Title: The Song Is You
Author: Arthur Phillips
First published January 1, 2009
250 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9781400066469 (ISBN10: 1400066468)
Rating: 3.26
Overview
In The Song Is You by Arthur Phillips, Julian Donahue finds solace in his iPod after a devastating loss. Each song triggers a memory, but when his life falls apart, even music loses its hold on him.
That is until he stumbles into a bar one snowy night in Brooklyn and sees Cait O’Dwyer, a flame-haired Irish rock singer performing with her band. Julian and Cait’s passion for music and each other is played out in cryptic emails, text messages, cell-phone videos, and lyrics posted on Cait’s website, igniting an unlikely love affair.
As their feelings grow more feverish, keeping a safe distance becomes impossible. This love story blurs the line between the longing for intimacy and the longing for oblivion and is a uniquely heartbreaking dark comedy about obsession and loss.
Editoral Review
Arthur Phillips’ The Song Is You is a beautifully written novel that explores the complexities of love, loss, and identity. Phillips is a masterful storyteller, and the novel is a testament to his skill at crafting compelling characters and intricate plotlines.
Set in modern-day New York City, The Song Is You follows the story of Julian Donahue, a disillusioned advertising executive who’s feeling lost and disconnected from the world around him. The plot of the novel revolves around Julian’s unexpected encounter with Cait O’Dwyer, a young Irish musician who’s struggling to make a name for herself in the music industry.
As Julian becomes increasingly obsessed with Cait, he begins to see her as his one chance at redemption and a way to escape the mundane and unsatisfying life he’s been leading. Phillips paints a vivid picture of both Julian and Cait’s lives, using their experiences to explore themes of love, loss, and the search for identity.
The novel is also deeply rooted in the cultural significance of music and its ability to inspire and connect people across borders and boundaries. Phillips’ writing is exquisite, and he masterfully weaves together different narrative threads to create a rich and immersive reading experience.
The book is full of surprises and unexpected turns, keeping the reader engaged from start to finish. One of the novel’s strengths is its nuanced depiction of its characters.
Phillips imbues them with depth and complexity, giving them all unique and interesting backstories that help to shape their actions and motivations. While The Song Is You is a beautifully crafted novel, it’s not without its limitations.
One criticism is that the pacing of the novel can sometimes feel slow, particularly in the early sections where Phillips is setting up the narrative. Additionally, some readers may find the ending somewhat unsatisfying, as it leaves some loose ends unresolved.
Overall, however, The Song Is You is a powerful and thought-provoking novel that’s well worth reading. It’s a testament to Arthur Phillips’ skill as a writer and is sure to resonate with anyone who’s ever felt lost or disconnected from the world around them.
Rating: 4/5
Recommended For: Fans of literary fiction, particularly those interested in stories that explore the complexities of love, loss, and identity.
