I wonder if perhaps Emily Barr used Jacqueline du Pre for her inspiration here for this centres on a highly-strung, strong-willed classical musician whose personal life conflicts with her professional one. It is a very human story from a talented author who, up until now, has used her experiences in world travel as the backdrop to her novels. This takes our protagonist off to America but it’s life’s dramas that dominate.
Gorgeous, world-famous cellist Evie Silverman is classical-lite through and through. Real musicians despise her. Her talent has been promoted way beyond its value because – apparently – everyone loves a blonde girl in lipstick who can do interesting things between her thighs. She’s played for the President of the United States. She’s played at No 10 Downing Street. And tonight she’s playing for Royalty. But tonight she’s also going to change her life. Tonight she’s going to leave her husband. Tonight, for the first time in fifteen years, she’s going to stand on her own two feet. For tomorrow begins her new life – starting with a trip to New York. It all too soon becomes apparent that breaking the rules – and escaping from your past – isn’t what it’s cracked up to be…
Emily Barr worked as a journalist in London but always hankered after a quiet room and a book to write. She went travelling for a year, which gave her an idea for a novel set in the world of backpackers in Asia. This became Backpack, an adult thriller which won the WH Smith New Talent Award, and she has since written eleven more adult novels published in the UK and around the world.
The One Memory of Flora Banks is her first novel for young adults. She lives in Cornwall with her partner and their children.
