A review by rabbithrted
Songs in Ursa Major by Emma Brodie

3.0

I am so sorry girl but the lyrics
you wrote were actually better than the novel.....I mean that as a compliment, like seriously go into songwriting. Also where were the character descriptions what do these people look like? Why does everyone have blue eyes and why is that all we know? I'm confused. What does Jesse look like? Because i have no clue.

Other than that it was the escapism I needed even if it was literally like reading someones maladaptive daydream. Gained some bonus points with the Joni influences too. I would say tho at times it felt a little too modern for 1969, Im not sure if that’s because of the writing style or some of the aspects within the plot but it could’ve done with a bit more detail and observation of the era. I did like the female perspective of the music industry and felt Jane’s story was refreshing and stayed true to her character throughout, so some respect for that also. I do really feel if anything that Jane’s story of balancing art,love and life, and how difficult of an industry music is for woman in comparison to all the male characters around is the strongest aspect of the novel. Vincent can piss off.

As it was comparable to Daisy Jones and the Six, and by that i mean it was written on the cover of songs in ursa major itself, i didn’t enjoy this as much. But it did fill my appetite for another 60/70s set story, and i’d be lying to say it wasn’t entertaining and a ‘page turner’. It’s getting a 3.5 maybe a 4?