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There are currently 42 member reviews
for Ellie and the Harpmaker
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Diane T. (Slingerlands, NY)
Innocence and hope
Ellie and the Harpmaker is a heartfelt story of romance, tragedy and hope. The characters are interesting and well thought out. At this time of escalating dissatisfaction with everything, it is refreshing to read a book that takes you away from that and gives you pause to think about the purity of viewing life through innocence. Hazel Prior has touched on all human emotions in a thoughtful and gentle way, giving us all hope in our own lives.
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Gail B. (Albuquerque, NM)
A Match Made in Exmoor
In the words of Shakespeare, "If music be the food of love, play on." The promise of ethereal harp music made me want to read on. Ellie the Housewife and Dan the Harpmaker both need compassion and understanding. Ellie's marriage to a manipulative alcoholic is on the brink of failure, a fact to which she seems oblivious. Dan seems to be an idiot savant, compulsive but marvelously talented in creating Celtic harps to support himself -- or to give away impulsively to strange women. Their impossible situation eventually resolves itself in a surprise ending.
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Lois P. (Hillsborough, NC)
Evocative Romance
I was charmed by the strong setting in rural south-west England and the intricacies of wood craft in Ellie and the Harpmaker. While the romance is not surprising, the character of both Ellie the Exmoor Housewife and Dan the Harpmaker are engaging. This is a satisfying read if you are looking for a charming romance.
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Lynne L. (Plantation, FL)
Ellie and the Harpmaker
Ellie and the Harpmaker is a valiant, well-crafted first novel with a whimsically romantic story line and a setting that intrigues. However, the novel doesn't quite meet expectations, although the ending is predictable early on. Balancing the plot on the points of view of Ellie (the Exmoor Housewife) and Dan (the harpmaker) is an effective technique; however, Dan's voice is confusing. Is he mentally challenged or simply socially backward? His vocabulary and perspective are often childlike and then suddenly sophisticated. And one wonders why it is emphasized that he is devilishly good looking when his character is so much more interesting than his profile. Ellie, a woman who is painfully in search of herself, is clearly unhappy in her marriage to volatile, hard-drinking Clive, and with good reason. They seem to have no common interests. She, however, because of her own needs, really does get too involved in other people's lives and too many people allow her to do so. The consequences are nearly lethal. The secondary characters are almost stereotypes and seem to be there to allow Ellie and Dan a life outside of the fairy tale aura of the harp barn. Exmoor, a truly magical part of England, should have been more of a factor, a character even, in the novel's development rather than simply a backdrop, and the addition of Phineas, the pheasant, seems contrived, although not in an unpleasant way. Ultimately, this novel surely has an audience in those looking for a good read with a happy ending, but for me, that wasn't enough.
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Peggy C. (Wyckoff, NJ)
A Gentle Read
Ellie and the Harpmaker was an easy read with gentle prose, yet challenging themes. It was the type of book that I found hard to put down. Despite the fact that the ending seemed likely from the beginning, the author captured the reader's interest with heartfelt characters and story developments. I found the alternating chapters of narration by the two main characters to be a very effective style. The book presented many themes, including love, relationships, true happiness, and second chances. All of which would certainly make for good discussions and therefore I would recommend this book as a selection for Book Clubs.
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Nona F. (Evanston, IL)
A pleasant afternoon read of a sweet romance
Spend a pleasant afternoon reading Ellie and the Harpmaker and meet two quirky and appealing characters who—of course!-- eventually recognize their need for one another. The two primary characters are well delineated, the secondary characters are few and sufficient to their purpose, and the setting—Exmoor—is beautifully described. Our villain is a man who smashes someone's loved Beatrix Potter children's china, one of the several interesting details adding a little complexity to an essentially simple story along with Phineas the pheasant, Sam's train-riding rabbit, and all those sandwich fillings. Does this pique your curiosity? Then enjoy this sweet romance.
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Rebecca H. (Bolton, CT)
Ellie and the Harpmaker
A sweet story about two social misfits who find a second chance at love with one another. Memorable characters and the Exmoor setting make the book very enjoyable. The novel explores the healing power of music and the value of confidence in one's own creative powers (whatever those may be) and ability to love and to give. This is a book to cheer the heart!
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