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Thursday 4 June 2015

All Together Now by Gill Hornby


review by Maryom

 The Bridgeford Community Choir is in crisis; their organiser Constance is in hospital following a car accident and the county championships are looming. They need a new leader - and a lot of new members.
Tracey doesn't see herself as a person to join in with community events, especially not a group singing hits from the musicals or Abba selections - she's far too cool for such things - but when her neighbour hears her singing, he decides she's just the sort of new blood that the choir are looking for, and it turns out to be a lot more fun than she'd expected.
Annie is the heart and soul of Bridgeford. She knows everyone, from small children to their elderly grandparents, always has a cheery word to say to those she meets, and is the kind of stalwart figure who helps out everywhere - with the choir, at the library, visiting at the hospital - but, while so busy helping out in the community, has she forgot to pay attention to those closer to home?

All Together Now is more than the story of a choir and a singing contest - it's the story of a whole small-town community, trying to put some pride back into the high street, fighting off the big corporation trying to build a supermarket, and getting people to re-connect with their neighbours.
It's fun, it's feel good, a light-hearted, amusing read with a predictably happy ending. If you're a fan of Britain's Got Talent, X Factor or The Choir, you'll love it!
At times credibility seems stretched just a little too far - would the local youths, the heavy rockers and hoodies be that willing to get involved?  I don't think so - but after all it's a light piece of escapism, so does it matter too much?

Maryom's review - 3.5 stars
Publisher -
Little, Brown
Genre -adult, humour,

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