Review: Frog Music
When Jenny Bonnet, a young women who liked to hunt frogs and dress like a man, is murdered in San Francisco in 1876, her friend Blanche Beunon makes it her mission to find the killer and bring him justice.
Emma Donoghue‘s Frog Music is based on a true story – an unsolved crime from the past – but that wasn’t enough to save the book for me. Donoghue uses flashbacks to tell the story which I usually like, but, in this case, it kept me confused so I found it difficult to follow the storyline. The world Blanche discovers is dark and sordid and made me uncomfortable and, maybe that was the point, but the story didn’t redeem itself in the end for me.
The audio version of Frog Music is read by Khristine Hvam and I cannot say enough about her narration. She is fabulous with voices, accents, and even singing. In fact, it was Hvam’s narration that kept me with this book until the end.
I have heard such mixed reviews of this one, it’s good to get your perspective.
This book has been on and off my wish list several times. I think I’ll keep it off, but will look for another title narrated by Khristine Hvam!
The narration on this books is totally awesome! BTW: I am not surprised that this wasn’t for you. It seems to be a love or hate book. I loved, but Mr. BFR never got past page 40.
I guess this one won’t be for me either.
I’m not sure this is for me either. The reviews have been SO mixed.
After reading your review, I think I’m taking it off my tbr list.
Funny how a narrator can really make or break a book–I’ve had some lousy books that I’ve finished just for the narrator as well. Sorry this didn’t do it for you–seems I remember the mixed reviews when it first came out, too.
That’s disappointing since Room was so good.
I’ve only read Room from her and I’ve always been curious about this one!
Sounds like this is disappointing
Hmmm, dunno
I hate when this happens. I hate when a book makes me feel uncomfortable…
Flashbacks, especially in audio versions, are confusing. Glad u liked the narrator.
Thank you for the review. I found Room difficult to get through so maybe this is also not for me.
I love Hvam but I’m wondering if you would have been able to follow this one better in print.
I have had this one on the shelf for longer than I care to admit….
I really liked the author’s Room, but haven’t read this one yet. Partly because it didn’t especially appeal to me, subject matter wise. I am sorry it didn’t work for you.
I’ve had this book on my iPod for months. I can’t seem to motivate myself to start it. I believe I’ll take my hesitation, and your review, as my cue to skip this book. Thanks for reading it for me.
Too bad that this one didn’t work for you. I still have Room on my shelf to read.
I felt the same way about this one–it kept getting darker, and harder to follow. I gave up on it.
Bummer. I still haven’t read Room. I tired the first few chapters this summer but it didn’t grab me so I set it aside for later.