Book Review: Ghost Music by An Yu


Book Review: Ghost Music by An Yu

Synopsis:

For three years, Song Yan has filled the emptiness of her Beijing apartment with the tentative notes of her young piano students. With her marriage, she gave up on her career as a concert pianist, but her husband Bowen has long rebuffed her desire to have a child. Instead, she must accommodate her mother-in-law, newly arrived from the province of Yunnan and bringing her long-buried family secrets. Soon strange parcels start to show up on the doorstep and Song Yan's dreams become troubling and claustrophobic. Striking alone through the winter city, she finds herself pulled into the ancient hutongs to confront the source of her unease.

My Thoughts:

I devoured this book, mesmerized by An Yu's exploration of emptiness and loneliness. Even when we have it all, the ache of emptiness can persist. I loved how An Yu wove this theme throughout Song Yan's journey. The writing style is stunning, with a fluidity that drew me in.

And can we talk about the cover art? It's breathtaking! The empty sheet of music replaced with little mushrooms playing as the music notes is a genius touch. It perfectly captures the essence of the story, hinting at the themes of emptiness, music, and the blurring of reality and fantasy.

What I found particularly striking is how this story exemplifies a different perspective on the afterlife. It's a unique and captivating take that will leave you pondering long after you finish the book.

However, I did struggle with the character development - particularly with Bowen, Song Yan's husband. His absence left me feeling frustrated, and I wished for more depth in his character.

Despite this, I highly recommend adding Ghost Music to your TBR fall list! An Yu's writing is captivating, and the themes of grief and loneliness resonated deeply with me.

Rating: 4/5

What are your thoughts? Have you read Ghost Music? Do u like my photo?

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