Review of Love in Words and Music
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Danielle Zdranik
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Review of Love in Words and Music
[Following is a volunteer review of "Love in Words and Music" by J. M Unrue.]
Love in Words and Music stands out from other books because of its all-dialogue format. I think I liked the idea of a novel in all dialogue more than I actually enjoyed the reality of it. Some positive aspects were that it made for a very fast-paced read and I felt as though the events at the end of the story were realistically captured by relying only on what the characters, Patricia and Bradley, verbalized. Unrue did a good job of being consistent with which character used which pet names i.e. only Bradley used "Baby" when talking to Patricia, and only Patricia used "Honey" when talking to Bradley. I found this to be an effective way to keep the flow of reading easy. Unrue also wisely limited his character cast. While Bradley and Patricia are not the only people in the story, they are the only ones we ever "hear" speak.
Despite the entire book being conversations between the main characters, I did not feel strongly connected to them. I did not find them easy to root for or overly likeable/relatable. For a couple that seemed to be practicing healthy communication from the start of their relationship, their actions often indicated a failure to genuinely understand the other person, what they were endeavoring to communicate and/or an appropriate way to navigate their self-proclaimed character flaws.
The topics of conversation got repetitive, which may have been one of the most realistic aspects of this story of a fifty-year-long love. The reader experiences Bradley and Patricia aging at an expedited pace and it never really feels like their life settles. They claim to be happy and attribute their happiness to their love and togetherness, but outside of intimacy, there are few day-to-day "feel good" moments compared to the amount of discontent and tragedy they experience. In the instances of pain and loss, I feel exclusive dialogue was a disservice to the reader's ability to empathize and connect with Bradley and Patricia.
Finally, in the last portrayed season of Bradley and Patricia's love, I was convinced that their relationship was built on more than just words and music. It proved to be more than tingly feelings, security and status. The short, repetitive dialogue was realistic in the most frustrating, compassionate, and heart-breaking way.
I appreciate Unrue breaking the mold of novel writing and creating something unique in the way of formatting and also in the way of suggesting that love is somewhat scientific. While there is room for improved character development, the overall telling of the story and execution of the writing were done well.
******
Love in Words and Music
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Love in Words and Music stands out from other books because of its all-dialogue format. I think I liked the idea of a novel in all dialogue more than I actually enjoyed the reality of it. Some positive aspects were that it made for a very fast-paced read and I felt as though the events at the end of the story were realistically captured by relying only on what the characters, Patricia and Bradley, verbalized. Unrue did a good job of being consistent with which character used which pet names i.e. only Bradley used "Baby" when talking to Patricia, and only Patricia used "Honey" when talking to Bradley. I found this to be an effective way to keep the flow of reading easy. Unrue also wisely limited his character cast. While Bradley and Patricia are not the only people in the story, they are the only ones we ever "hear" speak.
Despite the entire book being conversations between the main characters, I did not feel strongly connected to them. I did not find them easy to root for or overly likeable/relatable. For a couple that seemed to be practicing healthy communication from the start of their relationship, their actions often indicated a failure to genuinely understand the other person, what they were endeavoring to communicate and/or an appropriate way to navigate their self-proclaimed character flaws.
The topics of conversation got repetitive, which may have been one of the most realistic aspects of this story of a fifty-year-long love. The reader experiences Bradley and Patricia aging at an expedited pace and it never really feels like their life settles. They claim to be happy and attribute their happiness to their love and togetherness, but outside of intimacy, there are few day-to-day "feel good" moments compared to the amount of discontent and tragedy they experience. In the instances of pain and loss, I feel exclusive dialogue was a disservice to the reader's ability to empathize and connect with Bradley and Patricia.
Finally, in the last portrayed season of Bradley and Patricia's love, I was convinced that their relationship was built on more than just words and music. It proved to be more than tingly feelings, security and status. The short, repetitive dialogue was realistic in the most frustrating, compassionate, and heart-breaking way.
I appreciate Unrue breaking the mold of novel writing and creating something unique in the way of formatting and also in the way of suggesting that love is somewhat scientific. While there is room for improved character development, the overall telling of the story and execution of the writing were done well.
******
Love in Words and Music
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Donny, Mary Grace and the Ugly Marbles by Catherine A. Pepe
