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The Music Shop

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The Music Shop

By: Rachel Joyce
Narrated by: Steven Hartley
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About this listen

Random House presents the unabridged downloadable audiobook edition of The Music Shop by Rachel Joyce, read by Steve Hartley.

From the author of the world-wide bestseller, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, a new novel about learning how to listen and how to feel; and about second chances and choosing to be brave despite the odds. Because in the end, music can save us all ...

1988. Frank owns a music shop. It is jam-packed with records of every speed, size and genre. Classical, jazz, punk – as long as it’s vinyl he sells it. Day after day Frank finds his customers the music they need.

Then into his life walks Ilse Brauchmann.

Ilse asks Frank to teach her about music. His instinct is to turn and run. And yet he is drawn to this strangely still, mysterious woman with her pea-green coat and her eyes as black as vinyl. But Ilse is not what she seems. And Frank has old wounds that threaten to re-open and a past he will never leave behind ...

 Contemporary Contemporary Fiction Fiction Genre Fiction

Critic Reviews

Rachel Joyce tells wonderful stories. In her hands, ordinary lives are given dignity and triumph. She is a champion of humanity, and The Music Shop is no exception. It is a joyous love song that pulses with hope and benevolence and laughter. (Sarah Winman, author of When God Was a Rabbit and Tin Man)

Her speciality is writing with empathy on the quirkier aspects of life...[The Music Shop] has the feel of a summer hit: warm-hearted, unusual and romantic, with a sense of hope pervading all manner of misfortunes...

Joyce's gift is in using simple language to convey profound observations on human nature.

(Will Hodgkinson)
The Music Shop is wonderful - a tender and moving love story which captures brilliantly the healing, redemptive power of music and its ability to console, empower and reassure. I adored it. (Laura Barnett, author of The Versions of Us)
Rachel Joyce hits all the right notes with her love letter to vinyl… This is the most beautiful ode to music, community and love, that overflows with charm and warmth. (Jane Craddock)

[Joyce] writes with unquestionable charm and and with her considerable heart never far from her sleeve.

Joyce's charm and good-heartedness remain undiminished, as does her ability to create a highly appealing, semi-magical world... and to make us root for her characters all the way.

(James Walton)
Rachel Joyce deploys all her trademark charm… on a journey of redemption, of confronting the demons from the past and of healing.
I love any novel by Rachel Joyce, whose The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry was a huge success. Now she has created another Pied Piper of the heart in Frank, the proprietor of the music shop. Frank's individually chosen records can heal the soul - and this bewitching love story sings out the unique beauty of every human being, leaving you uplifted. (Bel Mooney)
A beautiful novel, a tonic for the soul and a complete joy to read. (Joanna Cannon, author of The Trouble with Goats and Sheep)
Nobody writes with quite that mixture of clear eyed humanity and downright authorial mischief that Rachel Joyce brings to The Music Shop (Patrick Gale)

The Music Shop tells us that our drum beats may well be different, but we can still dance to a harmonious and funky rhythm.

Rachel Joyce is a genius with words and full of soul. This is another uplifting and utterly heart-enlarging novel.

(Bel Mooney)
All stars
Most relevant
This was a charming story with enjoyable themes. Was the ending a little too twee and neat? I guess it’s allowed now and then. If you are going to name composers, please get the pronunciation right. Haydn is like high dyn and Bowie like a bow in your hair. Hearing Hay den over and over grated.

Charming

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I really enjoyed listening to this book. A lot to like. Full of music, simplicity, love, human frailty and innocence. Good ending - couldn’t keep a dry eye. I think it would make a great movie.

I want to see the movie

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Rachel Joyce weaves a delightful tale about Frank, who owns a music shop. We meet the many characters who frequent his shop and the delightful way he supports them with the vinyl he sells.

A wonderful read

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Another beautiful Rachel Joyce book. What a story. A very visual book. Make a good film…

Hard to stop listening

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The Music Shop in Audible was fun from the start, so descriptive, tender and frustrating as the characters gave of themselves. A real delight, and it will take you to music you may not know. You will love the ending, too.

You will fall in love again

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