Antoine Laurain

The arrival of a letter delayed by 33 years sparks off a quest that leads both on a nostalgic journey back to the 1980s and right to the heart of France today. Middle-aged doctor Alain Massoulier has received a life-changing letter – thirty-three years too late. Lost in the Paris postal system for decades, the letter from Polydor, dated 1983, offers a recording contract to The Holograms, in which Alain played lead guitar. Overcome by nostalgia, Alain is tempted to track down the members of the group. But in a world where everything and everyone has changed...where could his quest possibly take him?

French Rhapsody

Anna with an A

We are following life's of five people who once upon a time (in 80s) played in a band together but didn't get any famous. 33 years latter one of them getting a letter from the record label asking them to come for audition. Due to mistake at the post office the latter never got to them back in 80s and they only got it now, when band of course doesn't exist anymore for a very long time. 
So we get to know these people and their current life's. Non of them ended up having musical careers and quite frankly they really have nothing in common now. 
Basically we see adults in their 50s reflecting on what could have been if they only got that letter and perhaps recorded an album.
There are couple of melodrame-y plot twists at the end that I personally didn't care for. 
In general I can't say I didn't enjoy it. In fact I read in in about 2 days. But I don't see myself ever rereading it. I didn't really connect to any characters much and didn't relate to any of their life's.
This book perhaps is more for people who are really passionate about music (I am not and I never have been). 
I also didn't appreciate the sentiment of music on the radio being so grate in 80s and so shitty now. I mean... that is just sad. There is plenty of good music now and there was plenty of mediocre music in 80s. Sure you can compare David Bowie to Beyonce and feel like a smart a**. But compare in to Muse, who are also very famous, or Nick Cave and you all of a sudden don't really sound that smart anymore. 
P.S. I like all of the above by the way, Beyonce, David Bowie, Muce and Nick Cave. Not ironically. They are all great musicians if you ask me. 
P.S.S. This is just my opinion of course, please don't listen to me if you liked this book! We are all different, this book was just not for me.

French Rhapsody

Reviews