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There are currently 42 member reviews
for Ellie and the Harpmaker
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Sandra G. (Loveland, CO)
Delightfully quirky debut novel
Whenever I put this book down, I was anxious to get back to it. To me, this is the hallmark of a wonderful read.
I enjoyed the short chapters alternating between the voices of Dan and Ellie. Dan is a bit of an oddball, a charmingly eccentric harp maker who is also a keen observer of nature. Ellie's low self-esteem has made it difficult for her to "pick a dream and follow it" until she makes a serendipitous discovery of Dan's harp barn.
Although I predicted the final outcome early on, it was a most pleasurable journey to get there. The many unexpected twists made me want to keep reading.
I really loved this unusual book.
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Rose N. (Saginaw, MI)
Ellie and the Harpmaker
What a charming novel! The beautiful, lyrical descriptions of the Exmoor landscapes..."...distant hills that melt into the sky, jags of coastline that climb, fall and reach out to the sea..."...form the backdrop of the friendship and love that unite the lonely, poetic Ellie and the naïve, innocent, talented harpmaker Dan. Hazel Prior has spun a heartwarming, delightful story brimming with love of nature and dreams fulfilled...not only for Ellie and Dan but also for Phineas the pheasant.
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Jean N. (New Richmond, OH)
A Special Book Indeed!
I loved this book! The relationship between Dan and Ellie as it evolved, little Ed and feathery Phineas all played a role in this unusual tale of love. They touched my heart. When the story ended, I hated to say goodbye.
Although I thought I knew where the book was headed, the story sometimes took surprising twists. The countryside was vividly described, and I learned interesting things about harps.
I think Ellie and the Harpmaker would be a great book club read- there is plenty to discuss within it's pages.
This book has earned a permanent place on my bookshelf of all time favorites!
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Debra C. (Vienna, GA)
Magically Lyrical
A sweeter or more charming love story than ELLIE AND THE HARP MAKER will be hard to find. When Ellie wanders down a road less traveled and encounters Dan, the harp maker, their odyssey to each other begins. In her captivating debut novel, Hazel Prior, with fetching dialogues, distinctive character development, and picturesque details, takes the reader on Ellie and Dan's melodic, unforgettable, and heart felt journey towards a remedy for the loneliness in each other's lives. Ms. Prior, thank you for sharing this magically lyrical love story with us, and, of course, to BookBrowse for the ARC.
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Eileen C. (New York, NY)
The magic of music and love
A lovely fairytale about the power of love and music, and the things we do to protect ourselves and the people we love. Although it started off a little slowly, soon enough the story of Dan and Ellie became captivating and the ending brought tears. Told in alternating voices, the novel does a fabulous job of showing us how the world looks and feels to two interesting and unique individuals. Highly recommended to anyone looking for a bit of brightness and hope.
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Dorinne D. (Wickenburg, AZ)
Living the Simple Life
If you liked 'A Man Called Ove,' then 'Ellie and the Harpmaker' is for you. This is a low key story about two people you will grow to love - Ellie the Exmoor Housewife and Dan the Exmoor Harpmaker. Dan is a talented wood carver and harpmaker. His love of nature and the beauty of his surroundings is touching. He dislikes being in places with a lot of people. He loves children and interacts better with children than with some adults. Ellie has a controlling husband (Clive) and a hunger for creativity and challenge in her rather mundane life. When Ellie discovers Dan's barn filled with harps, she is filled with the desire to learn to play the harp. Her interactions with Dan, his pet pheasant Phineas, and Dan's friend Rhoda (the harp teacher) create an interesting story, with a few surprises and enough suspense to keep you reading to the end.
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Beth P. (Madison, WI)
A Breath of Fresh Air
I just finished the last page of Ellie and the Harp Maker. Wow, I cannot remember feeling this way about a book in so long. The plot was simple, the characters were unforgettable, and the author's writing is just perfection. This book should appeal to anyone who appreciates the art of writing. Her characters are easy to relate to, sometimes very quirky, just all around delightful. It's a different kind of love story for sure. Much of the book is told through the eyes of Dan, the Harpmaker, who most likely has Asberger's syndrome. Watching him traverse the world in his own way is fascinating, especially when it comes to love. His world is just as rich, if not more so, than the average person, and he puts his all into the things he loves the most. Ellie Jacobs, comes upon his Harp Making studio one day by chance, and both their lives are forever changed. This book is enchanting, and I read it in two sittings because I could not put it down. A big thank you to Hazel Harper for creating these very special characters. This book is one that I can't wait to share with a good friend, and I hope that the author goes on to write many more books.
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