America
19th Century
Prelude
Back of the Book:
At the entrance of the city, an Irish governess climbs into a carriage and sets out to confront the man who destroyed her sister's life--a blind musician who hears music no one else can hear...
With these first notes, B.J. Hoff's Prelude transports you to nineteenth-century America and carries you from the crowded tenements of New York City to the opulent mansions of the Hudson River Valley. Poised between one of the most dramatic eras in our country's history and the turbulent issues of today, Prelude sounds the opening note of a remarkable tale, told in the unique voice and classic style of B.J. Hoff. This story lets you step into another time and live among people you'll never forget, people you'll grow to love.
My Review:
I wasn't too pleased with the book as I started out. I didn't like B.J. Hoff's style of description at all. Or rather, I didn't like where she put the description. I would be in the middle of reading a scene with full dialog among the characters and an impending event looming, and she would break into descriptions about what the area or people looked like or what the character's lengthy thoughts about life were. I just wanted to know what was going to happen! The descriptor paragraphs could have been placed earlier or later, not in the middle of a scene that requires action. I was very frustrated with that.
Also, the three seemingly separate stories going on was confusing. I had no idea why she was writing about a family in Ireland that was moving to America, two doctors in the poor part of NYC, and a famous musician in a large manner house. The Irish family had no contact with anyone else the story was about. I was very confused.
But the story about the musician was entertaining and kept you guessing as to what the truth behind past events were. I also like stories where a woman moves into a house to be a governess. I kept reading just to find out what was going to happen to her and how she would reconcile her feelings. The fact that the maestro was blind was also very intriguing to me.
I picked up the next book, Cadence, to find out how the story would go.
And remember, things are not always what they seem...