What do readers think of The Music Teacher by Barbara Hall? Write your own review.

The Music Teacher plays with the idea that "those who can't do, teach." Readers who teach or play an instrument will be drawn in to the excitement of Pearl Swain giving violin lessons a gifted yet troubled student. A couple of unexpected plot twists kept me turning the pages; I finished in one sitting. As a bookseller, I see lots of new fiction. This one is worth the time.

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.

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.

I thought this book was going to be a quick, predictable read about a child prodigy and the teacher who lives vicariously through him/her. Instead, it is more about the teacher's failures and how they shape her life and the decisions she makes. Although I found myself disliking the teacher, I still felt myself drawn to her, feeling sorry for her, and hoping she would succeed.