The author of this memoir learned to love classical music during the writing process of this book, after her father passed away. Caroline Sanderson, who grew up in Leicestershire, attempts to make sense of why her father loved classical music. Despite his best attempts at getting her interested in the music, she was more into pop. In this book, she explores some CDs from his collection (originally he had reels of tape). Through a combination of research, intense listening, emotional response and visits to locations associated with the composers, she develops an appreciation of the music while claiming to struggle to write about it. She writes about music very well! I’m no expert on it – although I don’t think there is a right and wrong way – but I enjoyed how she articulated her responses. I especially enjoyed the chapter on Stravinsky, with its focus on ‘The Rite of Spring’ (i.e. the dinosaurs and volcanoes which terrified the author when she watched Disney’s Fantasia) and ‘The Firebird Suite’ (this appears in the sequel Fantasia 2000 although not mentioned in the book). The other chapters are on Mozart, Brahms, Robert & Clara Schumann, Chopin, Richard Strauss, Kathleen Ferrier and Sibelius. I learned a lot from these and it does make me want to check out more from these composers and performers. The book is almost unbearably sad at times, and like the saddest string sections in classical music, I didn’t really want to face it. However it’s a wonderfully-written book and I am sure her father would be proud.

Thank you to the publisher Unbound for the advance copy via NetGalley. The publication date is 3rd July.