As someone who has read a fair amount of Alexander McCall Smith’s novels (my favorites are The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series, and I curse HBO for canceling the series—which starred the talented songbird Jill Scott—after only one season), I was glad when my mom passed this charming little book along.
The story is told through the eyes of Lavender Stone—La to her friends—who leaves city life behind and moves to the English countryside following a tragic event in her life. After the outbreak of war, La decides to serve her country in some capacity by joining the Women’s Land Army, and is assigned to help Henry Madder, a kind, elderly farmer, care for his chickens.
Meanwhile, La is introduced to Feliks, a young Polish airman who is unable to continue flying because of a recent injury. Since he has nowhere to go, an acquaintance of La’s suggests that Feliks come to work on Madder’s farm. The two develop a close bond (will they end up together?), working together to plant a vegetable garden and discovering a common interest in music. La, an amateur flute player, is inspired to form an orchestra. Soon villagers and airmen from the nearby Royal Air Force base join the ensemble. The music they share provides more than just entertainment; it provides hope for the entire community.
La's Orchestra Saves the World is a story about sacrifice, courage and the strength of the human spirit. McCall Smith has crafted a true gem with this stand-alone novel, and those who pick up a copy won’t be disappointed.
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