I received this book for free from Purchased, Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Lucy Variations by Sara Zarr Narrator: Sara Zarr
Length: 8 Hours 20 Minutes
Also by this author: Roomies
on May 7th 2013
Genres: Young Adult Fiction, Social Themes, Emotions & Feelings, Girls & Women, Performing Arts, Music, Family, Parents, Siblings
Pages: 352
Format: Audiobook, eARC
Source: Purchased, Publisher
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Lucy Beck-Moreau once had a promising future as a concert pianist. The right people knew her name, her performances were booked months in advance, and her future seemed certain.That was all before she turned fourteen.Now, at sixteen, it's over. A death, and a betrayal, led her to walk away. That leaves her talented ten-year-old brother, Gus, to shoulder the full weight of the Beck-Moreau family expectations. Then Gus gets a new piano teacher who is young, kind, and interested in helping Lucy rekindle her love of piano -- on her own terms. But when you're used to performing for sold-out audiences and world-famous critics, can you ever learn to play just for yourself?National Book Award finalist Sara Zarr takes readers inside one girl's struggle to reclaim her love of music and herself. To find joy again, even when things don't go according to plan. Because life isn't a performance, and everyone deserves the chance to make a few mistakes along the way.
Why Did I Listen To The Lucy Variations by Sara Zarr?
The Lucy Variations by Sara Zarr basically ended up on my to be listened to list when I had to use up all my Audible credits before cancelling my account. I went with the practical and decided to get audiobook editions of books that I still needed to review from Netgalley. PLUS! I really enjoy listening to contemporary young adult audiobooks. Lately they just seem to be my audiobook genre of choice. So, I went with this book because I wanted something easy to follow while making my commute.
What’s The Story Here?
The Lucy Variations follows this teenage girl named Lucy who is super good at piano. She’s from a relatively privileged family as well — which plays a big role in the story. Lucy is in Prague at the beginning of the book, about to play an important concert when she finds out that her family kept some bad, life altering news from her just so she wouldn’t screw up the concert. Lucy walks out and is all F this shit. So, she ends up taking time off from the piano, against the wishes of her grandfather. Meanwhile, her little brother Gus is getting good. While Gus is learning, his tutor who is old, up and dies on him. This leads to a younger tutor, a man named Will who comes in and takes over. Lucy and Will form a bit of a bond. Will tries to help Lucy find her love of music again and just play for herself. Of course, some dramatic things go down.
How Did I Like The Lucy Variations?
The Lucy Variations is an okay read. I mean the character of Will was kind of creepy. It just feels a little weird to read about 30ish year old men acting a little bit inappropriate with teenagers. I just got this weird vibe from him the whole time I was listening to the book. Honestly, I liked How To Save A Life much more than this. Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying this was a bad book. Just, I have read better from Zarr.
How’s The Narration?
The audiobook of The Lucy Variations is narrated by the author herself. This time around, I was glad that I listened to a Zarr narrated book via the Audible app. I was able to speed her slow narrating up to 2x the speed. Still, I think that I would have enjoyed this so much more if it was narrated by a professional narrator. The narration kind of jarred me from the story. It could have been better is all I am saying. Also, there’s music that plays during this and I was 100% not a fan, I kept thinking my phone was going off for work and it pulled me out of the story entirely.
Other reviews of The Lucy Variations by Sara Zarr:
- The Perpetual Page Turner – “just never took off for me“
- Rhapsody In Books – “I didn’t like the main protagonist of this book much“
- The Reading Date – “I could relate to Lucy’s struggle for balance.“
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