The Song Collector

Harry Fox-Talbot is floundering in grief, unable to cope after the death of his capable and vivacious wife, Edie. His daughter Carol is also finding it hard coping with her active young son, Robin. Desperately needing a break she leaves Robin with Harry for a few hours. Edie would have known what to do? But Edie was no longer there and Harry must learn to connect with a child he has previously had nothing to do with.

1946- The Fox-Talbot boys together with their father, the General, are coming home to Hartgrove Hall. After seven years of neglect during the war their home was now a shell of its former glory. As the three brothers battle conflicting interests and little money they band together to save their beloved Hartgrove Hall from demolition.

The Song Collector is written in two time frames 2000-2007 and 1946-1959. Our narrator is Harry Fox-Talbot, the youngest of the Fox-Talbot boys he was fondly called Little Fox. Harry being much younger than his brothers never thought he quite measured up to them. They were dashing and brave, they went to war whereas he went to school.

”I’m not quite six foot and not quite handsome. My eyes aren’t as blue as my brothers’ but I’ve observed that when I sing girls forget I’m not as tall as they’d thought and not as handsome as they’d hoped.”

Solomons has a captivating way with words, words that go straight to the heart. The prose are like a song in your heart. The engaging descriptions of the scenery and changing seasons made it easy to visualise.

The Song Collector is a story of love, family, lose, grieving and letting go. It’s also a story about lifelong friendship, forgiveness and reconciliations. It is not only heartbreaking but also uplifting and humorous, full of emotion.

This is not a story to be devoured in one sitting it’s a story to be savoured and digested slowly, like a decadent dessert.

It will make you laugh, make you cry and ponder the effects of music and song on our lives.