Sea Music

I normally don't write reviews. I read too many books to want to review any of them. But Sea Music is out of the ordinary, although it started with the usual English village scenes that drew me to it: The Vicar, who gives a little too much of himself in the care of his parish and two fairly demented parents, his father, the former village GP, and his adored wife. The vicar's niece, who helps with care of her grandparents, is an equally compelling character. She is torn between this little family surrounding the vicarage and her fiance who is about to go to war. At first, we do not quite understand that the old couple fighting for their wits have a special background that accounts for both their sorrow and their devotion to each other. We sort of fall in love with this set of characters, so that when the old woman's youth in Poland is exposed, and then later Aushwitz, we start to see why her husband is so protective of her. The author skillfully introduces the remaining central characters. As the characters commingle around tragedies as they come, they show us that formerly cruel people can have redemptive qualities. I read this book twice, actually. I may read it again one day. It's worth it.

I have just finished this book and am crying, clutching the book to my heart. I am so happy I found this beautiful book. It moved me. I have renewed respect for those that have gone through the Holocaust and am grateful my family never had to suffer like that. This book is amazing.

This book is absolutely one to grab your insides and twist them around. It changed my perspective on conflict in life and actually gave me a new window into the potential cruelty of human nature and the ability to forgive and survive. A little slow to start, the momentum picks up and you can't put it down. This is one of those books you will think about for years to come.