Welcome to Litsy!

Not a bad way to start the day… and a new book!

Wonderful coming of age/mystery from debut author Brendan Slocumb.
A stolen $10 million dollar Stradivarius belonging to a Black violinist frames this coming of age story about overcoming racism & prejudice while pursuing a career in the pigment challenged world of classical music.
Loved this story! Initially I felt many of the incidents of racism were overblown & almost cartoonish...then I read the Afterword only to learn they actually happened.

📖 5-21-22 || Propulsive | Musical | Mystery
This is a top pick for me! It is marketed as a mystery (and thriller??), however for me the draw is the coming-of-age story of a young Black musician. The author draws from his own experience as a violinist who has faced discrimination in the music world. As a sidenote, reading this has renewed my passion to pick my violin back up after 20 years! 🎻🎵

Another author that I met on Thursday night. Brendan was amazing and can‘t wait to read his book!

I agree with Ray. 🙂

This was an interesting way to explore racism and micro aggressions in areas where the black community has been systematically prevented the opportunity to succeed - and also, consider the challenge to succeed when not even family members can imagine it possible. The heist was just average though, and I thought the crowding sourcing/fund raising angle interrupted primary aspects of the story. May #BookSpin @TheAromaofBooks

I really liked this book, especially the parts about music and the violin. I enjoyed the mystery (I‘ve heard some people say it was obvious who did it but I always fall for all the red herrings and suspect everybody!) I liked the main character but some of the others were rather one dimensional. The cover is exceptional.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A great page-turner of a debut! Never knew I would care so much about an old violin.

Not a true story BUT included many personal details that did take place in author's life made this a five star read. The family dynamics were extremely relatable. I desperately wanted this story to be based on history due to the profound racism, idealisms, misinformed law persons and so much more. However, reference to Venmo, Uber, cell phones, and other technology woven into the storyline keep the reader's frame of reference in the here and now.

A stolen violin, strained family ties, slavery, expectations, stereotypes and classical music are all intertwined in this engaging thought provoking read. I was swept up in the music & storytelling. Author was slightly heavy handed in certain parts of the book, but as an African American classical musician he has truly encountered racism and unfair notions. Audio was exceptional! Highly recommended🎻❣️

Thanks for letting me know about The Violin Conspiracy playlist on Spotify @DivineDiana 🎻It‘s absolutely gorgeous 🎼

#AudioWalk I can‘t stop listening 🎻🎧♥️This might be the MAGIC I‘ve been looking for⚡️ 🪄⚡️SO GOOD❣️❣️❣️

LOVING this 🎧🎻♥️

#ThingsInCommon so here‘s how it‘s playing out @Clwojick I started the month with audiobook Make God Laugh narrated by Bahni Turpin, using the same narrator I chose Red Island House. Using the word House led me to House of Rougeaux which led to Sea of Tranquility as both books are set in parts in Canada. Now I‘ve started Violin Conspiracy because a violin is central to both stories. I have no idea what‘s next🤷🏼‍♀️

Ray dreams of becoming a classical violinist. His family would prefer that he work in a hospital cafeteria. Only his beloved grandmother believes in him,and gives him the battered violin that had been stored in the attic of her home. Ray‘s love of the violin takes him to the highest echelons of classical music, but not without struggles,betrayal,and racism.This book was a thrilling page turner! Written by a man who is a Black classical violinist.

Just finished the audiobook. DO NOT SLEEP ON THIS BOOK!! (Sorry for the all caps I just really loved this book). It was amazing. Following Ray‘s journey from a high school violinist to a soloist. Learning about his family history. The thriller element. It is too tier. Plus loving the classical music interludes between each new part in the story. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Starting new ebook loan. #libby #booked2022
#newin2022

Good thriller that isn‘t about murder!

My March reads! The Violin Conspiracy was my favorite! Nour‘s Secret Library is a picture book. Locke & Key is a graphic novel. The Reading List was for book group. The other three were all advance copies.

🎻

#blacklit

#blackstories

#blackauthors

#classkcalmusic

My March #BookSpinBingo was a success! I got two Bingos, finished both of my BookSpins and read 13 books. My favorite was the tagged book, and I also loved Milkman and Anatomy.

This book uses the mystery of a stolen violin as a framing device to explore the story of Ray—a tremendously talented violinist who crashes into every possible wall simply because he‘s black. I really enjoyed this and especially like the music cred of the fact that the author is a violinist who is black.

1. I had a word game on my old Kindle that‘s no longer supported. 😞
2. Baseball!
3. Tagged!
#wondeouswednesday

1. The little bookcase next to the bed.
2. Tagged! Compelling, well written mystery with some food for thought about the world of classical music.
3. Maybe a Miracle
#wondrouswednesday

#WondrousWednesday @Eggs @TheSpineView Thanks for the tag!

1. This shelf I hope to read this year.

2. My favorite book read so far this year is The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb

3. Haven‘t DNF‘d a book yet this year.

Anyone who reads this is tagged!

I loved this book about a musician‘s prized violin being stolen for ransom. But it‘s more of a story about a Black man‘s career in music and all the racism he faces in trying to be as successful as his talent deserves. The author is a classical musician and based the character‘s experiences on his own life. A lot of the tension in the story comes from wanting him to succeed. I thought the resolution to the mystery was good too. March #BookSpin

#BookReport. Four great books this week. The tagged book was 4.5 🌟 Although I was wrong on a plot twist it was a satisfying read on audio. The story is fiction but he used some of his own experiences to heighten the drama. The other 3 were all 4 🌟 Lily was a sob fest, Missing Trees was wonderful and the mystery set in A place I‘ve visited was fun. #WeeklyForecast. The plan is pictured. I think I will stick to it.

My #MarvellousMarch game plan. I have less than 3 hours of the tagged book…I think I may have a clue about whodunnit and am anxious to see if I‘m right. Next up on audio is The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane. I just started The Seed Keeper on kindle and next up is the mystery. Print is The Silence of the Girls for #LMPBC. Work is its usual tax season crazy but most of my off time is books and sleep thanks to a supportive husband.

So good! It could turn out to be a favorite for the year.

I only wanted an index of the music referenced in the book, but here‘s the author‘s playlist that seems to include a lot of it.

https://www.brendanslocumb.com/my-playlist

Now that I‘ve caught up on my February reviews, I can start my Book Spin for March. These are the picks! I‘m looking forward to both.

1. The tagged book is finally waiting for me at the library!
2. I think “literally” is literally overused. 😚
#two4tuesday

Thoroughly enjoyed this! Something in it for everyone: family drama, music, mystery, history, and honestly a pretty great primer on systemic racism. Perfect JD Jackson narration. The brilliant author‘s note at the end was even better than all of that. ❤️

Enjoyable look into the world of classical music through the eyes of a Black violinist who‘s had his priceless instrument stolen. Good audiobook 🎧

🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩

This is, hands down, one of the best books I‘ve read in ages. The frenzied urgency Slocumb created in the first chapter just overlays the entire book, even when he slows the story. He weaves racial issues in so deftly, drawing on his own awful experiences, but also has moments of levity and humour. And the music! The way he writes about music is just incredible.

I did figure out whodunnit fairly early on but it didn‘t limit my enjoyment at all.

Yaaaasss! Listened on #audiobook and the narration is 💯 An up and coming Black violinist learned that his instrument, which has been in his family for generations is a Strad. The story is ostensibly about finding the thief, but really speaks to racism and family in profound ways.

African American classical violinist, Ray, has his rare instrument stolen and ransomed off. As Ray bargains for his property, he discovers a connection to his family history of racism, prejudice, and slavery. This page-turning novel looks at social themes and hardships every POC faces in all avenues of society.

Great reading list! https://crimereads.com/22-new-releases-by-black-authors-to-keep-you-reading-all-...

1. Tagged book
2. I‘m 4th on the hold queue…
3. So many! I‘ll probably finish Southernmost in a day or two.
#wondrouswednesday

Ray McMillian is a young black man who has a gift for music and wants to become a classical musician. Ray's grandmother gives him her father's violin. He was a slave and would play the violin for the plantation owner and acquired the violin years ago. When Ray finds out that the violin is a Stradivarius worth $10 million dollars, he is sued by the Marks family who own the plantation. Ray's family is also suddenly interested in the violin's worth.

If you loved THE QUEEN‘S GAMBIT, you will love this novel. I sure did. On sale February 2022.