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There are currently 20 member reviews
for The Music Teacher
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Lynette (San Antonio TX)
The Music Teacher by Barbara Hall
I like this book, but it seems more of a short story than a novel: a story which has been stretched out to novel-length, as opposed to an actual novel with the complexities of characters and various story lines which the term novel tends to connote. Since I love short stories, this was not a complete turn-off; the book has a leisurely pace and treats themes which warrant contemplation, the author has a pleasing turn of phrase and the subject matter will appeal to contemporary women - perhaps urban women especially, but not solely. Still, I feel as if I have just eaten a light, tasty meal when I was expecting fare of at least three courses.
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Kim (Arlington TX)
Kim
I thought the book was going to be a quick easy read, and the brief sounded really interesting. I was very disappointed in it. Pearl seemed to be a self-centered person who only thought of herself. She gets Hallie, a new young promising student, and really messes her around. Pearl seemed to retaliate in many childish situations that she could not face. Hallie came from a very bad home situation and, I thought, Pearl was trying to live her life through Hallie's. Pearl was very childish in some of the decisions that she thought she was helping Hallie with and this made Hallie's life more dysfunctional.
Pearl needed to get her own life in order before trying to fix everyone else around her. By the end of the book, i was really disappointed in Pearl's choice of men and was more than ready to get through with the book.
This book is not one that I would recommend at all, I was more than glad to get to the end of it
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Marissa (Boca Raton FL)
Falls Short of A Symphony
This book is not what you expect. It is the story of a music teacher with a lot going on in her world but it misses the mark. The main character is Pearl, a violinist who never made it professionally . She teaches others in a small music store in Los Angeles. The story weaves back and forth between Pearl and Hallie an extremely gifted violinist that comes from a very dysfunctional family. The book captured my interest when the author stayed on the subject of the music and Hallie. Once the author strayed with other character development the meaning was lost.
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Katherine (Albuquerque NM)
Too Many Storylines
While the author of this book has a great, breezy writing style there are too many different storylines for this short book. Her relationship with Hallie isn't developed well enough to make the conflict over Hallie quitting music or her "betrayal" very moving. I was also unclear about the need for the introduction of a second talented student that heard voices while playing the violin. The storyline of the protagonist's love life is a little more compelling, but still doesn't resolve itself in a satisfying way. Overall, I can't recommend this book.
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Lee (Wentzville MO)
Not a recommend
The author seems undecided on whether to write a novel or a text book. As a consequence much of the musical information seems forced into the plot. She introduces few other characters and does not flesh them out enough for us to care about them. Which leaves the reader with one of the whiniest heroines ever written.
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Janice (Bluffton SC)
Just Okay
I found this a quick read and a very shallow novel. I was disappointed in the plot, character development, and the ending.
The theme of the book was loosely woven so that it seemed a bit silly to me. I really did not care what happened at the end. I did not identify or like one character, and, in fact, disliked the protagonist throughout the story.
I don't think it was the author's intent for us to not care about her characters so I consider this a major flaw. She fell down in bringing them to life.
I think it is a novel for young people and especially those interested in rock music. The author did not fully explore the wonderful music of a classical violinist which would have added tremendous class to this novel.
I truly believe she is talented but her efforts are best directed at television writing.
