A Secret Music

by Susan Doherty Hannaford

From an early age, Lawrence Nolan's single-minded goal is to be a concert pianist. His belief in his talent is encouraged and shared by his mother and Miss Tarasova, his Russian émigré piano teacher, and by Wilfrid Pelletier, the founder of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra. Set in 1937, when CBC Radio was in its infancy and the Great Depression was at its worst, A Secret Music tells the story of Lawrence's struggles. While the Nolan children appear to their priest, teachers, and neighbours as well-off and immune to the daily problems faced by most, at home they are united by the need to hide their mother's emotional and mental illness, their father's self-absorption, and the symptoms that plague the youngest brother. Difficult as the path before him is, Lawrence sets out with determination; he wins competitions, gains the necessary recognition, and his talent grows and deepens as a result of overcoming the problems at home.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Book Club, Fiction

217 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2014

Reviews

[Colette Connors · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful writing ,moments of grace and heartbreak. I listened to the piano pieces that Lawrence was playing in the book while reading ,it brought me right into the moment with him . This book shows the profound impact of mental illness on a family .

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and the writing style - I could not put it down. I had borrowed it from the library and I liked it so much I went out and bought a copy after!

[Am Kingston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it. Wonderful characters who provided an insight to Montreal of days gone by. The challenges faced by a family with mental illness and the variety of responses each family member had developed to cope was fascinating.

[Kathleen Kidd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved reading about Montreal in the 1930s. The characters were probably accurate for that time and class but I sometimes found it difficult to "like" them. The descriptions of the music and performing were fascinating. All in all it was an enjoyable read.

[Larsieanne Larsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Might as well review this one too, by the same author I just wrote a review on for another book, Monday Rent Boy.


Spoilers below!!!! About the plot, characters, themes and events.

I read A Secret Music in around 2016. I think a sequel or spinoff is in order, because a lot could have either been done with the book by the author or left in the book by the publisher (the author is my friend, and told me the publisher took stuff out that she really wanted in there). That is why I say, a sequel is in order! Or a spinoff. Maybe in the style of the Deptford trilogy... perhaps the next one can be about Christine and Muttney's childhood, and the next one about Christine's relationship with Francis and her experience in the Douglas (the hospital in Verdun). Susan actually researched the Douglas to find out what it was like back then for the patients and staff... they let her into the archives and she read a lot in there, so a fictionalized book might be in order about that too, and I think one about Christine in there would be perfect (in my humble opinion)! The fourth one can maybe be about Lawrence and Patricia after all this, or about a secret affair with Muttney and Francis.

We need to hear more about what led Christine into such a depressed state. "Flattened anxiety" is a very descriptive term and describes some depressions perfectly; I have felt this myself when overmedicated and/or repressing emotions due to fear or embarrassment or a combination of both. Muttney only gets into it a little about Chrsitine's past with Lawrence in a scene near the end. What made Muttney handle it different? This is what a lot of people ask, actually.

Like any good book, I could identify myself with all the characters' flaws and embarrassing imperfections and insecurities and "sins" and fears and depressions and "failures" and "ineptitudes" and "weaknesses". Maybe that's the flattened anxiety in me, LOL. But I could feel Muttney's guilt, Christine's feeling of all the adjectives I described above and then many more, Lawrence's second-hand embarrassment and then shame for even having that embarrassment, little John's physical pain and how he felt he would be not such a good person if he didn't hide that pain thinking hiding it was doing his mother and brother and other family members good. Francis trying to drown it all out with work and I think liquor. Hmmm, maybe he has flattened anxiety himself. Patricia, trying to rebel and just be herself... FIND herself... in a society and family and area of Montreal that didn't allow for that, thru no fault of her own. Patricia's anger, Lawrence's too. Muttney's impatience at Christine and Francis's giving up on her, where they ahve guilt about this but show it to Chrsitine in funny ways (like throwing her in an asylum all to maintain Francis's richy-rich facade... he worked so hard for that and Chrsitine we assume chose to marry that, but can't they change their attitude now... can't they all just do what they really wanted to do... run off into the sunset with each other and go live freer lives elsewhere??).

I can't give a review without giving opinions, personally, on the characters and what they stand for and do, so I'll say I stand with the priest in the story... the priest told Lawrence that Lawrence should tell his mother that John was very sick!!! Lawrence should have told!! (And that is the point of the story, or one point of it... that stigma kills.) Or told Aunt Muttney, anyone. But then, the priest knew, and HE didn't do anything. Why didn't he? He is just as culpable! Did he have to do a confession to anyone about hearing this and not getting help for poor little John? I just feel so bad for John! And I cried when he died and the nurse was talking about talking him into heaven. At least he had some comfort in the end.

It's sickening the stigma back then, and still in this society. Christine probably didn't even get much comfort when she lost that baby before John died... she was just whisked off to the mental asylum that Francis was mad was treating people badly, yet he was still sending her there and hitting on her sister at times.

This book was well-described though I think it should have more showing rather than telling of the physical characteristics of their house, for example. And I might ask my friend if I can read the scenes that were taken out, or if they can go in another book... that spinoff I'm hoping for that will fill in more about their lives!

One creepy touching moment I'll never forget in it... as well as my other friend who also read it... is where Chrsitine is in such denial about her son's illness that she says it's their Irish heritage making him so pale... meanwhile, he was pale because he was dying. He was 9. And worrying about his mother's illness upending the family, not knowing that HIS death might upend the family if he didn't tell his mother or anyone who could get him access to a doctor. Tragic for the whole family, but I can't blame Christine for this... she didn't ask John or Lawrence to keep it from her either. Itm ight be easy to scapegoat her, but she needs support... she is a victim too. Okay, these are fictional characters, but they can be based off real ones.

[Jaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly amazing debut Canadian novel! Incredibly well-written, memorable characters and an author willing to tackle important issues, such as mental health awareness!

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haunting and captivating. Excellent character development. Makes you want to listen to music and be inspired...and grateful.

[Natasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting to read a story set in my city, in the the 1930's.

[Leif · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is a small mistake on the page for this author. Susan Doherty Hannaford has written three books, "A Secret Music" was her first, "The Ghost Garden" was her second, and "Monday Rent Boy" was her third.

As far as "A Secret Music" goes, I found it a bit hard to take all in one sitting, which is a very good thing because I often read books that have little to say about the human condition and are peppered with action, or I read dry nonfiction books. "A Secret Music" has the ability to stand on its own. One of the things I loved about this book was how Doherty can keep on building suspense and compassion for her characters, making this a very hard book to put down. The whole world that the book was set in (1930s Montreal) is one I have so little knowledge of, but was happy to be immersed in. Doherty tackles some tough subjects in her books, and I often am left thinking that if she had taken the easy way out and wrote a thriller novel, it would be a huge success, but it wouldn't be speaking from her heart. I am so impressed that Doherty has the bravery to write about things like childhood sexual abuse (Monday Rent Boy) or mental illness (The Ghost Garden) I read her books in the wrong order, but I got so much out of all of them.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A humanizing tale of ambition, artistic call, coming of age and the effects of growing up with parental mental illness. Both the over-identification with the parent and the subsequent anger and finally forgiveness are depicted with gentle reality and generous humanity. I loved the Nolan family, and hope for such graciousness for the many who face the continued shame around mental illness.

[Laura Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a roller coaster of emotions. I fell on love with the main character. I would have loved to have met him. The gift of music is magical.

[Katherine Rein]

Enjoyed the story and the exposure to Montreal life in the 1930s. I felt the story was an interesting exploration of how mental illness effects everyone in a family and coping mechanisms can have disastrous consequences. Kudos to Hannaford for writing an engaging story about a difficult topic.

[Literary Classics Book Awards & Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in Canada during the 1930s, A Secret Music is the story of a musical prodigy born into an extremely dysfunctional family. Each member of the family has their own drama. One son is the focus of the mother to the exclusion of her other two children, while the ignored daughter seeks attention in any way she can. Another young son develops a fatal medical problem which is ignored by everyone around him. The father is driven by the need for money and success. And in the midst of it all, music is the glue holding everything together despite the chaos.

Author, Susan Doherty Hannaford, takes readers through a gamut of emotions as she describes, in detail, the tensions and fears of a true perfectionist. Depression in many of its frightening aspects is presented in this revealing glimpse into the delusions of a person struggling with mental illness. Powerful prose brings swelling emotions to the forefront with swings from deep sadness to ecstatic elation, moments of intense love and contentment, as well as elements of deep melancholy.

An appreciation and knowledge of music (especially classical music) would enhance the reader’s experience; but even without a grasp of the classics this story presents music as a pervasive influence quite beautifully. A Secret Music is highly recommended and has earned the Literary Classics Seal of Approval.

[Kathe]

Sometimes you find a lot to relate to in a book, but find yourself unable to enter fully into it because some crucial details aren't quite right. Initially annoyed at what seemed a geographic error in this book, I emailed the author, who promptly emailed me back with her phone number. Turns out there were two streets with the same name in Montreal at the time in which the book is set (late 1930s). So I relaxed and enjoyed the rest of the book, even though I was unable to turn off my editor's eye, bookmarking a number of typos.

So forget all that - is the book worth reading? The answer is yes. For the portrait of a young musician growing up, the family dynamics, the period atmosphere...and the ending, which is great.

[Connie Huddleston · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Secret Music captures a world of wealth, mental illness, and a dysfunctional family during the Great Depression in Canada. Moreover it is the story of a boy who must deal with all those factors while training to become a concert pianist. I found the beginning of the book to be slow, almost difficult to follow; however, as the story developed and the characters grew, I kept turning the pages, enjoying each, and followed the well-written prose to the beautiful ending. Susan Doherty Hannaford’s book enlightens its reader. I believe it will one day be a literature favorite of teachers who are willing to make their students (high school and above) think as well as read. Review by C.M. Huddleston, author. For an interview with Susan see http://www.cmhuddleston.com/monday-mo...

[Margaret Joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

This precious book is an intimate portrait of a musically-gifted young boy with the passionate desire of becoming a concert pianist. His story is that profound devotion to both his craft and his family-- in particular, his younger brother who relies on him for dear life. Set in Montreal of the '30's, the story recreates life as it was lived in the years before WWII, with special attention to places and musical personalities of the day such as Wilfrid Pelletier and Claude Champagne. A marvellous read!

[Courtney Jelaco · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Secret Music provides a glimpse of life in depression-era Montreal. The characters are well-developed and the story is woven with many of life's complexities and challenges from the perspective of a 15 year old. The emotional journey that Lawrence Nolan takes is an enjoyable read. The book is well-researched and reads much like a memoir. Yes, I'd read it again and likely realize how much I may have missed the first time.

[Charlotte · Rating 3 out of 5]

Such a sad story! I found the writing somewhat disconnected at times but enjoyed reading about 1930s Montreal and really loved the characters. It was just so sad that it was hard to read!

[Marc · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good story. Clumsy writing.

[Rachelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written - the impact of mental illness and children growing up with detached adults around them. Recommended