Today's review is of the Teachers and Friends Book Club selection for March. It was chosen by Board of education member Mrs. Libero. I was really stoked to read this as it was described as a musical comedy. The main characters are piano players, so we've decided to hold the meeting at a piano restaurant next week. We are hopeful retired West Haven music teacher Mr. Vessichio will make a guest appearance.
I am sorry to say I really did not like the book.
Two languishing piano players put aside their melancholy loves to compete on a reality show like American Idol. I did not like either one of them: Prudence--once a child prodigy who wrote a famous jingle and lives off the royalties and Alexei--a socially inept recluse. I found Prudence annoying, and although I empathize that she is truly depressed without proper treatment, I wanted to smack her senseless. She was the epitome of first world problems. Alexei blames all his problems on his parents way of raising him, when in reality he has no gumption anyway.
Add in the HOST of minor characters the reader has to keep straight. There are way too many extra characters and most of them are just as annoying. The HOA president, the bum ex-husband, the former teacher...every one needed a back story that was a slog to get through.
So, yeah, a no from me. The ending is happy.
All opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. W.
