Just finished reading Rachel Joyce’s romantic novel ‘The Music Shop’ (Penguin) as part of my ‘get more reading done before you run out of shelf-space’ initiative.
This story is very light and an easy read. If you’ve read her bestselling ‘The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry’ you may be surprised at the plaudits heaped on ‘The Music Shop’ because it’s not as good, nor as much of page-turner. Having said that it’s clear Joyce had to do a lot of music research and it really pays off.
Beginning in January 1988 we’re introduced to the dowdy figure of Frank who runs a record shop in a run down part of town. He sells all types of music, provided it’s on vinyl, and is vehemently anti-CD – aren’t we all. His customers are hugely varied, as are his neighbours, but he has a recording answer for everyone’s ills or interests – mostly ones they’ve never ever considered. For his insight into peoples troubles, and supplying a potential cure, he’s a hit
Surrounded by a strange, but convincing set of shopkeepers, friends and other locals, Frank is happy in his universe, until Ilse Brauchmann appears at his shop window. From there on it’s mayhem! Who is she? What does she want? There are lots of suggestions, most of them wrong. Basically it’s a romantic musical romp with Frank at the centre and his well-meaning friends attempting to help him discover the real Ilse. If you love vinyl, you’ll love Frank and ‘The Music Shop’.
Filed under Readers, Writers
