“An unforgettable story of music, loss and hope. Fans of High Fidelity, meet your next quirky love story.”—PeopleNAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY THE TIMES (UK) It is 1988. On a dead-end street in a run-down suburb there is a music shop that stands small and brightly lit, jam-packed with records of every kind. Like a beacon, the shop attracts the lonely, the sleepless, and the adrift; … attracts the lonely, the sleepless, and the adrift; Frank, the shop’s owner, has a way of connecting his customers with just the piece of music they need. Then, one day, into his shop comes a beautiful young woman, Ilse Brauchmann, who asks Frank to teach her about music. Terrified of real closeness, Frank feels compelled to turn and run, yet he is drawn to this strangely still, mysterious woman with eyes as black as vinyl. But Ilse is not what she seems, and Frank has old wounds that threaten to reopen, as well as a past it seems he will never leave behind. Can a man who is so in tune with other people’s needs be so incapable of connecting with the one person who might save him? The journey that these two quirky, wonderful characters make in order to overcome their emotional baggage speaks to the healing power of music—and love—in this poignant, ultimately joyful work of fiction.
Praise for The Music Shop
“Captures the sheer, transformative joy of romance.”—The Washington Post
“Love, friendship, and especially the healing powers of music all rise together into a triumphant crescendo. . . . This lovely novel is as satisfying and enlightening as the music that suffuses its every page.”—The Boston Globe
“Magnificent . . . If you love words, if you love music, if you love love, this [novel] will be without question one of the year’s best.”—BookPage (Top Pick in Fiction)
“Joyce has a knack for quickly sketching characters in a way that makes them stick. [The Music Shop] will surprise you.”—Minneapolis Star Tribune
“Rachel Joyce has established a reputation for novels that celebrate the dignity and courage of ordinary people and the resilience of the human spirit. . . . But what really elevates The Music Shop is Joyce’s detailed knowledge of—and passion for—music.”—The Guardian
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I loved this book. 2/3s of the way thru the book I thought I knew what was going to happen, but I was so wrong. I loved the information about music and how to listen to it.
Loved the music references
I definite feel good book. The story line was original and the characters were very like-able, in-spite of their faults. This was a book I was sad to see end, even though it had a wonderful conclusion. This is a definite must read. I don’t often give 5 stars. This book was special.
Intriguing characters and setting.
Great characters and good story about not quite fitting into society’s definition of ‘normal’
this is a quirky little read, character development takes a while, but once you get to know them, they are quite the characters. Its a really nice read, no violence, no real plot, but just fun!
Lovely!
This is not the best book I’ve ever read, but it is very entertaining and fun I loved learning about the music trivia. The characters are well-drawn; some are fun, some are tragic. It was a good read during a week of vacation. I thought the end was draggy, and a little improbable, but I kept reading because I really cared about the characters by then.
Really enjoyed this book, one of my favorites.
Author is a great story teller. Many interesting characters. Thoroughly enjoyed
I really enjoyed this unique story line and the quirky characters!
The book is set in a small, somewhat rundown area outside London in the 80’s. Frank opens a music store, vinyl only, and refuses to carry cassette tapes, and definitely no CDs! Frank has the uncanny knack of choosing music for his customers – what they will enjoy, but also what they need in their life at that time.
Ilse, from Germany, arrives in town with a secretive past and almost magical talents.
The story of Frank and Ilse along with the other characters is a wonderful, “draw you in” book you will enjoy and remember.
As a past music store employee for many years, I can tell you the author did thorough research! Thumbs up!
can’t wait for someone to make this book into a movie
This book illustrates how music can heal.
The Music Shop, the one place where vinyl is still going strong and music is a special remedy. Frank has spent his life caring for vinyl, becoming in tune to music, and refusing to sell CDs. He has a special ability to be able to give people the music that they need, not that they want. Frank has helped people overcome breakups, heartbreak, alcoholism, and many other life happenings.
Frank’s shop is located on Unity Street, a row of shops and townhomes that has been around for a while. The shop owners here are very close, helping each other through anything and everything. There’s a bakery, a religious gift shop, tattoo parlor, and a host of other characters. They all share the same resolve, to keep their shops even under the pressure of offers from Fort Development.
One day, a strange woman comes to the shop and she faints on the sidewalk. After helping the woman, the people on Unity Street begin to wonder who she is and what her story could be. The woman, Ilse, keeps returning to The Music Shop and asks Frank to teach her about music. This starts a relationship between them that neither seem to notice. Frank has issues from his past and Ilse has issues of her own. The two need to overcome their pasts in order for their future to thrive.
The Music Shop by Rachel Joyce was a nice read, but that’s just what it is, nice. The story with Frank and Ilse just didn’t do anything for me. It wasn’t necessarily an ‘insta-love’ relationship, but it didn’t excite me nor did I feel that I cared what happened between them.
Also, the shop assistant Kit is super annoying. BUT he did provide some comic relief to an otherwise monotonous story.
In my opinion, the true story was the one on Unity Street. A tight group of shop keepers versus a land development company (which we know little about). The unity they share is such an empowering story that I think there should have been more on this aspect of the story.
Overall, The Music Shop by Rachel Joyce was cute story that made me want to shop in a vinyl store (which I did; I read this book while on my trip to Nashville).
The Music Shop by Rachel Joyce received 3 stars.
A fantastic author. Description of characters and events is refreshing. The story is great… Do yourself a favor and read this book
I love the story but even more so, the language. The author managed to weave a musicality into the prose that I have only heard once before.
It is a book worth Listening to.
The music shop by Joyce_ Rachel
Story starts out with Frank in England and he runs the vinyl record shop where he has the right answer for all who walk in after talking to them, via a song.
He picks out the exact song that will motivate the person into looking into their troubles and coming up with the right answers.
He meets Elsa from Germany who has disfigured hands as a violinist but she can do miracles in his shop with certain procedures. She becomes pregnant and has to leave to go back to Germany and she tends to her relatives who are ill.
Many years later she returns back to London to find Frank and the only way she can think to do that is awesome. Love how it comes down to help from many others she doesn’t know.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).