Music for Leaving

by Erika Randall

61-year-old Eleanor Murphy packs a small duffle of her belongings, her childhood hopeless chest of failed dreams, all fifty-nine of her mister's Precious Moments figurines, and sets out across I-70 on a road trip of reconciliation and reclamation. From the dashboard of her 1960's Dodge truck, El prays for enough time to share the hard she's holding with her sister, Isabel, and make things right with her lesbian daughter, whom she betrayed years before. Along the road, objects El connects with (a peach pit, her engagement ring, a dashboard hula dancer) are given voice--and their own chapters--to speak about truths like Longing, Relief, and Hope. Told through flashback and reflection, Music for Leaving scatters the puzzle pieces of Eleanor's life until they reform into a picture of hope in the face of devastation. In a world where leaving is often seen as failure, Eleanor teaches us that sometimes leaving is its own superpower.

374 pages, Hardcover

Published March 11, 2025

Reviews

[Csheanet · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful novel with poetic moments that truly opened my heart. With tenderness and care, Erika Randall tells an engaging story of love, that is strong, that breaks, and once again finds strength. The unforgettable Eleanor is brave, vulnerable and honest and an heroine I will keep with me as I look to the future. I highly recommend this novel. Looking forward to Randall’s next literary endeavor!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

To say I enjoyed this book or to give it five stars and leave it at that would truly undervalue the enjoyment that it brought me. The journey I took with El is one that hit me at the core of my emotions. All the emotions. From laughing out loud to ugly crying and everything weird in between. It is no surprise that this was written by a dancer/choreographer who is used to powerful visual storytelling, because the imagery Randall shares in her prose puts me right in the mind and heart of the book. I connect with the big ideas about life and love and death, but even the seemingly unimportant anthropomorphic details that others would have thrown away thoughtlessly resonate with the song in my heart. I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to take this ride. I only wish there were more of it to love. Bravo!

[Maryan Jaross · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredible story, beautifully written.
As a reader, you get to experience the emotional side of a woman toward the end of her life and understand why she is making the choices she is making as she gets clarity about her past and future.
The voices of the inanimate characters show a somewhat objective viewpoint of what they've observed and serve as a useful device while dialing down the emotional trip for an interlude.

I chose this for our August book club and look forward to the discussion about women's roles and values, and how they've changed over our lifetimes and how we hope they will change for our daughters.

[Micheal D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erika Randall’s Music for Leaving is a deeply moving and beautifully written novel that resonates with anyone who has experienced loss, change, or the bittersweet nature of transitions. With lyrical prose and nuanced character development, Randall guides readers through the emotional landscapes of departure and the search for meaning amid endings. Each page evokes empathy, reflection, and a profound appreciation for the resilience of the human spirit. This book is a poignant exploration of letting go, making it an essential read for fans of literary fiction and emotionally rich narratives.

[Rachel Suter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Music for Leaving was heart wrenching and healing and beautiful! Author Erika Randall did a stunning job. From thoughtful characters and beautiful writing to an engaging plot progression, this book had it all!

I had so much fun sitting down with a book that had just as much detail, nuance, and beauty in the writing as it did in the plot. I found myself going back to read chapters and sentences again… not because I needed to but because I wanted to live in them again. What a wonderful read!

[Kylie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lyric and moving, Erika Randall explores grief, loss, and transition with breathtaking tenderness. Her characters are rendered with such nuance, and her scenes built with such deliberate precision, that her background as a dancer and choreographer becomes unmistakable. Every moment feels choreographed in the best sense... intentional, embodied, and deeply felt.

[Janet Mills · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty close to perfect!