Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Book Review: HARMONIC FEEDBACK, by Tara Kelly

I don't normally post book reviews. I don't have a degree in literature or journalism, and I usually don't dissect what I read. There's a list of "Books I've Read in 2010" on the sidebar of my blog. If a book is listed, I finished it. If I finished it, I liked it.  I read for interest, escape, or pleasure. Period.

When I ordered Harmonic Feedback, I didn't read the synopsis. Instead, I read the praise from Stephanie Keuhnert, "An impossible-to-put-down, must-read book. Brilliantly written and filled with music, but even more so with emotional truth." And I read the short bio: "Tara Kelly is a one-girl band, writer, filmmaker, video editor, and digital photographer. Harmonic Feedback is her first published book."

I liked that Tara had multiple creative outlets, and I do my best to support debut authors, especially those who frequent VerlaKay's Blueboards. So I purchased the book and began to read. I made it half-way through the first chapter and set it down. The main character had Asperger's Syndrome. I don't read about AS. I live with it, and it's been beyond difficult. Did I mention I read to escape?

I carried Tara's book in my purse for three weeks before pulling it out again. When I did, it was because I was stuck someplace with nothing to do, not because I made a conscious decision to finish the book.  I began reading, read for two hours, came home, and continued reading into the night until it was finished. It was beautiful, it was heartbreaking, and it wasn't about AS. It was about yearning to belong, the pain and joy of relationships with family and friends, and first love. It was Drea trying to understand the gray areas of life when her world was black and white.

Tara Kelly is an incredible talent who writes with an authentic voice. Harmonic Feedback IS brilliantly written and emotionally true. I highly recommend it, and I hope she publishes again soon.

Congratulations, Tara, on a fabulous debut!

10 comments:

out of the wordwork said...

It sounds amazing. And for someone who doesn't usually post reviews you posted an awesome one!
Nelsa

Anonymous said...

I know a lot of people who'd enjoy a book like this. Thanks for the review!

Julie Musil said...

I haven't heard of this book yet! Oh my, my 'to be read' list is growing by leaps and bounds!

Thanks for stopping by my blog, and for your kind words about the design. Yours is adorable too!

Suzanne Casamento said...

Sounds like a beautiful story. Everyone can relate to wanting to belong, the pain and joy of friendship and love.

Thanks for the review! I'll have to read it.

Marcia said...

Glad you enjoyed the book, Nora. Your review makes me think about what makes us stop reading a book, and what makes us start up again -- part of which is, I guess, just physically having the book! For those of us who'll read the phone book if nothing else is handy, possession is nine-tenths of the read, or something. :) Sounds like a fine book.

Nora MacFarlane said...

Thanks All. I'm so glad I picked up again and read it.

Green Girl, Julie & Suzanne - It's wonderful, and I hope you enjoy it too.

Nelsa - Thank you. This one was easy to write!

Marcia - My mother once called my cousin and asked her what she was doing. She replied, "I'm sitting here reading the Bible. I've read everything else in the house."

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

Don't you love it when a book surprises you!

Anonymous said...

It sounds such a beautiful book.

J.A. Palermo said...

I'm looking forward to reading it, too. Ad your review made me want to read it even more.

Nora MacFarlane said...

Sharon - Yes! I do! Especially when I started out with such a bad attitude.

Nikki - Beautifully written!

J.A. Palermo - I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!