Ellie and the Harpmaker

LisaLovesToRead

Ellie and the Harpmaker | Hazel Prior

pick

An interesting novel — sweet and hopeful

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Prairiegirl_reading

Ellie and the Harpmaker | Hazel Prior

Not loving this at around 20%. I‘m definitely considering bailing. I got it from a list of books that are like Eleanor Oliphant. The rec said quirky characters which this definitely has but I thought Eleanor was a loveable character and not finding that here.
I don‘t usually track my DNFs but I think I might this year. Do you track your bails? Do they count for your challenges?

IndoorDame I do track my bails on Litsy and Goodreads/StoryGraph, but the only challenge I count them towards is #bookspin and #bookspinbingo Do you have a link to the list you were talking about, or any recs from it? I loved Eleanor! 2y

Prairiegirl_reading @IndoorDame https://mindjoggle.com/books-like-eleanor-oliphant-is-completely-fine/ (edited) 2y

Prairiegirl_reading @IndoorDame I also loved Eleanor! 💜 2y

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IndoorDame @Prairiegirl_reading thank you! I added some of these to my TBR! 2y

Prairiegirl_reading @IndoorDame I had read and enjoyed a few other titles on this list too so I‘m pretty disappointed with Ellie and the harp maker. 😕 2y

IndoorDame @Prairiegirl_reading I‘ll definitely skip that one then. Too bad, the synopsis is promising. Though the litsy rating isn‘t. 2y

ravenlee I track my DNFs in my journal so I have a record of books/authors that didn‘t work, or if it‘s something I might come back to at another time. I give myself credit for the pages read if it‘s around 50+, and I count it for #bookspin or any other TBR-tackle-challenge, because it gets the book off my list. 2y

Prairiegirl_reading @ravenlee I really need to start a journal. I always waiver on how to set it up and then I never do anything. I just track my finished books on goodreads and now StoryGraph also. I would really like a paper copy but I want it to be pretty! Lol!! 2y

Prairiegirl_reading @IndoorDame I first heard about it on the currently reading podcast and then it came up on audible‘s daily deal so I grabbed because it does sound charming but 😬😬. I didn‘t check Litsy or anything until today when I was considering bailing. Should have checked before buying!! 🤦🏻‍♀️ 2y

36 likes1 stack add9 comments

slategreyskies

Ellie and the Harpmaker | Hazel Prior

pick

I wouldn‘t say that I really enjoyed this book, but the ending was really nice. And I cried. So there‘s that. More in a spoiler comment below.

slategreyskies I gave this a pick rather than a so-so because what bothered me most about Ellie was that she wouldn‘t leave her husband and didn‘t seem to see that he was abusive. She just didn‘t get it, and that really bothered me. Then I realized it was personal, that I‘d done the same thing in my abusive first marriage and that I was strongly reminded of myself in a way I didn‘t like. So, it gets a pick, because it felt realistic, if frustrating. 2y

47 likes1 comment

slategreyskies

Ellie and the Harpmaker | Hazel Prior

I‘m a little over halfway through this, and I‘m not sure what I think about it so far. Ellie is really annoying me with all her meddling and lying. She seems to want so much to fix Dan‘s life, but what about fixing her own? I just want to shake her!

39 likes

emmaturi

Ellie and the Harpmaker | Hazel Prior

pick

This is an enjoyable read. Ellie is perfectly happy with her life, when suddenly she is given a surprising gift! Enter Dan in her life, who gives her a harp. He is the harpmarker. Now both their lifes will change!

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emmaturi

Ellie and the Harpmaker | Hazel Prior

I have selected these books for March, I should manage them as I read 15 this month. What is your favorite from these? #tbrpile

BiblioLitten I have Florida and Such A Fun Age on my TBR too. 😊 4y

emmaturi They sound good! Hope you enjoy them! @BiblioLitten 4y

Suet624 Good luck getting through them all! 4y

32 likes3 comments

MaggieCarr

Ellie and the Harpmaker | Hazel Prior

pick

#BookShelfAwareness #AdultsWithAutism

Ellie doesn't realize until much to late in her marriage how bad it is. It's not until she stumbles into a workshop and befriends Dan who owns and resides the Harp Barn. Unable to "become more" within her marriage she retreats to the Harp Barn to practice her music. The chain of events are easy to predict but the characters are wonderful. Not said but assumed Dan is a high-functioning autistic adult.

33 likes

ReadingEnvy

Ellie and the Harpmaker | Hazel Prior

so-so

Ellie stumbles across a harp maker in Exmoor and they develop a friendship despite hardship and quirks. This was a sweet read and seems to be inspired by real harps and harpmakers and Exmoor as a place!

This came out August 6 and I had a review copy from the publisher through netgalley but I got behind. This is a cozy read that was a nice balm after a stressful weekend.

55 likes2 stack adds

booksbrewsandbooze

Ellie and the Harpmaker | Hazel Prior

pick

Ellie is like the friend who makes the same mistakes over and over again, is oblivious to reality, and makes you so angry that you could hurl. But yet, you stick around anyway, understanding why she is the way she is, or makes the decisions she makes, and you keep on hoping she will make the right one... the best one... for her. Haven‘t we all felt this way about a friend before? Or maybe even about ourselves? (Rest of review in comments)

penguinrandomhouse

booksbrewsandbooze I love books where the setting is one of the main characters. Reading about Exmoor made me want to learn more about it, to see the colors the author vividly describes. Hazel Prior thanks Exmoor in her acknowledgments at the back of the book, so it makes sense that the location plays a great deal into the book. 5y

booksbrewsandbooze I could have honestly used more harp! “More harp” is the next “more cowbell.” More descriptions of the harps and what playing does would have been great for me. 5y

booksbrewsandbooze So there‘s a bit of a mystery in the book (not a creepy one). Just a “what‘s in the past?” unraveling. I guessed it while reading the back cover and it was pretty obvious going through the book, so if you‘re looking for a shocking reveal, it‘s not like that. I don‘t necessarily think it was supposed to be either. 5y

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booksbrewsandbooze There were some annoying bits based on characters‘ actions, as in “how are they not realizing this very obvious thing? Does no one else see he‘s nuts? Have you completely forgotten that thing from the past?!” People do put blinders on, so it is human nature I suppose, but sometimes, I wanted to yell at the characters. 5y

booksbrewsandbooze Still, I kept on reading because I wanted to know what was going to happen to the characters. I was really hoping Ellie would figure it all out eventually and find what she was lacking. No spoilers. You‘ll have to read it yourself!
5y

booksbrewsandbooze Side note: I wasn‘t entirely sure until the end of the book if it would go the way I hoped it might. It honestly could have gone either way or maybe a million different ways, and I like that that part kept me guessing until the end. 5y

booksbrewsandbooze
When I finished the book, I had that feeling of “oh, I want to know what happens next to them!” Always a good thing, to have that feeling after closing a book, isn‘t it? 5y

booksbrewsandbooze This was an ARC my roommate received and I shamelessly yoinked from his pile. These feelings are my own and not influenced in any way by the receiving of an ARC through nefarious roommate means. ;) 5y

booksbrewsandbooze #booksbrewsandbooze #hazelprior #ellieandtheharpmaker 5y

booksbrewsandbooze #penguinrandomhouse 5y

14 likes10 comments

booksbrewsandbooze

Ellie and the Harpmaker | Hazel Prior

“Doctors and dentists minister to our physical needs. Prime ministers minister to our political needs. Plumbers minister unto taps. But harp players (and indeed all musicians) minister unto something else.

The something else is much deeper than the bits we can see, but far more important. In my opinion, music ministers to the real person that hides inside the person-shell.” #booksbrewsandbooze #ellieandtheharpmaker #hazelprior

10 likes

marleed

Ellie and the Harpmaker | Hazel Prior

so-so

I read many books where a quirky MC, lovable or ornery, is presented their chance for love or friendship. Many times this genre is a sweet pick for me.

Parts of this story seemed disjointed and Ellie‘s dishonesty garnered no interest in me seeing her become a champion for Dan. This one is just barely a pick for me, and I might edit to a so-so as I give it more thought.

Lindy Sometimes I move my Goodreads star rating up or down a star on further reflection. 5y

marleed @Lindy Beginning this year I keep index cards on each book I read. I rate in pencil upon finishing because I‘m discovering that my opinion may change upon reflection. For me a Pick must come in at least a C+, 3.5*. I‘m afraid this one is in between a C and C+, 3.25. 5y

Lindy @marleed I‘m a softy when it comes to judging books. For me, 5 stars is A+, 4 stars is A, 3 stars is a B: these are all picks for me on Litsy. 2 stars is a C: that‘s so-so. A rare (for me) 1 star rating is a pan. 5y

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marleed @Lindy Oh that‘s so interesting. Like you, I seldom read a book that‘s below my Meh/3*/C rating so the 1*/2* options are not often there for me. If I adopted your assignment I might give up my anal quarter points. 5/A+, 4.75*/A-, 4.5*/A, 4.25/B+, 4/B ... 5y

Lindy @marleed We all need to find our comfort zone in judging books. It‘s so subjective, isn‘t it? 5y

marleed @Lindy It is. It‘s even subjective the mood I‘m in when I read. When I don‘t like a book, I try to consider my mood at the time and if my opinion has more to do with me than the book. Lol! 5y

61 likes1 stack add6 comments

Hazel0303

Ellie and the Harpmaker | Hazel Prior

I‘m really really struggling with this #arc. Anyone else??? It‘s just very boring and I‘m not at all engaged in the characters.

14 likes

BlameJennyJane

Ellie and the Harpmaker | Hazel Prior

Yay! #BookMail waiting for me after a long day. I‘m really looking forward to this one! 💚💙💚

44 likes

MelissaSue81

Ellie and the Harpmaker | Hazel Prior

pick

Book number 2 complete for #24b4monday with just about 6 hours down (my stopwatch is about 30 minutes behind.). This book was a sweet story. I was however continually frustrated with the way most of the characters acted. Everyone was lying to each other! I had seen it compared to the likes of A Man Called Ove and Eleanor Oliphant and it wasn‘t at that level to me at all, but I did enjoy it for what it was.

66 likes

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