A review by patsypoo
A Song for Issy Bradley by Carys Bray

1.0

I hated it! I listened to it and I must say the narration is fine. The accents and different voices are good and Anna did a spot on job with what she had to work from. But it was a slog...
I like to say as little as possible about plots of books because I myself prefer to go in as blind as I can. So all I'll say is that this Mormon family struggles to come to terms with a family tragedy and I struggled to keep my interest in their story.
The novel itself could've been so much more. The beginning was good and I thought I was on to a winner. I also loved Jacob and his take on the world around him - that's where my lonely star comes from.
However, we don't spend anywhere near enough time with him to make up for his narrow-minded father, who is so blindly dedicated to his church that it struck me as bordering on fanaticism.
Most of the other characters seem brainwashed by their belief system as well and extremely out of touch with the world in which we currently live. It felt way too contrived in parts and I didn't buy into it.
Maybe I'm too much of an agnostic to understand that kind of behaviour. On the other hand, I've read a few reviews from people who say they're Mormon and they dispute a lot of what's portrayed in the book.
I'd also like to point out that although I'm a nonbeliever, I do enjoy discovering and reading about different religions. Having said that, every time we got Ian's point of view it was as if he was turning his faith into a cricket bat and repeatedly beating me over the head with it. Not just me but every member of his family, too.
Don't waste your time. Go read something else! You're welcome.