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Read advance reader review of The Earth Hums in B Flat by Mari Strachan, page 3 of 3

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The Earth Hums in B Flat by Mari Strachan

The Earth Hums in B Flat

by Mari Strachan
  • BookBrowse Review:
  • Critics' Consensus (6):
  • Readers' Rating (3):
  • Paperback:
  • Jun 2009, 336 pages
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Reviews


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There are currently 18 member reviews
for The Earth Hums in B Flat
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  • Margaret R. ( GA)
    The Earth Hums in B Flat
    This was a wonderful, well written book told through the eyes of a young girl with an outsized imagination and a curiosity far beyond her years. Life in a small Welsh village relatively untouched by the changing world around it is beautifully portrayed. At first I thought it was going to be a sweet "feel good" book about village life, but the plot and character development make it much more than that. It would be a good read for anyone.
  • Susan G. (Matthews, NC)
    Sweet and Sad
    The irresistible voice of 12-yr-old Gwennie, a strange but sweet Welsh girl growing up in the 1950s, is juxtaposed with dark family secrets that are slowly revealed. I found it a bit of a slow-go in the beginning, because the author writes as if all her readers understand Welsh names and words. But Gwennie's spirit kept me reading through the difficulties and revelations she had to endure. Her character is the reason to read this book.
  • Maxine D. (Effingham, IL)
    The Earth Hums in B Flat
    I liked this book but am not sure I would recommend it to a friend. I found the writing uneven as it tries to convey to the reader the atmosphere and attitudes of small town living in the not so distant past.

    Gwenni is a most lovable and creditable teller of the tale and her reactions to and reasonings about the behavior of those around her are true to life for a young teenager.
    The mixture of fantasy and reality was jolting to me at times but the ending neatly ties the two together with a gentle smile.
  • Virginia W. (Cloverdale, CA)
    The world according to Gwennie
    A 12 year old narrating a multigenerational family saga based in the 1950's is a bit unique. Luckily, she is a "survivor" kind of child and with the help of her dad, she comes to understand her circumstances. The plot, however, is not unique but rather time worn.
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Beyond the Book:
  The Language of Wales

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