy yang memanggil Mary Beth mama. Masalah datang ketika salah seorang klien Mary Beth, Holly Kramer, datang dengan masalahnya dengan suami yang ingin ditinggalkannya dan ayahnya yang brengsek (menurut buku, padahal saya juga ga tau brengseknya kenapa. Dibuku cuma dibilang "George brengsek, dan suaminya Holly hanya diam saja ketika Holly koma"). Saking peliknya masalah Holly sampai-sampai pada pesta ulang tahun Mary Beth, Holly sampai kayaknya curhat habis-habisan semalaman ke Mary Beth (Soalnya menurut buku itu sampai-sampai Leeaan disuruh pulang sendiri ke apartemen malam-malam. Dan Mary Beth baru sampai di rumah pagi harinya). Sampai suatu hari Holly dikabarkan koma akibat minum obat tidur yang bisa membuat tidur warga seluruh kota. Mendengar itu mary Beth langsung khawatir dan pergi ke RS tempat Holly dirawat. Tapi Mary Beth malah diusir oleh keluarga Holly. Setelah itu Mary Beth seperti orang stres. Mary Beth jadi tak pernah bicara, tak mau bekerja, tak mau main bersama Tommy. Keadaannya sperti mayat hidup. Dalam keadaan itu adiknya, Leeaan, mencari sang ayah. Dengan harapan mungkin itu yang dibutuhkan Mary Beth. Ayahnya akhirnya kembali tapi tidak sepenuhnya kembali. Ayahnya menjadi sosok yang kaku (agak-agak canggung gimana gitu. Menurut buku sih katanya ayahnya merasa bersalah karena ninggalin keluarga. Jadi dia tuh kerjaannya bilang maaf melulu). Kehadiran ayahnya tidak membuat Mary Beth lebih baik. Sampai akhirnya Holly sadar dari komanya dan mantan pacar mary Beth datang dan membawa Mary Beth ke semacam tempat rehabilitasi jiwa. Akhirnya Mary Beth dinyatakan sehat oleh psikiater yang menanganinya.
Udah sih ceritanya gitu doang. Intinya tentang keluarga dan musik. Tapi yang saya tangkep dari cerita ini cuma:
1. Cintailah hanya yang mencintaimu. Mary Beth sayang ibu dan adiknya, karena ibunya bangga sama Mary Beth. Menurut ibunya Mary Beth itu pekerja keras, masih muda sudah mau bekerja. Dan adiknya Leeaan hanya sebentar mengenal ayah dan ibunya sehingga dia sangat membutuhkan kakaknya. Dia rela melakukan apapun demi sang kakak. Dan Leeaan membenci ibunya karena menurut Leeaan ibunya terlalu keras padanya dan selalu membanggakan Mary Beth. Mary Beth membenci ayahnya karena tidak membuat ibunya cukup bahagia. (ribet ga lo bacanya?!)
2. Yang jadi pertanyaan saya sampai sekarang: Kenapa ayahnya ninggalin Mary Beth, Leeaan, dan istrinya? sampe selesai buku saya ga dapet jawaban secara konkret. Trus kenapa mary Beth segitu depreesinya? lagi-lagi ga dapet jawaban konkretnya. Trus kenapa Mary Beth putusin Ben juga alasannya apa? Awal mula Mary Beth jadi pembaca lagu juga samar-samar dijelasinnya. Kirain di akhir bakal terungkap semuanya. Gak taunya masih abu-abu. (pembaca kecewa)
3. Keluarga macam apa ini? Ibunya selingkuh malah didukung sama mary Beth. Bapaknya pergi ninggalin keluarga malah dianggap wajar. Orangtua kayak gitu bukannya gak tanggung jawab ya??
Saya kasih satu bintang bukan karena ceritanya jelek. Cuma saya ga ngerti ini ceritanya mau dibawa kemana (menurut saya). Mungkin cuma saya aja yang nganggap kayak gini, soalnya yang lain kayaknya oke-oke aja tuh. Atau mungkin juga saya pembaca yang kelainan.
Mungkin agak subjektif ya, masa lagunya Michael jackson dibilang jelek sih :(
Novel ini berkisah tentang Mary Beth yang tinggal bersama adiknya Leeaan di sebuah kota kecil Tainer. Mereka hanya tinggal berdua semenjak sang ayah pergi dan ibu mereka meninggal dunia akibat kecelakaan lalu lintas. Mary Beth bekerja sebagai pramusaji restoran untuk membiayai hidupnya bersama sang adik, Leeaan yang masih SMA. Mary Beth memiliki semacam kemampuan untuk 'menerawang' seseorang. Bukan dengan kartu tarot, bola kristal, ataupun membaca pikiran. Tapi dengan membaca lagu yang terngiang di kepala kliennya. Banyak dari 'terawangannya' yang berhasil sehingga Mary Beth dipercaya oleh hampir seluruh warga kota untuk menjadi penasihat mereka. Malah entah apa alasannya salah satu kliennya memberikan anak lelakinya untuk diadopsi Mary Beth, anak itu bernama Tommy yang tak Mary Beth tau siapa ayahnya. Mereka akhirnya hidup bertiga Mary Beth, Leeaan, dan Tommy yang memanggil Mary Beth mama. Masalah datang ketika salah seorang klien Mary Beth, Holly Kramer, datang dengan masalahnya dengan suami yang ingin ditinggalkannya dan ayahnya yang brengsek (menurut buku, padahal saya juga ga tau brengseknya kenapa. Dibuku cuma dibilang "George brengsek, dan suaminya Holly hanya diam saja ketika Holly koma"). Saking peliknya masalah Holly sampai-sampai pada pesta ulang tahun Mary Beth, Holly sampai kayaknya curhat habis-habisan semalaman ke Mary Beth (Soalnya menurut buku itu sampai-sampai Leeaan disuruh pulang sendiri ke apartemen malam-malam. Dan Mary Beth baru sampai di rumah pagi harinya). Sampai suatu hari Holly dikabarkan koma akibat minum obat tidur yang bisa membuat tidur warga seluruh kota. Mendengar itu mary Beth langsung khawatir dan pergi ke RS tempat Holly dirawat. Tapi Mary Beth malah diusir oleh keluarga Holly. Setelah itu Mary Beth seperti orang stres. Mary Beth jadi tak pernah bicara, tak mau bekerja, tak mau main bersama Tommy. Keadaannya sperti mayat hidup. Dalam keadaan itu adiknya, Leeaan, mencari sang ayah. Dengan harapan mungkin itu yang dibutuhkan Mary Beth. Ayahnya akhirnya kembali tapi tidak sepenuhnya kembali. Ayahnya menjadi sosok yang kaku (agak-agak canggung gimana gitu. Menurut buku sih katanya ayahnya merasa bersalah karena ninggalin keluarga. Jadi dia tuh kerjaannya bilang maaf melulu). Kehadiran ayahnya tidak membuat Mary Beth lebih baik. Sampai akhirnya Holly sadar dari komanya dan mantan pacar mary Beth datang dan membawa Mary Beth ke semacam tempat rehabilitasi jiwa. Akhirnya Mary Beth dinyatakan sehat oleh psikiater yang menanganinya.
Udah sih ceritanya gitu doang. Intinya tentang keluarga dan musik. Tapi yang saya tangkep dari cerita ini cuma:
1. Cintailah hanya yang mencintaimu. Mary Beth sayang ibu dan adiknya, karena ibunya bangga sama Mary Beth. Menurut ibunya Mary Beth itu pekerja keras, masih muda sudah mau bekerja. Dan adiknya Leeaan hanya sebentar mengenal ayah dan ibunya sehingga dia sangat membutuhkan kakaknya. Dia rela melakukan apapun demi sang kakak. Dan Leeaan membenci ibunya karena menurut Leeaan ibunya terlalu keras padanya dan selalu membanggakan Mary Beth. Mary Beth membenci ayahnya karena tidak membuat ibunya cukup bahagia. (ribet ga lo bacanya?!)
2. Yang jadi pertanyaan saya sampai sekarang: Kenapa ayahnya ninggalin Mary Beth, Leeaan, dan istrinya? sampe selesai buku saya ga dapet jawaban secara konkret. Trus kenapa mary Beth segitu depreesinya? lagi-lagi ga dapet jawaban konkretnya. Trus kenapa Mary Beth putusin Ben juga alasannya apa? Awal mula Mary Beth jadi pembaca lagu juga samar-samar dijelasinnya. Kirain di akhir bakal terungkap semuanya. Gak taunya masih abu-abu. (pembaca kecewa)
3. Keluarga macam apa ini? Ibunya selingkuh malah didukung sama mary Beth. Bapaknya pergi ninggalin keluarga malah dianggap wajar. Orangtua kayak gitu bukannya gak tanggung jawab ya??
Saya kasih satu bintang bukan karena ceritanya jelek. Cuma saya ga ngerti ini ceritanya mau dibawa kemana (menurut saya). Mungkin cuma saya aja yang nganggap kayak gini, soalnya yang lain kayaknya oke-oke aja tuh. Atau mungkin juga saya pembaca yang kelainan.
Mungkin agak subjektif ya, masa lagunya Michael jackson dibilang jelek sih :(
January 28, 2009
This book would also make a good book group discussion, but it was stressful and emotionally draining to read. When it was over I was so relieved it was over, even though the end didnt really wrap up and explain everything as well as I would have liked, I was left wondering, what did that mean, are they going, are they staying? I'm confused.
April 12, 2012
Lisa Tucker's books always feel almost really good, but are always missing that one thing that makes them great. This is the third book of hers that I've read now, and they've all been solidly entertaining (and fairly quick reads) but are never all the memorable and I never feel compelled to recommend them to anyone else.
This book is much the same. I enjoyed the book, but there is definitely a sad undercurrent of what it's like for a young high school girl to grow up very fast and realize that what she thought she knew about her family (her dead mother, her father that abandoned her, and her older sister that's taken care of her) was only just the tip of the iceberg. I think everyone goes through a turning point when you realize your parents are just as flawed as you are, and that as well as you may think you know your parents, your siblings, or your friends -- there are always things they haven't shared with you completely.
I disagree with BCH's review(not shockingly) - I didn't feel like book was a 'hot mess' and I didn't feel like things were left unresolved and unclear. I'm actually surprised that BCH wasn't more interested in the mental illness aspect of the book, but maybe I can look at things like mental illness at a much higher level because I don't understand the details (and therefore, don't need them) and BCH sees through unresolved mental illness issues and therefore was left with more questions.
Either way, I'm glad I finally read this book and I'm sure I'll read another Lisa Tucker book in the future, but don't expect me to recommend them to any of you.
This book is much the same. I enjoyed the book, but there is definitely a sad undercurrent of what it's like for a young high school girl to grow up very fast and realize that what she thought she knew about her family (her dead mother, her father that abandoned her, and her older sister that's taken care of her) was only just the tip of the iceberg. I think everyone goes through a turning point when you realize your parents are just as flawed as you are, and that as well as you may think you know your parents, your siblings, or your friends -- there are always things they haven't shared with you completely.
I disagree with BCH's review(not shockingly) - I didn't feel like book was a 'hot mess' and I didn't feel like things were left unresolved and unclear. I'm actually surprised that BCH wasn't more interested in the mental illness aspect of the book, but maybe I can look at things like mental illness at a much higher level because I don't understand the details (and therefore, don't need them) and BCH sees through unresolved mental illness issues and therefore was left with more questions.
Either way, I'm glad I finally read this book and I'm sure I'll read another Lisa Tucker book in the future, but don't expect me to recommend them to any of you.
December 22, 2009
great book.... until the crap ending.
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March 17, 2025I went from liking this to absolutely loathing it by the end.
I get that this is set in the 80s and life was so very different from what it is now. I get it. But even back in the 80s, attention was paid to bipolar disorder and to autism and/or OCD. These were already things we knew about. Yes, they were treated differently, but on the flip side, this blatant ignoring of the issues -- and not just the mental health issues, but Mary Beth's adopting Tommy is SO problematic. Where was the paperwork? Where were the home visits, the social workers, the people going, "Hey, you're young and you've got this teenaged sister and you have no tools to help"? In the 80s, agencies were more on top of things like this. Schools were too. It's impossible for no one to have gossiped about what was going on in Leeann's homelife, especially given how the two Ds seemed to like to gossip. And this is set in a small town! Small towns are RIFE with gossip.
Now, for abuse? Nah. That wouldn't get called out.
But the issues with Mary Beth raising both Tommy and Leeann, and the fact that no one noticed when Leeann started skipping school and picking up Tommy and dude. I was that age in the 80s. Driving without a permit, even? You'd have gotten caught simply because kids at school talk. Again: Small town. Gossip. Especially once everyone starts talking about Mary Beth and Holly. SOMEONE would have taken a closer look at the family and sprung all their secrets.
Mary Beth was an absolutely problem. She's SO CLEARLY gaslighting Leeann in the beginning, and she's SO CLEARLY cycling through bipolar moods and highs and lows. And even the people in the mental hospital can't see it? At the end, when she's so bright, it hurts Leeann to look at her? That she grows more beautiful in her manic phases?
I. Don't. Buy. This.
(Oh, and let's talk about how absolutely inappropriate every last thing the so-called doctor in the mental hospital does. Leeann is not her patient. She should have been brought up in front of the board and stripped of her licensing for what she did there. You do NOT diagnose anyone who's not your client. And having been faced with this, let me tell you: Health care professionals take this VERY seriously.)
Ben's an issue, too. Why is he hanging around? Why can't he shake Mary Beth? (Why the hell is Mary Beth presented as some goddess? I know this is through Leeann's lens, but come ON.) How does he know when to intervene, why does he wait so long, why is he so ineffectual? And why does he go from being an advocate and friend to Leeann to calling her honey and dismissing her? Ugh. Ben sucked.
Henry at least was interesting. Autistic? Completely crippled by anxiety and OCD--true OCD? We don't know. No one's ever interested in dealing with Henry as anything other than a plot moppet, and that includes Leeann, who manipulates him because she at least is smart enough to realize that without a real parental figure in the household, the family's in danger. Although she had one who was refusing to take action, and by that, I mean...
Juanita. Whoa. WHAT is her deal? She leaves Leeann to handle a deteriorating home situation and it's only when Ben (the most functional male character, mind you) intervenes that hey! She's suddenly acting parental! Whoo hoo! She's SO good to Leeann that she... did nothing while Leeann struggled. Fuck you, Juanita. You're trash, only stepping up to cover your hide and look good to the world.
Mike went from being this crazy dude to... okay, that's a weird explanation of his nickname to... entirely too parental, adult, and mature. His mother gets better and he's instantly... well, the person Ben had been.
Ugh. This is an older book, and even the cover copy has been rewritten because the story inside the book was not the story on the old back cover. But that's incidental to the other really serious problems.
If you're easily triggered by depictions of rampant mental illness, stay away from this one. It's a trainwreck.
I get that this is set in the 80s and life was so very different from what it is now. I get it. But even back in the 80s, attention was paid to bipolar disorder and to autism and/or OCD. These were already things we knew about. Yes, they were treated differently, but on the flip side, this blatant ignoring of the issues -- and not just the mental health issues, but Mary Beth's adopting Tommy is SO problematic. Where was the paperwork? Where were the home visits, the social workers, the people going, "Hey, you're young and you've got this teenaged sister and you have no tools to help"? In the 80s, agencies were more on top of things like this. Schools were too. It's impossible for no one to have gossiped about what was going on in Leeann's homelife, especially given how the two Ds seemed to like to gossip. And this is set in a small town! Small towns are RIFE with gossip.
Now, for abuse? Nah. That wouldn't get called out.
But the issues with Mary Beth raising both Tommy and Leeann, and the fact that no one noticed when Leeann started skipping school and picking up Tommy and dude. I was that age in the 80s. Driving without a permit, even? You'd have gotten caught simply because kids at school talk. Again: Small town. Gossip. Especially once everyone starts talking about Mary Beth and Holly. SOMEONE would have taken a closer look at the family and sprung all their secrets.
Mary Beth was an absolutely problem. She's SO CLEARLY gaslighting Leeann in the beginning, and she's SO CLEARLY cycling through bipolar moods and highs and lows. And even the people in the mental hospital can't see it? At the end, when she's so bright, it hurts Leeann to look at her? That she grows more beautiful in her manic phases?
I. Don't. Buy. This.
(Oh, and let's talk about how absolutely inappropriate every last thing the so-called doctor in the mental hospital does. Leeann is not her patient. She should have been brought up in front of the board and stripped of her licensing for what she did there. You do NOT diagnose anyone who's not your client. And having been faced with this, let me tell you: Health care professionals take this VERY seriously.)
Ben's an issue, too. Why is he hanging around? Why can't he shake Mary Beth? (Why the hell is Mary Beth presented as some goddess? I know this is through Leeann's lens, but come ON.) How does he know when to intervene, why does he wait so long, why is he so ineffectual? And why does he go from being an advocate and friend to Leeann to calling her honey and dismissing her? Ugh. Ben sucked.
Henry at least was interesting. Autistic? Completely crippled by anxiety and OCD--true OCD? We don't know. No one's ever interested in dealing with Henry as anything other than a plot moppet, and that includes Leeann, who manipulates him because she at least is smart enough to realize that without a real parental figure in the household, the family's in danger. Although she had one who was refusing to take action, and by that, I mean...
Juanita. Whoa. WHAT is her deal? She leaves Leeann to handle a deteriorating home situation and it's only when Ben (the most functional male character, mind you) intervenes that hey! She's suddenly acting parental! Whoo hoo! She's SO good to Leeann that she... did nothing while Leeann struggled. Fuck you, Juanita. You're trash, only stepping up to cover your hide and look good to the world.
Mike went from being this crazy dude to... okay, that's a weird explanation of his nickname to... entirely too parental, adult, and mature. His mother gets better and he's instantly... well, the person Ben had been.
Ugh. This is an older book, and even the cover copy has been rewritten because the story inside the book was not the story on the old back cover. But that's incidental to the other really serious problems.
If you're easily triggered by depictions of rampant mental illness, stay away from this one. It's a trainwreck.
March 6, 2014
Lately I have found myself venturing away from the type of book that I would normally read and becoming a more well rounded literature and fiction reader. Most often I have been pleasantly surprised by my selections and The Song Reader by Lisa Tucker was definitely a pleasant surprise! When I read the synopsis on the back of the book I expected something completely different from what I got from this compelling first novel. I thought that I was reading a light hearted book about a woman who read peoples futures by interpreting the songs that were in their heads and while this plot point is what this novel was centered around it certainly was not what it was about. The Song Reader, told through the eyes of fourteen year old Leeann is about how two sisters cope with the breakdown of their family, how it effects them as people and how their love for one another gets them through some particularly difficult times.
When older sister Mary Beth's song reading takes off the entire town begins singing her praises and Mary Beth feels as though she has finally found her calling. However, when she reveals a long suppressed secret involving one of the towns most beloved citizens all of her former clients turn against her and her family. Mary Beth spirals into a deep depression leaving Leeanne to pick up the pieces of their life as well as uncover the deep routed secrets of her family that may have caused her sisters depression to run even deeper than first imagined.
Tucker reveals the secrets of this unconventional family in a way that makes it almost impossible to put this book down. My only gripe was that I wished the ending were fleshed out a bit more and the reader wasn't left with so many unanswered questions, however, this is a tiny flaw in an otherwise engrossing novel, 4 1/2 stars.
When older sister Mary Beth's song reading takes off the entire town begins singing her praises and Mary Beth feels as though she has finally found her calling. However, when she reveals a long suppressed secret involving one of the towns most beloved citizens all of her former clients turn against her and her family. Mary Beth spirals into a deep depression leaving Leeanne to pick up the pieces of their life as well as uncover the deep routed secrets of her family that may have caused her sisters depression to run even deeper than first imagined.
Tucker reveals the secrets of this unconventional family in a way that makes it almost impossible to put this book down. My only gripe was that I wished the ending were fleshed out a bit more and the reader wasn't left with so many unanswered questions, however, this is a tiny flaw in an otherwise engrossing novel, 4 1/2 stars.
December 12, 2008
I picked this up initially because I always have a song or two rambling through my head, and often spilling out over my lips. It can be anything from Immittet Angelus to the theme from Sesame Street. No wait. That's a bad example. There's actually a musical relationship between those two. How about anything from Stardust to When You Wish Upon a Star. No wait. This is harder than I thought. How about Greensleeves to Happy Trails to You (which is the song I want played at my funeral, by the way)?
Anyhow, the music in my head (I dislike the term earworm) fascinates me and keeps me good company. It soothes my soul. I like it. So the idea of someone interpreting the playlist of my brain was really interesting. What does it say about me? What do the lyrics and tunes reveal?
The story didn't actually live up to the hype or hope I had for it, but it was a moderately good read. An interesting exploration into fragile minds, family function and dysfunction, telling secrets and an adolescent coming of age. I really enjoy "first books" of new authors and that added a special delight to me for this. I will be interested to see what else Lisa Tucker brings to the book world.
Now if someone could just tell me why I have There's No Place Like Home For the Holidays in my head, I'd be happy.
Anyhow, the music in my head (I dislike the term earworm) fascinates me and keeps me good company. It soothes my soul. I like it. So the idea of someone interpreting the playlist of my brain was really interesting. What does it say about me? What do the lyrics and tunes reveal?
The story didn't actually live up to the hype or hope I had for it, but it was a moderately good read. An interesting exploration into fragile minds, family function and dysfunction, telling secrets and an adolescent coming of age. I really enjoy "first books" of new authors and that added a special delight to me for this. I will be interested to see what else Lisa Tucker brings to the book world.
Now if someone could just tell me why I have There's No Place Like Home For the Holidays in my head, I'd be happy.
May 22, 2010
I picked this up off the library shelf as I saw the title and as a music therapist, thought it might be interesting. I didn't expect a heavy book, but it was a little darker than I anticipated. This wouldn't be a problem if it was compelling or well-written, but it just dragged and became so mired down in the multiple emotional/psych issues the author was trying to shoehorn in. Its ambiguity about the dad's mental illness really didn't add anything to the plot as the author's interview seemed to imply she thought it would. It just seemed like she was too lazy to consult a mental health professional to get a fuller picture of someone with a specific mental illness. With all the focus on the psych issues, I was frustrated that they didn't really address them and the possibility that Mary Beth might have a genetic predisposition for psych issues due to the father's illness. I realize that part of the author's objective was to paint this imperfect family, but characters who don't really grow or develop in interesting or realistic ways just become boring & frustrating to read about. I ended up skimming the last quarter of the book.
I didn't particularly care for the ambiguity of the ending either; after all the dragging of most of the book, it seemed rushed & tacked-on with no satisfying motivation or thought behind it. I would not recommend this book.
I didn't particularly care for the ambiguity of the ending either; after all the dragging of most of the book, it seemed rushed & tacked-on with no satisfying motivation or thought behind it. I would not recommend this book.
May 8, 2012
I enjoyed this book for the most part. It was a very sad story, but I found the song reading a unique plot device, and felt like I connected with the main character. I can't imagine how hard dealing with everything would be for a sixteen year old, but I felt like the author captured that fairly realistically.
I had minor issues with some of the other characters here and there, but my main issue was with the ending. It felt so abrupt, as if the author had a word limit and had to rush the last few pages to finish within the allotted amount. I actually reread the last few pages thinking I had missed something.
All in all it was a good (and fast) read, but I would have liked to see her take the ending a little slower.
January 4, 2012
This book was a hot mess. I mean, I literally finished it, put it down, and said aloud, "Wow - that was a hot mess!" It was actually fairly entertaining and I enjoyed it most of the way along, until I reached the end and realized that nothing really got resolved or made any sense. If you don't think you will care, then it's an easy read and you might enjoy it anyway.
B- I own a copy from swap so you can have it if you want!
B- I own a copy from swap so you can have it if you want!
January 13, 2014
L'idea che le canzoni che ascoltiamo e che ci rimangono in testa in qualche modo siano un messaggio di quello che siamo e di quello che abbiamo dentro è veramente intrigante. Mentre leggevo cercavo di ripensare alle colonne sonore della mia vita e volevo capire se in qualche modo mi rappresentassero.
Detto questo, il libro è davvero molto coinvolgente e scritto bene. E' la storia di due sorelle, Mary Beth (che ha appunto questo "dono" di leggere le canzoni) e LeeAnn, molto giovane e sensibile. Rimaste orfane della madre e con un padre di cui non hanno più notizie, dovranno cercare di cavarsela da sole. Mary Beth è l'incarnazione perfetta della persona che vuole sempre aiutare gli altri anche a discapito di se stessa e, a volte, anche delle stesse persone che vorrebbe aiutare. La generosità portata all'estremo. LeeAnn è in un certo senso abbandonata a se stessa e vittima dei segreti familiari custoditi per tanti anni. E' una storia piena di buoni sentimenti, ma non per questo non appassionante. La quinta stellina la perde perchè troppi punti rimangono scoperti. Mi piacciono i finali aperti, ma qui troppe cose non vengono chiarite.
La Tucker è sicuramente una scrittrice da approfondire.
Detto questo, il libro è davvero molto coinvolgente e scritto bene. E' la storia di due sorelle, Mary Beth (che ha appunto questo "dono" di leggere le canzoni) e LeeAnn, molto giovane e sensibile. Rimaste orfane della madre e con un padre di cui non hanno più notizie, dovranno cercare di cavarsela da sole. Mary Beth è l'incarnazione perfetta della persona che vuole sempre aiutare gli altri anche a discapito di se stessa e, a volte, anche delle stesse persone che vorrebbe aiutare. La generosità portata all'estremo. LeeAnn è in un certo senso abbandonata a se stessa e vittima dei segreti familiari custoditi per tanti anni. E' una storia piena di buoni sentimenti, ma non per questo non appassionante. La quinta stellina la perde perchè troppi punti rimangono scoperti. Mi piacciono i finali aperti, ma qui troppe cose non vengono chiarite.
La Tucker è sicuramente una scrittrice da approfondire.
May 28, 2012
This book was OK.
It tells the story of Mary Beth, Leann's big sister,who has a sort of a musical gift : the people who come to her tell her which songs are stuck in their heads and Mary Beth is able to give them some advice about their current problems.
Leann is the narrator of this story. She's very admirative of her big sister who raised her since their mom died. She was my favourite character, I could see her coming out of age since the book follows these sisters for a few years. She was a normal teenager while her sister was depicted as a perfect responsible adult, which often irritated me.
If I knew before reading that the second half of the book would be about mental illness, I would have enjoyed it more. I wasn't expecting that story line, it felt strange.
It tells the story of Mary Beth, Leann's big sister,who has a sort of a musical gift : the people who come to her tell her which songs are stuck in their heads and Mary Beth is able to give them some advice about their current problems.
Leann is the narrator of this story. She's very admirative of her big sister who raised her since their mom died. She was my favourite character, I could see her coming out of age since the book follows these sisters for a few years. She was a normal teenager while her sister was depicted as a perfect responsible adult, which often irritated me.
If I knew before reading that the second half of the book would be about mental illness, I would have enjoyed it more. I wasn't expecting that story line, it felt strange.
July 15, 2010
A friend recommended this book to me, saying how amazing it was, so I picked it up at a used book store when I spotted it. I tried reading it last year and could not get through it. This time, I was able to push through, but I never felt really absorbed into it. The story is about two sisters, Mary Beth and Leeann. Leeann, the younger sister, adores Mary Beth, her beautiful, clever, song reading sister. Song reading is sort of like psychoanalysis through music and without professional schooling. Everything spirals out of control when one of Mary Beth’s suggestions has bad consequences. The sisters both struggle to come to terms with their family drama and romance.
October 5, 2011
Ternyata novel ini gak sesuai ‘ekspektasi’ gue. Gue pikir bakal berbau-bau thriller gitu. Yang awalnya gue bayangin, Mary Beth ‘membaca’ lagu, terus ternyata lagu itu ‘menghantui’ dia. Novel ini lebih banyak ke drama-nya. Meskipun gue akui, ide pembaca lagu ini keren, karena sampai saat ini yang gue tau ya berkisar di tarot, peramal kartu atau garis tangan, atau pake bola kristal.... Gue berharap ada misteri yang ‘mencekam’… Dan, soal pembacaan lagunya pun gak terlalu banyak diceritain.
May 8, 2011
A nice book about a girl who can help people figure out what their problems are by the songs they are drawn to or can't get out of their head. Its the lyrics of the songs that effect people. An interesting read but a little dark. So many people in Leeann's life with mental problems made me kinda sad when I finished.
January 21, 2010
I liked the general premise; that memories are often stored with music, or our associations with music and that could make a much more interesting book than this was. Cutesy, quick read, forgettable.
December 2, 2014
3.5 stars. Better than your average fluff, interesting concept.
November 30, 2024
The Song Reader is about the Norris family. Mom, dad, daughters Mary Beth and Leann, and Mary Beth’s adopted two year old son, Tommy. Mom has an affair, dad leaves and has serious emotional life altering issues, he abandons his daughters, mom dies in a car accident, Mary Beth treat “clients” who have relationship issues by analyzing the songs they listen to, Leeann is a teenager who seems to be the one who the family relies on for everything after Mary Beth has a meltdown/panic attack after one of her clients attempts suicide. There are other side stories that all relate to this dysfunctional family; Ben, Mary Beth’s boyfriend, Mike, Leeann’s boyfriend, Juanita, Mary Beth’s co-worker at her second job.
So much love, sadness, tragedy, despair, in this unique novel that explores what makes a family unbreakable despite so many issues that could tear them apart.
I would give this more stars if the ending wasn’t a shocking blindside that left all questions unanswered. Shame on you LT.
favorite quotes:
“I still find myself wishing I could go back to when music was like a spirit moving through our town, giving words to what we felt…”
“You should look at everything for yourself and decide what you really think”
“Home is that place in your mind where you see your family just like they are”
So much love, sadness, tragedy, despair, in this unique novel that explores what makes a family unbreakable despite so many issues that could tear them apart.
I would give this more stars if the ending wasn’t a shocking blindside that left all questions unanswered. Shame on you LT.
favorite quotes:
“I still find myself wishing I could go back to when music was like a spirit moving through our town, giving words to what we felt…”
“You should look at everything for yourself and decide what you really think”
“Home is that place in your mind where you see your family just like they are”
August 20, 2018
I really enjoyed this book that has been on my book shelf for a few years. I picked it up at thrift store and forgot about it till recently. Leeann is a teenager living with her older sister, Mary Beth, who is a song reader. That means she investigates songs that people cannot get out of their heads & diagnoses their problems. It is a gift that Mary Beth has that has helped many people in her small town in Missouri. When tragedy strikes one of her patients, Mary Beth goes into a deep depression & Leeann is forced to care for their small family. I loved Leeann's perspective on this family dynamic and how she tries her best to take care of a sister that has given up a lot for her when both their parents are gone. I loved all the characters in the book & definitely recommend this family drama.
June 2, 2020
This debut novel is narrated by pre-teen orphan Leann Norris, who lives with her older sister Mary Beth who can barely support them both with her waitress job. Mary Beth discovers that she has a talent for helping others through "song reading," analyzing the songs that play through someone's head as a way to understand the issues they're facing. This backfires when client Helen confronts a deep-held secret that tears her own family and the community apart, and threatens Mary Beth and Leann in the process.
This novel gently explores the impact of family secrets and the broad continuum of mental illness in which most people fit in one way or another. At the same time, it demonstrates the power of simple caring and love which can cure a multitude of ills.
This novel gently explores the impact of family secrets and the broad continuum of mental illness in which most people fit in one way or another. At the same time, it demonstrates the power of simple caring and love which can cure a multitude of ills.
March 2, 2022
To say Leeann’s family is messed up is an understatement. Her father left ages ago, and recent evidence suggests he is mentally ill. Her mother died in a car accident. She is being raised by her sister Mary Beth, who works at a diner and recently started earning extra money by becoming a Song Reader. She believes she can help people straighten out their lives by charting the songs that keep playing in their heads. It’s a good gig until it goes badly awry. Meanwhile, Leeann is going through her teens, trying to date, keep going to school, and deal with an increasingly more complicated family situation. This book has some slow sections, but it also has some great twists that make it unique and enjoyable.
March 5, 2015
Mary Beth. Sudah kuduga ada yg tdk beres dgn isi kepala wanita ini saat aku membaca pendapatnya bahwa org gila itu sesungguhnya org yg berani krn mrk memilih jalan yg tdk berani dilakukan sebagian besar org.
Sebagai org yg pernah bersinggungan dgn bbrp orang-waras-yg-memilih-menjadi-gila dlm hidupku, aku berpendapat kalau memilih menjadi gila itu adalah tindakan pengecut dan lemah krn melarikan diri dari masalah, tak peduli seberapa berat pun masalahnya, krn sesungguhnya masih banyak org yg memiliki masalah yg lbh berat dari yg kamu hadapi, dan dgn melarikan diri plus mengurung diri sendiri dalam dunia sendiri jelas tindakan yg egois.
Dan itulah yg dilakukan Mary Beth saat ia berhadapan dgn situasi yg berat, yg sesungguhnya menurutku tdk begitu berat, ketimbang apa yg dihadapi oleh anak-anak pasiennya, krn ia sebetulnya bisa mencari jln keluar dari masalahnya, alih-alih menyalahkan diri sendiri, krn toh apa gunanya menyesali yg sudah lewat?
Sayangnya, ia memilih menjadi tdk waras krn tak tahan dgn penderitaannya sendiri atau kalau bisa disebut kelemahan dirinya, ia berusaha lari dari kenyataan kalau ia bertanggung jawab atas hidup mati seseorang, dan setelah ia menjadi gila, ia juga lari dari tanggung jawabnya sebagai ibu, kakak, dan satu-satunya org yg menjadi tempat bergantung utk mencari nafkah dlm keluarganya. Meninggalkan anak yg masih balita dan adik yg masih di bangku sekolah utk menjaga diri mereka sementara keluarga mereka dicerca orang-orang sekota.
Itu alasan pertamaku knp tdk bisa menyukai Mary Beth.
Alasan kedua, caranya berbohong, kebohongan demi kebohongan sampai aku bertanya-tanya, betapa tdk konsistennya wanita ini dgn prinsip yg dipegangnya, pada satu waktu ia berkata prinsipnya adalah A, kali berikutnya prinsipnya B, yg mana sangat bertentangan satu sama lain, dan prinsip itu muncul saat ia berada dlm kondisi yg membuatnya harus berbohong utk menutupi kebohongan lain.
Ia berbohong pada adiknya (Leeann) kalau ia dicampakkan Ben, alih-alih mengakui kalau sebenarnya ia yg menolak lamaran Ben, dan hal itu membuat Leeann yg sangat berharap Ben menjadi kakak iparnya itu kecewa bukan main dan membenci Ben krn telah mencampakkan Mary Beth. Leeann tentu saja menelan bulat2 semua kebohongan Mary Beth, krn Mary Beth adalah pusat dunianya. Leeann sendiri masih kecil sehingga tdk curiga sama sekali, walaupun kita para pembaca mulai curiga ada yg tdk beres dari pernyataan Mary Beth kalau ia dicampakkan Ben.
Adalah hak atau urusan Mary Beth sendiri jika ia takut berkomitmen (terbukti dari banyaknya hubungan cintanya yg kandas), tapi ia tdk punya hak utk membuat adiknya membenci mantan pacarnya krn kebohongannya itu. Dan untuk apa pula ia berbohong soal itu? Sampai akhir cerita tidak dijelaskan. Aku cuma bisa mengambil kesimpulan kalau dia sangat mencintai Leeann, dan takut Leeann membencinya krn telah menolak Ben.
Lalu, yg paling menyebalkan adalah Mary Beth tdk ragu2 utk kembali berbohong dan menjelek-jelekkan org lain (dlm hal ini adalah kakak Ben) saat Leeann sudah cukup dewasa utk mengonfirmasi kecurigaannya mengenai Ben. Pada konfirmasi Leeann yg kedua kalinya soal Ben, Mary Beth kembali berbohong dan berusaha mengelak.
Sudah menjadi kebiasaan Mary Beth untuk memberi jawabannya yg berbelit-belit yg bisa membuatnya mengelak dengan halus dari pertanyaan-pertanyaan yg sangat enggan dijawabnya.
Contoh lain, untuk pertanyaan Leeann mengapa Mary Beth menyembunyikan keberadaan ayah mereka dari Leeann, mengapa Mary Beth tdk ingin Leeann menulis surat pada ayah mereka itu, dijawab dgn cara yg berbelit-belit, dan pembaca dibawa ke adegan kilas balik sebanyak 2 LEMBAR yg mnrtku tdk begitu penting jika kamu bisa langsung mengatakan jawaban pertanyaan itu adalah bahwa Mary Beth yakin kalau ayah mereka tdk ingin kembali dan Mary Beth takut kalau Leeann menjadi kecewa saat mengetahuinya/mengkonfirmasi langsung pada ayah mereka. Sampai aku tiba di jawabannya itu, praktis aku pun sudah hampir lupa, apa sebenarnya yg ditanyakan Leeann sebelumnya dan Mary Beth kembali meluncurkan teka-teki lainnya utk dipikirkan Leeann, sehingga Leeann tdk lagi mendesaknya dgn pertanyaan lain yg sulit dijawabnya.
Kasih sayang Mary Beth pada adiknya memang tdk diragukan lagi, tapi aku sungguh tdk suka dgn caranya merusak hubungan Leeann dgn Ben dan ayahnya.
Membaca kisah ini membuatku teringat dgn pepatah "orang yang tdk mencampuri urusan pribadi orang lain adalah orang yang berbahagia". Lebih baik menyediakan waktu atau menghabiskan waktu lebih banyak dgn orang-orang tercinta drpd menghabiskan setiap waktu yg ada utk menyelesaikan masalah orang-orang tak dikenal. Bahkan waktu yg dijadwalkan bersama dgn keluarga pun ikut terenggut krn Mary Beth begitu terobsesi dgn panggilan jiwanya.
Semua org di dunia ini memiliki masalah, dan bagaimana mungkin ia seorang diri bisa menyelesaikan masalah setiap org? Bagaimana dgn kehidupannya sendiri? Lain halnya kalau ia mendedikasikan hidupnya utk itu, tapi ia masih punya tanggung jawab, sebagai ibu dan kakak dari adik yg masih blm bekerja. Mary Beth memang jago menyelesaikan masalah pribadi org lain dgn membaca lagu yg terngiang-ngiang dlm hati org, tapi sebaiknya selesaikan masalah keluarga sendiri dulu sebelum menyelesaikan masalah orang lain.
Ending buku ini juga tidak terlalu memuaskan. Overall, buku ini tidak sesuai harapan, 'gelap' dan 'berat'. Makin ke belakang, makin frustasi bacanya. Ditambah karakter Mary Beth, satu bintang aja deh jadinya.
Sebagai org yg pernah bersinggungan dgn bbrp orang-waras-yg-memilih-menjadi-gila dlm hidupku, aku berpendapat kalau memilih menjadi gila itu adalah tindakan pengecut dan lemah krn melarikan diri dari masalah, tak peduli seberapa berat pun masalahnya, krn sesungguhnya masih banyak org yg memiliki masalah yg lbh berat dari yg kamu hadapi, dan dgn melarikan diri plus mengurung diri sendiri dalam dunia sendiri jelas tindakan yg egois.
Dan itulah yg dilakukan Mary Beth saat ia berhadapan dgn situasi yg berat, yg sesungguhnya menurutku tdk begitu berat, ketimbang apa yg dihadapi oleh anak-anak pasiennya, krn ia sebetulnya bisa mencari jln keluar dari masalahnya, alih-alih menyalahkan diri sendiri, krn toh apa gunanya menyesali yg sudah lewat?
Sayangnya, ia memilih menjadi tdk waras krn tak tahan dgn penderitaannya sendiri atau kalau bisa disebut kelemahan dirinya, ia berusaha lari dari kenyataan kalau ia bertanggung jawab atas hidup mati seseorang, dan setelah ia menjadi gila, ia juga lari dari tanggung jawabnya sebagai ibu, kakak, dan satu-satunya org yg menjadi tempat bergantung utk mencari nafkah dlm keluarganya. Meninggalkan anak yg masih balita dan adik yg masih di bangku sekolah utk menjaga diri mereka sementara keluarga mereka dicerca orang-orang sekota.
Itu alasan pertamaku knp tdk bisa menyukai Mary Beth.
Alasan kedua, caranya berbohong, kebohongan demi kebohongan sampai aku bertanya-tanya, betapa tdk konsistennya wanita ini dgn prinsip yg dipegangnya, pada satu waktu ia berkata prinsipnya adalah A, kali berikutnya prinsipnya B, yg mana sangat bertentangan satu sama lain, dan prinsip itu muncul saat ia berada dlm kondisi yg membuatnya harus berbohong utk menutupi kebohongan lain.
Ia berbohong pada adiknya (Leeann) kalau ia dicampakkan Ben, alih-alih mengakui kalau sebenarnya ia yg menolak lamaran Ben, dan hal itu membuat Leeann yg sangat berharap Ben menjadi kakak iparnya itu kecewa bukan main dan membenci Ben krn telah mencampakkan Mary Beth. Leeann tentu saja menelan bulat2 semua kebohongan Mary Beth, krn Mary Beth adalah pusat dunianya. Leeann sendiri masih kecil sehingga tdk curiga sama sekali, walaupun kita para pembaca mulai curiga ada yg tdk beres dari pernyataan Mary Beth kalau ia dicampakkan Ben.
Adalah hak atau urusan Mary Beth sendiri jika ia takut berkomitmen (terbukti dari banyaknya hubungan cintanya yg kandas), tapi ia tdk punya hak utk membuat adiknya membenci mantan pacarnya krn kebohongannya itu. Dan untuk apa pula ia berbohong soal itu? Sampai akhir cerita tidak dijelaskan. Aku cuma bisa mengambil kesimpulan kalau dia sangat mencintai Leeann, dan takut Leeann membencinya krn telah menolak Ben.
Lalu, yg paling menyebalkan adalah Mary Beth tdk ragu2 utk kembali berbohong dan menjelek-jelekkan org lain (dlm hal ini adalah kakak Ben) saat Leeann sudah cukup dewasa utk mengonfirmasi kecurigaannya mengenai Ben. Pada konfirmasi Leeann yg kedua kalinya soal Ben, Mary Beth kembali berbohong dan berusaha mengelak.
Sudah menjadi kebiasaan Mary Beth untuk memberi jawabannya yg berbelit-belit yg bisa membuatnya mengelak dengan halus dari pertanyaan-pertanyaan yg sangat enggan dijawabnya.
Contoh lain, untuk pertanyaan Leeann mengapa Mary Beth menyembunyikan keberadaan ayah mereka dari Leeann, mengapa Mary Beth tdk ingin Leeann menulis surat pada ayah mereka itu, dijawab dgn cara yg berbelit-belit, dan pembaca dibawa ke adegan kilas balik sebanyak 2 LEMBAR yg mnrtku tdk begitu penting jika kamu bisa langsung mengatakan jawaban pertanyaan itu adalah bahwa Mary Beth yakin kalau ayah mereka tdk ingin kembali dan Mary Beth takut kalau Leeann menjadi kecewa saat mengetahuinya/mengkonfirmasi langsung pada ayah mereka. Sampai aku tiba di jawabannya itu, praktis aku pun sudah hampir lupa, apa sebenarnya yg ditanyakan Leeann sebelumnya dan Mary Beth kembali meluncurkan teka-teki lainnya utk dipikirkan Leeann, sehingga Leeann tdk lagi mendesaknya dgn pertanyaan lain yg sulit dijawabnya.
Kasih sayang Mary Beth pada adiknya memang tdk diragukan lagi, tapi aku sungguh tdk suka dgn caranya merusak hubungan Leeann dgn Ben dan ayahnya.
Membaca kisah ini membuatku teringat dgn pepatah "orang yang tdk mencampuri urusan pribadi orang lain adalah orang yang berbahagia". Lebih baik menyediakan waktu atau menghabiskan waktu lebih banyak dgn orang-orang tercinta drpd menghabiskan setiap waktu yg ada utk menyelesaikan masalah orang-orang tak dikenal. Bahkan waktu yg dijadwalkan bersama dgn keluarga pun ikut terenggut krn Mary Beth begitu terobsesi dgn panggilan jiwanya.
Semua org di dunia ini memiliki masalah, dan bagaimana mungkin ia seorang diri bisa menyelesaikan masalah setiap org? Bagaimana dgn kehidupannya sendiri? Lain halnya kalau ia mendedikasikan hidupnya utk itu, tapi ia masih punya tanggung jawab, sebagai ibu dan kakak dari adik yg masih blm bekerja. Mary Beth memang jago menyelesaikan masalah pribadi org lain dgn membaca lagu yg terngiang-ngiang dlm hati org, tapi sebaiknya selesaikan masalah keluarga sendiri dulu sebelum menyelesaikan masalah orang lain.
Ending buku ini juga tidak terlalu memuaskan. Overall, buku ini tidak sesuai harapan, 'gelap' dan 'berat'. Makin ke belakang, makin frustasi bacanya. Ditambah karakter Mary Beth, satu bintang aja deh jadinya.
July 17, 2017
Good book with a strong concept that should have held together better. Instead, the last third of the book doesn't hold up with the creativity of the story's opening. I loved the idea of a woman who is a modern day fortune teller by reading people's future's though the songs that they listen to. When she makes a mistake, the whole methodology is called into question and leaves a pair of sisters in misery.
July 4, 2018
Ein geschenktes Buch, dessen Titel und Cover mich nicht grad haben aus dem Häuschen fahren lassen. Aber wieder einmal ist es genau so ein Buch, das mich am Ende vor Berührung weinen lässt.
Danke, liebe Freundin, die du mir dieses schöne Buch geschenkt hat!
Zwischendurch fand ich es sogar mal eine Phase etwas zu langatmig und habe mich beim Überlesen erwischt. Aber nichtsdestotrotz: Es lohnt sich auf jeden Fall dran zu bleiben. Ein tolles Buch!
Danke, liebe Freundin, die du mir dieses schöne Buch geschenkt hat!
Zwischendurch fand ich es sogar mal eine Phase etwas zu langatmig und habe mich beim Überlesen erwischt. Aber nichtsdestotrotz: Es lohnt sich auf jeden Fall dran zu bleiben. Ein tolles Buch!
March 5, 2017
I bought this book because I was intrigued by the idea of song reading. The story is nicely structured, with interesting characters, and I didn't want to put it down.
The ending was a little abrupt and I had to read it twice to make sure I understood what happened, but otherwise it was a very satisfying read.
The ending was a little abrupt and I had to read it twice to make sure I understood what happened, but otherwise it was a very satisfying read.
May 5, 2017
I kinda think of this book as a women's fiction version of Nick Hornby's High Fidelity. It's got many pop musical references throughout and those wonderful uses of song titles and lyrics to help provide support for people in need of emotional support. Good premise to this novel.
April 29, 2019
The first half of this book I really loved. The second half was kind of depressing. I knew it was going to get that way because of what happened in the book. I really thought it was going to get better but sadly, it didn't.
November 21, 2017
This is maybe a 2.5 for me? It was a pretty quick, easy read for me, but just lacked something. And I really didn't like the ending. Oh well, can't like 'em all.
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