Tuesday 26 March 2019

Review by Pauline of chaptersandchances.wordpress.com

March 26, 2019

This was amazing and fantastic and I really enjoyed it! More at 8

When Violet is 16, she travels to Leipzig to study music there. She will spend the next four years there and return home eventually. But even then, she still corresponds with the friends she met in Leipzig.

This is a work of historical fiction which draws a lot of inspiration from actual events. We follow Violet on her adventures in Leipzig, her return to England and end the book with Violet getting married. Her story is told through letters Violet writes to her friends and family.

Although the story is set in the 19th century, it feels natural, in a sense. Fortunately, this was very easy to read as well as really enjoyable. I have found it to be quite difficult to read books set in the past if the author just overdoes it with the writing, but this book walked the very fine line between being unrealistic and just plain overdone.

Another great thing about this book is that unlike with other “letter novels”, you actually understand the plot. Even though you only get to read one side of the story, namely Violet’s, it is still incredibly easy to imagine what all the other characters are feeling and their distinct personalities.

On that note, allow me to freak out for a short while.

OOOOOOHHHHHHH MYYYYYYYYY GOOOOOOODDDDD!!!!!! THIS BOOK INVENTED SLOW BURN!!!!!! (and yes this calls for all caps)

The year of Violet and Frank writing letters to each other while Violet was unsure of his feelings for her???? Absolutely killed me.

Now, back to being a #professional lmao.

Minor spoiler alert: I found it very refreshing to read about someone figuring out that maybe they don’t really have an exceptional talent and that’s okay! Violet starts out wanting to be a performer but comes to realize that, compared with others’ , her talent just isn’t that extraordinary. She tries her hand at a couple of other things and comes to the conclusion that even though she does not have a grand undiscovered talent, she may still have a life she enjoys.

This is one of the many themes that are as relevant back then as they are now. Going to live in a new city (and a new country!), making a life for yourself and just finding yourself are things pretty much everyone has to deal with today and I find it reassuring that even people 130 years ago had the same struggles.

Overall, this is definitely a book worth reading in any case and I would recommend it to everyone, even if they don’t particularly enjoy historical fiction as this book really is one of a kind! (less)


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