The Song House

By Trezza Azzopardi

2010

First Published

2.98

Average Rating

272

Number of Pages

8H18M

Audio Length

When Kenneth Earl advertises for someone to help him catalogue his vast collection of music, Maggie—the final candidate—is his last hope. What he doesn't know, however, is that this isn't the first time that Maggie has been to Earl House, and it's no coincidence that she applied for the job. As a child, Maggie and her mother lived near the river that runs past the house. Maggie's memories of that time are patchy, like pieces from a jigsaw puzzle that don't quite she remembers Kenneth's son, William; a boat; a dog; she remembers children singing, and being alone, afraid. She remembers—afterwards—returning home, mute, refusing to speak. For her, going back to Earl House as an adult offers the chance to fill in the gaps and finally, perhaps, lay the ghosts of her for her, as for William, this is her chance to reclaim her past. Written in clear, ringing prose, The Song House is about language and music, memory and place, about who we are and the narratives we weave about the events of our lives. Beautiful and haunting, its cadences, themes and characters will resonate with the reader long after the final page is finished. An extraordinarily instinctive writer with a delicate feel for language Observer

Avg Rating

2.98

Number of Ratings

141

5 STARS

4 STARS

21%

3 STARS

45%

2 STARS

21%

1 STARS

goodreads

Author

Trezza Azzopardi

Author · 5 books

Trezza Azzopardi is a British writer. She was born in Cardiff to a Maltese father and a Welsh mother. She studied creative writing at the University of East Anglia, and currently works as a lecturer there. She also has an MA in Film and Television studies from the University of Derby. Her first novel, The Hiding Place, was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2000 (a significant accomplishment, since first novels are not often shortlisted for the Booker). Her novel also won the Geoffrey Faber Memorial Prize and was also shortlisted for the James Tait Black Memorial Prize. Her second novel, "Remember Me", was shortlisted for the Wales Book of the Year. "Winterton Blue" was longlisted for the 2008 Wales Book of the Year. She also writes short stories, and readings for BBC radio. Her books have been translated into 17 languages. Azzopardi currently lives in Norwich, in the east of England.