Needless to say, I am thrilled.
Here's what judge agent Orli Vogt-Vincent had to say about it:
SONGS FOR BEGINNERS had me from the very first page, with a first line that was irresistible. This was truly a pleasure to read, with a central protagonist who is as endearing, unique and believable as her childhood literary heroines. SONGS FOR BEGINNERS is vividly set in a particular time and place, beginning in the 1970s - what unfolds from there is a confident and bold voice, and a truly addictive story. Hannah and Neil are completely believable from the moment we meet them, and their relationship is beautiful to read, as well as Hannah’s relationship with her beloved Nain. What is particularly notable about this storytelling is that it is unpredictable: the author consistently makes choices that the reader does not expect, and this is a story that thrills in its surprising choices. We follow these characters from their early teens until the end of university, and Hannah’s coming of age is written in a tender, sensitive and charming manner, untangling themes of what it means to find yourself as a woman, as a sexual being, and as a human, particularly when you feel that you are different from others. I adored the way in which the author wove in music and literature as constants throughout Hannah’s growing up, because you can also see how these references have influenced the writing itself.
Overall, this was an impressive novel exploring youth, family, feminism, how we forge our identities in the world, and what it really means to love. It might be best expressed with a line from the novel itself: “She was happy, more or less,” a line which sums up the confusion and thrill of becoming an adult in a wonderfully unique and lifelike way
Massive debt of gratitude to @Rachael Burnett and @Claire G and all the other Lab critters who helped in the early stages.
Here's what judge agent Orli Vogt-Vincent had to say about it:
SONGS FOR BEGINNERS had me from the very first page, with a first line that was irresistible. This was truly a pleasure to read, with a central protagonist who is as endearing, unique and believable as her childhood literary heroines. SONGS FOR BEGINNERS is vividly set in a particular time and place, beginning in the 1970s - what unfolds from there is a confident and bold voice, and a truly addictive story. Hannah and Neil are completely believable from the moment we meet them, and their relationship is beautiful to read, as well as Hannah’s relationship with her beloved Nain. What is particularly notable about this storytelling is that it is unpredictable: the author consistently makes choices that the reader does not expect, and this is a story that thrills in its surprising choices. We follow these characters from their early teens until the end of university, and Hannah’s coming of age is written in a tender, sensitive and charming manner, untangling themes of what it means to find yourself as a woman, as a sexual being, and as a human, particularly when you feel that you are different from others. I adored the way in which the author wove in music and literature as constants throughout Hannah’s growing up, because you can also see how these references have influenced the writing itself.
Overall, this was an impressive novel exploring youth, family, feminism, how we forge our identities in the world, and what it really means to love. It might be best expressed with a line from the novel itself: “She was happy, more or less,” a line which sums up the confusion and thrill of becoming an adult in a wonderfully unique and lifelike way
Massive debt of gratitude to @Rachael Burnett and @Claire G and all the other Lab critters who helped in the early stages.
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What happens next? Onwards and upwards!
Heartening to see success in such a challenging environment!
