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Song In The Wrong Key
by
Simon Lipson (Goodreads Author)
Michael Kenton is a middle-aged man living in middle-class comfort with wife Lisa and daughters Millie and Katia. Drifting complacently towards retirement, Mike's world is turned upside-down when he is thrown unexpectedly onto the career scrapheap.
While Lisa's career sky-rockets, Mike slobs around in his track suit playing guitar, rekindling his teenage love affair with p...more
While Lisa's career sky-rockets, Mike slobs around in his track suit playing guitar, rekindling his teenage love affair with p...more
Paperback, 302 pages
Published
April 2nd 2012
by Lane & Hart Ltd
(first published October 24th 2010)
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It's nice to finally read an author in the romance (?) genre who doesn't subscribe to what I've seen as the "cliche" of romantic fiction. I enjoy getting a male perspective. Mr. Lipson is a skilled writer. He's taken care with his word choices, didn't settle for lazy sentence structure, and he tells a good story.
I'd not read anything in the romance, chick-lit, genres before I found out that's the genre I write (lol). Now, I'm searching for authors who do it well and from whom I can learn the nua...more
I'd not read anything in the romance, chick-lit, genres before I found out that's the genre I write (lol). Now, I'm searching for authors who do it well and from whom I can learn the nua...more
Mike's life free-falls as he loses the respect of his daughters, disgraces his wife and insults his best friend. A chance event sees him returning to his student days of playing guitar and singing to people in restaurants. He even checks up on his unrequited love from university on Facebook. All of a sudden there is a chance he might be involved in the tackiest music event in the world – the Eurovision song contest.
Lipson creates believable characters and events and despite humiliating his main...more
Lipson creates believable characters and events and despite humiliating his main...more
At first glance, the story outline is almost sad. Personable Mike Kenton loses his job and that’s the final nail in the coffin of his crumbling marriage. He moves out of his nice house, away from the two daughters he adores, and settles into a poky flat. He turns to his music again, and is spotted by music executive Ben in a tatty bistro. Ben asks if he can enter one of Mike’s songs into the Eurovision Song Contest. Does this rocket Mike into superstardom and solve all his personal problems? I d...more
I received an author-inscribed copy of "Song in the Wrong Key" as a "First Reads" winner. I really enjoyed this story of a stuck-going-nowhere IT man/father/husband who begins the ride of his life just when he thinks he's hit bottom. The author's style is wry and witty, and thoroughly British, with lots of Brit references that I, as an American reader, didn't always get, but could figure the gist of fairly easily.
As a former theatre major in college, I could understand an identify with the prota...more
As a former theatre major in college, I could understand an identify with the prota...more
Apr 21, 2012
Adriana
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone who likes books by David Nicholls and Nick Hornby
This one really teeters between 4-5 stars, and since half stars are not allowed, I'm going to give it the benefit of the doubt and give it a 5. It really is as good as anything by Nick Hornby.
A Song in the Wrong Key is a funny/sad, heartwarming/heartbreaking story about what happens when you suddenly realize that the life you've been quite content with isn't really the life you wanted. Mike Kenton is going through a bit of a rough patch. His 20 year marriage has stagnated and he's just been laid...more
A Song in the Wrong Key is a funny/sad, heartwarming/heartbreaking story about what happens when you suddenly realize that the life you've been quite content with isn't really the life you wanted. Mike Kenton is going through a bit of a rough patch. His 20 year marriage has stagnated and he's just been laid...more
Having been very fortunate to win this book on a good read's giveaway I was hoping it would be a mildly reasonable read but as it was a freebie I wouldn't have been too worried if it had turned out to be a stinker. Therefore I was more than pleasantly surprised to discover that Simon Lipson is an extremely talented writer who has woven a wonderfully soulful, funny and credible story around the life of Londoner Mike Kenton, IT underachiever, and his search for his long buried musical dream in the...more
Michael's life is ticking along nicely. Married to Lisa with 2 little girls and a career in IT.
One day all that changes when he is made redundant at the age of 42. He knows at his age it will not be easy to find another job. He takes on the role of looking after the girls whilst job hunting. As he sits at home all day searching the internet for that elusive dream job, his dreams of being a pop star resurface.
Michael picks up his guitar and the old talent stirs. He plays a few 'gigs' in a local...more
One day all that changes when he is made redundant at the age of 42. He knows at his age it will not be easy to find another job. He takes on the role of looking after the girls whilst job hunting. As he sits at home all day searching the internet for that elusive dream job, his dreams of being a pop star resurface.
Michael picks up his guitar and the old talent stirs. He plays a few 'gigs' in a local...more
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Song in the Wrong Key is funny, with dry wit, terribly sad, and a totally charming story about love, loss, and finding your way. Simon Lipson has taken a topic that could be deadly dull and turned it into a must read.
I give this story 4 out of 5 clouds.
This product or book may have been distributed for review; this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.
I give this story 4 out of 5 clouds.
This product or book may have been distributed for review; this in no way affects my opinions or reviews.
I received a copy of this book through "Goodreads First Reads" and found it to be a true delight to read. Lipson tells the heartwarming story of Michael Kenton,a man who lost his career, marriage, and self worth. At the end of the day he finds light at the end of the tunnel when he revisits his first loves, music and a close university friend.
"Song in the Wrong Key" will resonate with any reader that has found themselves at a crossroads in life. You'll cry with Mike when he is at his bleakest...more
"Song in the Wrong Key" will resonate with any reader that has found themselves at a crossroads in life. You'll cry with Mike when he is at his bleakest...more
"Song In The Wrong Key" was hilarious, sarcastic, and well-written! Definitely a comedy that deserves applause. I'm not a huge fan of books that are riddled with cursing and sexual adventures so I might have given it one less star, but the voice of Michael Kenton was real and uproariously clever. Never a dull moment, I dare you not to laugh :)
Simon Lipson’s Song in the Wrong Key is a humorous and sometimes poignant novel about a middle-aged man whose life is in a downward spiral. To read my review in its entirety, please visit http://www.bookreviewsandmorebykathy....
Simon Lipson’s Song in the Wrong Key is a humorous and sometimes poignant novel about a middle-aged man whose life is in a downward spiral. To read my review in its entirety, please visit http://www.bookreviewsandmorebykathy....
I absolutely loved this book, brilliantly observant. A real page turner, or swiper if you've got a Kindle. It made me laugh and cry simultaneously.
I just hope this author keeps writing, I want to read more.
Peacock
I just hope this author keeps writing, I want to read more.
Peacock
I received this book from a goodreads giveaway. It was a good story. I don't know if I would call it "laugh out loud" funny, but the main character was a believable goof. I loved that he was a great dad, and really wanted to be with his kids. That was his most endearing quality. I enjoyed the way he got in caught up in life. Weather he was on the up or down, his main way of living was to ride the tide. A bit more sad of a story than I expected, but the funny parts were really funny.
The description of Song In The Wrong Key intrigued me so I decided to enter the first-reads giveaway and to my surprise I was a winner! This is a story of Michael Keaton, husband and father who loses his job and ends up going back to singing. I enjoyed this book and it's message.
Things are picking up. Starting to enjoy it more.
May 15, 2013
Littlenel
marked it as to-read
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M
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Heather
marked it as to-read
Jul 26, 2012
Cheryll Merritt
marked it as to-read
Jul 22, 2012
Cheryl/Aradanryl
marked it as waiting-2-be-read-kindle
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| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q&A with Simo...: The Writing Process | 13 | 5 | 22 de Mar 11:56 |
I used to be a lawyer, but please don't hold that against me. In 1994, I started a career as a stand-up comedian and impressionist and have since appeared on numerous TV and radio shows, including my own series on BBC Radio 4. What, you've never heard of me? I like to think it's because I'm always doing other people's voices. There may be other reasons. My novel, Song In The Wrong Key, is a romant...more
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“I'm not a social animal. That is, I'm not anti-social, I don't actively repel people - not intentionally anyway - I'm just not good in rooms full of people I don't know and/or like.”
—
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