THE MUSIC SHOP By Rachel Joyce


If you’re fan of Nick Hornby’s High Fidelity and the John Cusack movie of the same name based on Hornby’s book, you’ll enjoy Rachel Joyce’s The Music Shop. This music shop is located in a shabby suburb of London in 1988. The eccentric owner, Frank, is in love with music and vinyl. In fact, Frank won’t sell cassette tapes or music CDs. Frank will sell only vinyl. Needless to say, Frank’s music shop is in financial trouble. In fact, the whole street faces “gentrification.” Maud the tattooist hasn’t had any business in weeks. Father Anthony with his shop devoted to religious iconography hasn’t sold a thing lately. Mr Novak the baker and the Williams brothers–who run the funeral parlor– struggle to keep their doors open.

Into this situation enters Ilse Brauchmann, a mysterious German woman, who faints outside Frank’s music shop. Much of the book then peels away the layers of Frank’s story and Ilse’s story. If you enjoy music and unusual romance, The Music Shop will provide you with hours of enjoyment. GRADE: B+

12 thoughts on “THE MUSIC SHOP By Rachel Joyce

  1. Steve Oerkfitz

    Sounds interesting. I don’t like the cover. I would never have looked at if I saw it in a store or library.

    Reply
  2. Jeff Meyerson

    Never heard of this one, but the HIGH FIDELITY comparison makes it interesting to me. There are still places – we’ve seen one down here, and New York has them – that still sell only vinyl.

    Reply
    1. wolf

      That brings memories of Manhattan – near Times Square was “The Colony” where I bought some rarities many years ago. Still got their poster on the wall …
      But it too closed in 2012 …
      https://www.villagevoice.com/2012/09/05/closing-the-colony-a-visit-to-times-squares-shuttering-sheet-music-outpost/

      PS:
      Rather OT – Go (Stomu Yamashta, Al di Miola, Steve Winwood etc …) was one of my favourite groups from the 1970s and I found their records at the Colony …

      Reply
  3. Beth Fedyn

    This does sound good, George.
    I recently read The Vinyl Detective: Written in Dead Wax by Andrew Cartmel. It’s the start of a series. I haven’t read the second book yet but I thoroughly enjoyed the first.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *