Straight from the Library: Straight Chatting from the Library: Melanie Bell

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Melanie Bell will award a $20 Barnes and Noble gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

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What is the favorite book you remember as a child?

One book I borrowed multiple times from the local library was Someday Angeline by Louis Sachar. The main character, Angeline, is a brilliant 8-year-old girl who has skipped three grades at school. She struggles socially – her much older classmates make fun of her, her teacher dislikes her, and she doesn’t have any friends. She feels out of sync in many ways. She laughs too loudly, cries too much, and sucks her thumb. People approach her with fear or scorn, but she just wants to find friends, listen to funny jokes, and go to the beach. Can you tell I related a bit to poor Angeline? Of course, she gets her happy ending!

Tell us about your current book in 10 words.

Bisexual Canadian musical prodigy grows up, faces failure, seeks self.

What books do you have on hold at the library?

Mikaela Loch’s It’s Not That Radical and Steve Silberman’s NeuroTribes.

E-Reader or print? and why?

I like both! Some books are easier to get in one form, others in the other. I like having e-books available on my phone, accessible whenever I have a few moments of boredom during the day.

One book at a time or multiples?

It depends on how busy I am and how absorbed I am by a particular book. It can go either way.

Dog-ear or bookmark? (don't worry—Librarian Judith won't hold it against you—much)

This one I have a definite answer to – bookmarks! I would hold dog-earing against myself.

When do you do most of your reading?

In the evening, when I’m enjoying some downtime.

Favorite genre?

I love fantasy. There’s nothing like experiencing a new world or escaping through a portal. Worldbuilding is great – you can change so many things, and each of these changes can have intricate and intriguing implications.

Re-reader or not?

I only re-read occasionally. I’ve definitely re-read Seanan McGuire’s Wayward Children books, to give one example, because I love visiting the alternate worlds she created in them. But for the most part, there are so many books I haven’t read but want to read that I spend my time exploring those.

Keep books or give them away?

Unless I’m likely to refer to them again, I like to give away books once I’ve finished them, so other people can enjoy them too.

READ THE BLURB

A refreshing YA debut from Canadian author Melanie Bell, perfect for fans of Rainbow Rowell, Becky Albertalli, and Nina LaCour.

Melanie Bell has created a compelling coming-of-age story, featuring a bisexual protagonist, for those that can relate to the search for untapped potential. Told in alternating timelines on Prince Edward Island and Vancouver, Chasing Harmony reminds us of the exhilarating feeling that comes with hearing your heart’s song.

Piano prodigy Anna Stern is used to having all eyes on her. As she becomes a teenager, Anna struggles to find her identity without the soundtrack of sonatas and concertos. There’s also the worry that comes with the crushing expectations of her musical gift and her parents’ imploding marriage.

Anna finds refuge in her best friend, Liss, who is full of magic and escape plans. However, now their relationship is changing and Anna is starting to fall for her. Adding to the complicated status is new kid Darien, who is always vying for Anna's attention.

As the haunting spectre of burnout lurks close by, an upcoming performance with Liss will determine both of their futures. With everything building to a crescendo, what follows is an authentic life in the making.

READ AN EXCERPT

Liss’s violin, marbleized wood luminous as eyes. Her foot’s proximity. Liss outshining her. An inch between sole and polished body. Liss so satisfied. Hesitation. Liss’s lips touching her, Liss’s gifts untouchable. Impact before she realizes there’s been an impact. Hideous cracking sounds. Again, again, encore.

There is a sense of cold grandeur in Anna’s eyes. In the keys of every piano are salamanders, scorpions, grass snakes, rats. Anna is made of piano keys. The violin is on the floor and the pinchy flat of her right foot is through it and touching the uncolorful speckles. The music room has windows but they’re high and hard to see through. Anna’s pulse is doubled where the veins stick out. Beethoven is a musical negative. Everyone had loved them. Past is a negative sometimes set to music. The violin is in two main pieces with a hole scrunched in the middle and assorted splinters. The violin is back in the case on the shelf. It has a name on it. Adrenalin has Anna’s veins alight. Liss now owns two halves of a violin. The splinters would be hers too but Anna has picked them up and thrown them on top of the lint and pizza box in the garbage. A piano is too big to stomp through. Love? She shudders. A splinter is lodged in Anna’s index finger just below the nail.

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