Wednesday, November 30, 2022

Moon Tunes: Livin' La Vida Lunar


I recently picked up a bargain book that looked promising, Night Music by Jojo Moyes.  It's one of her earlier novels, published five years before Me Before You, which put Moyes on the map.  Having loved that trilogy (as well as Sheltering Rain and Windfallen), I expected a sad but satisfying second chance story.  And I got it!

The Spanish House (which isn't in Spain, but England) is a tumbledown mansion that too many people covet.  So when the owner, nasty old Mr. Pottisworth, finally croaks, it sets a chain of events rippling through the village.  The long-suffering Mrs. McCarthy and her conniving husband, who live in a smaller house at the edge of the property, think they deserve it for putting up with Pottisworth.  A down-on-his-luck developer wants to knock it down to build commuter housing.  Yet it's recently widowed violinist Isabel Delancy who inherits it and moves in with her two teenagers.  Left penniless after her husband is killed in a car accident, Isabel is forced to leave a life of luxury in London for a monstrosity in the middle of nowhere.  The house has no plumbing, heat, or electricity, and parts of it are literally crumbling.  It's a mess with which Isabel's ill-equipped to deal, especially in the wake of her loss.  As a career violinist, music has been the center of her world, so much so that it's cut her off from the rest of it, at least according to the children's nanny as she comforts Isabel's oldest:

"And she was fragile, a little like a child herself, Mary had said.  "You often find that with people who have a talent," she had told Kitty one evening.  "They never have to grow up.  All their energy goes towards doing the thing they love."  Kitty had never been able to tell whether or not she had meant this as a criticism." (60)

Faced with feeding her family and salvaging her strange new home, Isabel has to put music on the back burner, playing her violin only at night when she's lonely and thinks no one can hear.

Still, the Spanish House isn't the end of Isabel's story.  Instead, it opens her up to a countryside full of characters, some incredibly kind and others unscrupulous as their greed for the Spanish House spirals.  Their subplots intersect and overlap, weaving an intricate web of rural life and the motivations that fuel it.  Yet it's Isabel's transformation from sheltered lady to forest forager (among other things) that anchors the novel.  Despite her city sophistication, Isabel is naΓ―ve about everything else.  Although starting over is painful, she digs deep and finds that she has pluck, armoring her against her enemies and deepening her bond with her children.   

Rich with all the charm, heart, and, yes, melancholy that is Moyes' calling card, Night Music supports the old adage that big houses bring big problems.  But it also shows us that there's more than one way to make music -- and, ultimately, a home.

9 comments:

camdandusler said...

Thanks for your review...

Samantha said...

What a cool read!! Just the title of the house, "The Spanish House", sounds captivating and full of intrigue. The quote you included from page 60 is so touching, and fantastic! "They never have to grow up. All their energy goes towards doing the thing they love." ❤️ Great review!

The Book Group said...

I have seen it on HOLD at the library. Good to know what it's about. It seems different though than from her other novels. Loved the reviewπŸ’—πŸ’—πŸ’—πŸ’—πŸ’— Thanks for your comment. Yes, relationships are full of compromise..and of course, you never know what to expect from friends.

Hollyn'Stevie said...

So great to know about this one. It does sound like a very intriguing book. πŸ’—πŸ’—πŸ’—πŸ’—πŸ’—Happy December! Thanks for your comment. Some stories can be an interesting dance.

Ivy's Closet said...

It does sound like such a wonderful book. I have not read it. It's on my list though. Thanks so much for the wonderful review. ❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️We have had a little snow..but it's warming back up. Unfortunately, a coworker has RSV. Always something. Thanks so much for your comments! Let's hope December goes well for both of us.

Better Left Unsaid said...

Thanks for this fantastic review! She is an amazing author. Loved the quote too! Hope you have a wonderful December❄️πŸŽ„πŸ’•❄️πŸ’•πŸŽ„

bread&salt said...

I havent read it but it really sounds interesting. Thanks for the review. Greetings.

Caitlin'nMegan said...

It does look like a great story. It has an international feel to it. Thanks so much for the review. πŸŒΈπŸ’•πŸπŸ‚πŸ’—❄️ Thanks for your comments too. Although, I am definitely not a romance writer but maybe I can keep it real, especially when there is no one perfect. Life is full of compromises. I hope you are staying well.

ellie said...

I have been eyeing it, but too much to do at the moment. Thanks for the wonderful review. I hope you are having a good weekend. I caught something going around last night so I feel I need to just stay in bed. All the best to your Christmas countdownπŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„πŸŽ„