kelly_e's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Title: Ellie and the Harpmaker
Author: Hazel Prior
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 3.00
Pub Date: May 2, 2019
T H R E E • W O R D S
Lyrical • Uncommon • Predictable
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Meet Ellie. She's perfectly happy living her quiet life with her husband, Clive. Happy to wander the English countryside and write the occasional poem that nobody will read; happy to dream of all the things she hasn't yet managed to do.
Meet Dan. He thinks all he needs is the time and space to make harps in his isolated barn, deep in the countryside. He enjoys being on his own, far away from other people and - crucially - far away from any risk of surprises.
But what Ellie and Dan are about to learn that sometimes, you don't find love--love finds you...
💭 T H O U G H T S
Ellie and the Harpmaker has been on my TBR since it's release, and I was grateful when a friend gifted it to me. Initially intrigued by the unique synopsis and unconventional characters, I thought this was going to be a book I'd absolutely love. Despite it being a sweet, heart-warming story, it's also highly predictable and forgettable.
I considered DNFing around the 25% mark, as the pacing seemed to drag. However, I am glad I kept with it. The story gains momentum in the second half and Hazel Prior has delivered a hope filled novel with interesting characters. Told through alternating points-of-view, Dan was certainly the highlight. His caring, care-free and generous spirit just brought so much joy to my reading experience.
As for the story, it read more like fairytale than anything. It was easy to predict where the story was going to go and how it would end, which took most of the fun out of the reading. And some of the scenarios came across as outlandish. I did really appreciate the power of music throughout the story.
Ellie and the Harpmaker ended up being somewhat of a letdown for me. It's one of those books where I don't necessarily have anything bad to say, but I don't really have anything good to say either. It was just a comforting, average read. If you like slow to develop stories involving distinctive characters than this just might be the book for you.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of quirky characters
• readers who enjoyed The Rosie Project
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"People say that certain sounds can melt a heart of stone. If there is anyone who has that sort of a heart―which I doubt (as far as I am aware hearts are made of fibrous materials, fluid sacs and pumping mechanisms)―if anyone does have a heart composed of granite or flint and therefore not at all prone to melting but just conceivably meltable when exposed to very beautiful sounds, then the sounds made by my Cherrywood harp, I am confident, would do it. However, I had a feeling the heart of Ellie the Exmoor Housewife was completely lacking in stony components. I had a feeling it was made of much softer stuff."
Author: Hazel Prior
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 3.00
Pub Date: May 2, 2019
T H R E E • W O R D S
Lyrical • Uncommon • Predictable
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Meet Ellie. She's perfectly happy living her quiet life with her husband, Clive. Happy to wander the English countryside and write the occasional poem that nobody will read; happy to dream of all the things she hasn't yet managed to do.
Meet Dan. He thinks all he needs is the time and space to make harps in his isolated barn, deep in the countryside. He enjoys being on his own, far away from other people and - crucially - far away from any risk of surprises.
But what Ellie and Dan are about to learn that sometimes, you don't find love--love finds you...
💭 T H O U G H T S
Ellie and the Harpmaker has been on my TBR since it's release, and I was grateful when a friend gifted it to me. Initially intrigued by the unique synopsis and unconventional characters, I thought this was going to be a book I'd absolutely love. Despite it being a sweet, heart-warming story, it's also highly predictable and forgettable.
I considered DNFing around the 25% mark, as the pacing seemed to drag. However, I am glad I kept with it. The story gains momentum in the second half and Hazel Prior has delivered a hope filled novel with interesting characters. Told through alternating points-of-view, Dan was certainly the highlight. His caring, care-free and generous spirit just brought so much joy to my reading experience.
As for the story, it read more like fairytale than anything. It was easy to predict where the story was going to go and how it would end, which took most of the fun out of the reading. And some of the scenarios came across as outlandish. I did really appreciate the power of music throughout the story.
Ellie and the Harpmaker ended up being somewhat of a letdown for me. It's one of those books where I don't necessarily have anything bad to say, but I don't really have anything good to say either. It was just a comforting, average read. If you like slow to develop stories involving distinctive characters than this just might be the book for you.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• fans of quirky characters
• readers who enjoyed The Rosie Project
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"People say that certain sounds can melt a heart of stone. If there is anyone who has that sort of a heart―which I doubt (as far as I am aware hearts are made of fibrous materials, fluid sacs and pumping mechanisms)―if anyone does have a heart composed of granite or flint and therefore not at all prone to melting but just conceivably meltable when exposed to very beautiful sounds, then the sounds made by my Cherrywood harp, I am confident, would do it. However, I had a feeling the heart of Ellie the Exmoor Housewife was completely lacking in stony components. I had a feeling it was made of much softer stuff."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Mental illness, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Ableism
Minor: Medical content
More...