The Music Shop

This novel by Rachel Joyce has one unique aspect: there is a play list (multiple ones actually) on YouTube for all the music mentioned in the book. And the range is wide--from punk to jazz to R & B to classical. The main character (not sure he could really be called a protagonist) is a lonely, affable teddy bear of a man who owns a run-down record shop in an even more run-down side street in London, neighboring a tattoo parlor, a funeral home, a Christian gift shop, a baker, the local tavern and a handful of residences. There are a couple of major environmental factors working against the success of the shop. First vinyl records are going the way of the dodo--it's the 80's--to be replaced by CD's, at least according to the recording company reps. Frank refuses to carry CD's and at some point the reps refuse to sell vinyl records to him UNLESS he buys CD's. The 2nd big challenge is a major development company that is trying to buy out all the residents of Unity Street and is probably instigating vandalism of the stores as a way to intimidate owners to sell. And it's working as one by one the shops start to close and neighbors sell out. The major problem is Frank himself, however, who comes from a pretty stunted childhood in some ways; although it was rich in music, it was very short of maternal care taking. His mother even drove away the one woman Frank loved, the one he believed could give him a normal life,  the one he thought was carrying his child. Now he keeps himself apart although he can, apparently and unfailingly, choose just the right music to solve the emotional problems of others. While I am a huge believer in the emotive resonance of music and, therefore, its power to move us--that is I love and endorse the premise of the book--I just did not like any of the characters. So I dutifully read the book for my book group but can't really recommend it. It reminds one strongly of The Little Paris Bookshop, which pursued the same plot line, only with much more engaging and empathetic characters. Most of the book group liked it, so I'm somewhat of an anomaly. I have liked her other books, The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy, both of which I've posted on this blog.
Here is an effusively glowing review from The Washington Post, another from The Guardian, and from Publishers Weekly. Even Kirkus loved it and thought it food for a film rendition--oh well, what do I know?!