Impossible Music

June 24, 2019
Showcasing his skill at writing realism, Australian sci-fi author Williams (the Twinmaker series) creates a contemplative, sensitively written novel that takes readers deep into the mind of a young musician suffering an identity crisis. Simon, 18, has it all. He plays in a rock band and is looking forward to studying music at a university. Then, one night, he has a stroke and wakes up completely deaf. Suddenly, everything about his life is “thoroughly overturned.” Initially reluctant to attend Australian sign language classes, it’s there that he meets and falls in love with G, who is newly deaf through tinnitus. Whereas Simon hears nothing, G’s head is full of noise, making it impossible for her to discern external sounds. Intrigued by G and determined to continue his path in music, Simon divides his time between seeing her and composing, knowing that he could be setting himself up for romantic and creative heartbreak. Filled with philosophical ideas about the definition of music and its accessibility to the deaf, this thought-provoking love story considers how to move forward into a new reality. Ages 14–up.

David Linski narrates as Simon, a teenager from Australia who loves music but, because of a stroke, has lost all hearing. Narrating in first person as a character who cannot hear is no easy feat, and Linski is up to the task. He makes the smart decision to speak slowly and clearly because Simon, who can talk but can't hear himself, would do exactly that. Additionally, Linski makes the choice to only do distinct voices for characters whom Simon would have heard before losing his hearing, such as his family and friends. The rest of the cast sound almost indistinct from each other--other than there being a slight variation for gender. Linski brings the listener on a painful but beautiful ride. A.R.F. � AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine