Random Things Tours: Nothing Else by Louise Beech

One of the many advantages of being part of blog tours, is the chance to constantly discover new authors and literary voices, talking on different levels of complexity that maybe otherwise will not be able to know about. Time is limited, the amount of books regularly published requires 10 livetimes of nothing else but reading and in addition, finding the right sources of information about the best books to read is not easy either. Therefore, getting the help of trustworthy book endorsers is a precious gift. Part of the process of being a frequent book reviewer is also getting to know edition houses publishing high quality titles, like Orenda Books. I´ve hardly read a book they published that did not tickled my reading senses.

My latest read from them is Nothing Else by Louise Beech, an author I´ve heard about before but was never committed enough to discover how. Now, I just can´t wait to read another of her books.

What really impressed me in the case of this book, is the very rare use of music as a story background. The main character of the book, Heather Harris, is a piano teacher and professional musician. Her sister, Harriet, disappeared without a trace, but she is longing for finding her ever since. As she is trying to make a career switch playing on a cruise, by playing the special song of her and her sister, a snowball of memories is put into motion in unexpected ways. A touch of faith but also a longing.

Although the book follows a line alongside a mystery, the second but not least important layer of the book explores the intricacies of trauma and memories and how music is an escape yet a companion of pain as it can be both a reminder of and a antidote to suffering. The way in which the trauma and the drama are internalised and consumed by the characters, particularly Heather, was one of the most interesting parts of reading this book.

Louise Beech proves to be a fine observer and crafter of words and meaningful scenes. It takes a significant amount of strength and knowledge of human feelings to create a story of sisterhood and family bonds avoiding the sugary romantic temptations. 

Last but not least, the book comes with a Spotify list of songs mentioned in the book, which is another level of connecting arts of different intellectual textures.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour, but the opinions are, as usual, my own