It is a testament to the strength of Sophie Hannah’s ability
as a writer that she can create a character so annoying and unlikeable, who complains
bitterly and incessantly throughout most of the book and yet I never once
considered putting it down Not once. Few authors can bring a character to life
like Sophie Hannah.
Louise Beeson’s neighbor likes to blasts his music of a
Friday and Saturday night. Not often, just enough to drive her crazy. When she
complains he blasts even louder and longer. Her 7 year old son Joseph attends prestigious
Saviours College as a chorister where he is
required to board. And even though she sees him several times a week it is not
enough. Her husband wants to sandblast their house which requires closing off
the windows and the light. Apparently all this is enough to drive her off the
deep end. She begins hearing choral music during the night and she’s convinced
her neighbor is responsible. So she bullies her husband into buying a vacation house
in a gated community where all noise is prohibited-even children splashing in
the pool-yet still she hears the music. At this point the story takes off. Too
bad it had to be two thirds of the way through. Still I was really surprised at
the ending. I had it pegged all wrong.
I read somewhere after I finished the book that it was
supposed to be a horror/ghost story. Really? Who knew?
I would caution anyone who decides to read Sophie Hannah not
to start with The Orphan Choir. It really is not reflective of her normal body of
work. Even so, I enjoyed it immensely.
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