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Song for Ria
Talented composer Alison Connaught has spent her career writing music for big names, but when her actress daughter, Ria, dies from an overdose, Alison is numb and can no longer compose.
Haunted by the feeling that she had somehow let Ria down, Alison searches for answers, first during an intense stay with a Hopi shaman and then by travelling to Hollywood to try to piece together the many parts of Ria’s life that have so far eluded her.
As she meets her daughter’s friends, colleagues and therapists, Alison finally begins to understand the realities of Ria’s life, opening the door to self expression and a different kind of music, inspired by stirred/raw feelings and the spirit of Ria.
Michelle Shine’s skill as a storyteller brings Alison’s thoughts and actions to life in this visceral and deeply moving tale of grief, regret and ultimately, hope.
Haunted by the feeling that she had somehow let Ria down, Alison searches for answers, first during an intense stay with a Hopi shaman and then by travelling to Hollywood to try to piece together the many parts of Ria’s life that have so far eluded her.
As she meets her daughter’s friends, colleagues and therapists, Alison finally begins to understand the realities of Ria’s life, opening the door to self expression and a different kind of music, inspired by stirred/raw feelings and the spirit of Ria.
Michelle Shine’s skill as a storyteller brings Alison’s thoughts and actions to life in this visceral and deeply moving tale of grief, regret and ultimately, hope.
352 pages, Paperback
Published June 16, 2022
About the author
Michelle Shine
10 books26 followersMichelle Shine is a homeopath, mother, grandmother, writer of articles, short stories and novels. Her published works include the homeopathic textbook, What About the Potency? The Subtle Art of Healing, long listed for the Cinnamon Press novella award. Mesmerised. Song for Ria, winner of the Literary Titan Silver Award. Ash on the Vine, longlisted for the Fiction Factory’s first chapter award and the Yeovil Prize. Her short stories have been published in literary magazines and several collections. You can read her articles and essays at michelleshine.substack.com
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
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November 26, 2022Editorial Reviews
"This is a hauntingly beautiful depiction of the madness of grief and the frustration of seeking the truth for things we cannot understand." Love Reading
'Shine’s novel is first and foremost a story of a mother’s sorrow and her fierce and persistent love for a child. The poignant tale skilfully details Alison’s desperation by ushering readers into the inner workings of Alison’s whims and complicated emotions during her grieving process…The writing style in these pages is forceful… a moving…family tale.’ Kirkus
‘A stunning read.’ Authors Reading
"This is a hauntingly beautiful depiction of the madness of grief and the frustration of seeking the truth for things we cannot understand." Love Reading
'Shine’s novel is first and foremost a story of a mother’s sorrow and her fierce and persistent love for a child. The poignant tale skilfully details Alison’s desperation by ushering readers into the inner workings of Alison’s whims and complicated emotions during her grieving process…The writing style in these pages is forceful… a moving…family tale.’ Kirkus
‘A stunning read.’ Authors Reading
August 9, 2022
Song for Ria is a beautiful read and it is sad due to Alison having to deal with her grief of her daughter death due to an overdose overdose. I feel song for Ria is a very spiritual book and made me fascinating by the Hopi Sherman and would love to visit one myself. You can really feel the grief and sadness from Alison and this is down to Michelle shine writing style . I found this book engaging to read from the first word and I could not put it down. The characters where very easy to get to like and understand them all. Would definitely read more book a by Michelle Shine. 5 stars . Thank you for @Randomtttours and @MichelleShine letting me part of this tour and review.
December 18, 2022
Ria was an award-winning actress who had everything to live for, so why would she want to give it all up? Alison, who is an award-winning composer, is grieving the loss of her daughter Ria from an ‘accidental suicide’. She’s utterly shocked and heartbroken. She’s grieving and simultaneously trying to save her marriage. She is on a hunt, trying to know more about the last few months of her daughter’s life, hung up on it so much that it is beginning to consume her.
This emotionally-resonant novel follows her grief and her effort to gain some clarity so that she can move on. It is a story that is sharp, observant and completely heart wrenching. This beautiful journey takes readers into the mind of a grieving mother. It exceptionally depicts the confusing emotions of Alison and her husband. I feel that Alison is a character that anyone can relate to, even if they have not faced the unfortunate circumstance of going through what she did. The author’s excellent writing will help anyone connect with the character, if not the situation.
While the story has much depth, the book is written in such an easy to read style that I completed the story within a couple of days. The characters felt authentic and compelling, so much so that I was irked by the lack of complete understanding from her husband’s side, and the sad part is that often for people it’s the reality.
Song for Ria explores a topic as depressing as grief but does so through a beautifully written story so that it will be approachable to many, and understood by all readers.
This emotionally-resonant novel follows her grief and her effort to gain some clarity so that she can move on. It is a story that is sharp, observant and completely heart wrenching. This beautiful journey takes readers into the mind of a grieving mother. It exceptionally depicts the confusing emotions of Alison and her husband. I feel that Alison is a character that anyone can relate to, even if they have not faced the unfortunate circumstance of going through what she did. The author’s excellent writing will help anyone connect with the character, if not the situation.
While the story has much depth, the book is written in such an easy to read style that I completed the story within a couple of days. The characters felt authentic and compelling, so much so that I was irked by the lack of complete understanding from her husband’s side, and the sad part is that often for people it’s the reality.
Song for Ria explores a topic as depressing as grief but does so through a beautifully written story so that it will be approachable to many, and understood by all readers.
July 8, 2022
Alison is an award winning composer who is grieving the loss of her daughter Ria from ‘accidental suicide’. Ria was an award-winning actress who had everything to live for, so why would she want to give it all up? Ali is baffled, heartbroken, grieving and trying hard to save her marriage as a result. Her obsession with trying to find out about the last few months of her daughter’s life are consuming her and creatively she’s stuck, with inspiration eluding her.
In order to try and work through her grief so she can move on, she goes to stay with a shaman in America then with a Hopi sister. She’s trying hard to feel a sense of normality again and she’s desperate to go back to England and save her marriage but she needs to understand her daughter’s last few months and connects with people who had contact with her to try and gain some clarity.
This book is completely heartbreaking in that as a mother I don’t want to imagine being in Alison’s position. I feel as though I would be going through the exact same feelings as her and really hoped she would find some peace as well as the missing parts of her daughter’s life in the lead up to her death. I thought her husband could have been a little more understanding of her need to delve into Ria’s life but in the end I was left with a sense of hope despite all the pain and loss.
A beautifully written book that captures the heart.
In order to try and work through her grief so she can move on, she goes to stay with a shaman in America then with a Hopi sister. She’s trying hard to feel a sense of normality again and she’s desperate to go back to England and save her marriage but she needs to understand her daughter’s last few months and connects with people who had contact with her to try and gain some clarity.
This book is completely heartbreaking in that as a mother I don’t want to imagine being in Alison’s position. I feel as though I would be going through the exact same feelings as her and really hoped she would find some peace as well as the missing parts of her daughter’s life in the lead up to her death. I thought her husband could have been a little more understanding of her need to delve into Ria’s life but in the end I was left with a sense of hope despite all the pain and loss.
A beautifully written book that captures the heart.
July 11, 2022
Originally published here: https://joyfulantidotes.com/2022/07/1...
Michelle Shine is a beautiful storyteller. After a few chapters in, I had to double check that this was indeed a work of fiction. Alison and Ria could very well have been real people for how realistic this story was.
I have to admit that I wasn’t in love with this book. I wasn’t able to relate to the characters and, truth be told, I got a little bored of the story by the end. However, it’s hard to deny that this is a moving book. Although I’m not a mother myself, I couldn’t not empathise with Alison. The author does a great job of portraying the heartbreak anyone in her situation would be going through.
While A Song For Ria wasn’t for me, I’m sure many will find this a wonderful book.
Michelle Shine is a beautiful storyteller. After a few chapters in, I had to double check that this was indeed a work of fiction. Alison and Ria could very well have been real people for how realistic this story was.
I have to admit that I wasn’t in love with this book. I wasn’t able to relate to the characters and, truth be told, I got a little bored of the story by the end. However, it’s hard to deny that this is a moving book. Although I’m not a mother myself, I couldn’t not empathise with Alison. The author does a great job of portraying the heartbreak anyone in her situation would be going through.
While A Song For Ria wasn’t for me, I’m sure many will find this a wonderful book.
October 5, 2022
Compelling, engaging, moving and absorbing book. I couldn't put it down and read it straight through. The last time that happened was Julian Barnes's ‘The History of the World in 10½ Chapters’. It wasn't an easy read as the story is quite emotional, almost harrowing in places. As a musician myself, I could identify with Allison's plight and that also accounts for why I found her story so affecting. Heartily recommended.
September 4, 2022
this was written in such an easy style to read that i devoured it. The way we are introduced to the main character in the present, and then get the rest of the story as a sort of flashback is very smart, and makes you want to know more. It means you already have the answer to how the story ends.
Grief is written so beautifully in this book. Its difficult with a topic like grief to write something which is going to be understood universally, because everyone grieves differently. While the MC’s grief was specific to her, you could really understand what she was feeling.
I will say, at times, this felt like an autobiography about grief, because it feels so real and tangible as a feeling.
Grief is written so beautifully in this book. Its difficult with a topic like grief to write something which is going to be understood universally, because everyone grieves differently. While the MC’s grief was specific to her, you could really understand what she was feeling.
I will say, at times, this felt like an autobiography about grief, because it feels so real and tangible as a feeling.
July 18, 2026
**1 star.**
**Spoilers.**
I dropped this at around 65%, then skimmed the rest because I still wanted to know what had actually happened to Ria.
Honestly, I shouldn’t have bothered.
Alison spends the whole book convinced there has to be some huge secret behind her daughter’s death. Joshua did something. Someone’s lying. Every conversation turns into an interrogation, and basically everyone Ria knew becomes a suspect.
So I assumed it was building towards something.
Nope.
Ria died from an accidental overdose. Joshua didn’t kill her. There was no conspiracy. Alison just didn’t know her adult daughter as well as she thought she did.
And that actually could have worked.
A mother realising her daughter had a private life, made choices she knew nothing about, and died without there being one obvious person to blame is a good idea. Alison needs Joshua to be guilty because guilt is easier to hold onto than uncertainty.
But the book barely pushes back on her. All the snooping and boundary-crossing gets treated like proof of how much she loved Ria, while she ignores everyone who is still alive and keeps behaving like a complete idiot.
By the end, I didn’t feel like Alison had accepted anything. I was just relieved she’d finally run out of people to interrogate.
The ending didn’t make me regret dropping it.
It made me wish I’d dropped it sooner.
**Spoilers.**
I dropped this at around 65%, then skimmed the rest because I still wanted to know what had actually happened to Ria.
Honestly, I shouldn’t have bothered.
Alison spends the whole book convinced there has to be some huge secret behind her daughter’s death. Joshua did something. Someone’s lying. Every conversation turns into an interrogation, and basically everyone Ria knew becomes a suspect.
So I assumed it was building towards something.
Nope.
Ria died from an accidental overdose. Joshua didn’t kill her. There was no conspiracy. Alison just didn’t know her adult daughter as well as she thought she did.
And that actually could have worked.
A mother realising her daughter had a private life, made choices she knew nothing about, and died without there being one obvious person to blame is a good idea. Alison needs Joshua to be guilty because guilt is easier to hold onto than uncertainty.
But the book barely pushes back on her. All the snooping and boundary-crossing gets treated like proof of how much she loved Ria, while she ignores everyone who is still alive and keeps behaving like a complete idiot.
By the end, I didn’t feel like Alison had accepted anything. I was just relieved she’d finally run out of people to interrogate.
The ending didn’t make me regret dropping it.
It made me wish I’d dropped it sooner.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews