Title: The Sound of Unheard Melodies
Author: Jan Surasky
Publisher: Sandalwood Press
ISBN: 9780997652154
Pages: 260
Genre: Historical fiction
Reviewed by: Anita Lock
Hollywood Book Reviews
It’s a struggle between a predetermined future and a penchant for a young Oklahoman woman in Jan Surasky’s poignant novel, The Sound of Unheard Melodies. Lily Paxton lives in a blended environment. Lily, who is born into a life of privilege, grows up in the rugged territory of Oklahoma. The landscape provides her an appreciation for both the wealthy and the disadvantaged. The latter not only describes her mother’s Spanish gypsy background but the lives of the workers at her father’s coal mines and Native Americans who continuously struggle to keep their land from being overtaken by settlers.
Lily enjoys going with her father to his coal mines. It is there that she befriends Jamie, one of the worker’s son. Her cushioned life allows her to explore the great outdoors, and as an only child, Lily often ventures out to Cross Timbers to have lunch with her dolls. It is during one of her visits to the ancient forest that she befriends Wohali, a Cherokee boy. Although the two go on memorable adventures over the years, the time has come for Lily to follow the wishes of her mother by heading east to attend a school of etiquette for girls in Boston. Lita, Lily’s attractive cousin, accompanies her.
Both girls immediately attract wealthy suitors. While Lita develops romantic ties to an adventurous young man by the name of Harper, Lily often finds her mind wandering to Wohali and their times together in Cross Timbers. Her internal struggle leaves her undecided, and as a result, Lily has no idea how her life will unfold once she returns home.
Rising historical fiction author, Jan Surasky, draws from personal experience to create an unforgettable story of life at the rise of the Gilded Age. Surasky’s writing style is simple and sure. Her vastly descriptions aptly depict the lush sights, sounds, and smells of the era juxtaposed with the plight of the disadvantaged as well as the beauty that accompanies the modest lifestyle of Native Americans.
Chapters are short and close on light cliffhangers. There are neither surprises nor clichés. Surasky’s human-interest storytelling reveals nothing astonishing. Instead, it focuses on life and its complexities. Telling it as it was, Surasky has a gift for subtly drawing the relatable from the unrelatable, and in this case, the Gilded Age. Her ability to zero in on the thoughts and feelings of her characters sends a reminder that even though they lead very different lives, they carried hopes and dreams like people of today.
Surasky closes not only with an endnote but also with a brief history of Oklahoma, its ruggedness, its beauty, and the struggles, especially among the Native Americans, to survive. Surasky pens it aptly: “It is thanks to the men and women who came before them [present-day residents] who stayed the course in an unforgiving land, learning to get along with each other and the land they relied on.”
Kudos to Surasky for producing a beautiful novel! The Sound of Unheard Melodies is a welcome addition to Oklahoma history.