Title: The Sound of Unheard Melodies
Author: Jan Surasky
Publisher: Sandlewood Press
ISBN: TBA
Genre: Fiction
Pages: 260
Reviewed by: Lisa Brown-Gilbert

Read Book Review

In a historically and culturally poised novel that offers eager readers an excursion back in time to the early days of the often inhospitable life in the Oklahoma territories, accolated author Jan Surasky’s The Sound of Unheard Melodies provides a front-row seat. Following the life of its multidimensional central character, Lily Paxton, born in Oklahoma at a time in history when life in the area was burgeoning and living was harsh.

Author Surasky provides an Immersive, character-driven narrative set in a world built with stunning authenticity, and intriguing characterizations, which draws you in immediately with the a brief flashback to the early history of Lily’s beautiful mother. Elena was born to a poor family of Spanish gypsies, as she determines to save her family from their harsh economic stature by attracting and marrying a wealthy man, which she does at 18, when she meets, attracts and marries a man of self-made wealth, Alfred R. Paxton. Consequently, in turn, when Elena gives birth to their only child, daughter Lily, she vows to ensure that Lily would never face poverty, and would be trained into becoming a fine young lady worthy of any wealthy man’s attention.

Meanwhile, life in Oklahoma was not easy for many around her, but Lily grew up as a free and comfortable spirit. Treated as an equal by the adults around her, she in return learned to treat others with the same respect. Consequently it’s easy for her to befriend others from differing backgrounds of social status and cultures, especially Wohali, the Cherokee native young man who leaves a lasting impression on her.

Soon following, as fate would have it, and as per her mother’s determination, Lily gets sent to train at an elite boarding school in Boston, The Stanton School for Girls, where she finds herself enmeshed in lessons on etiquette and other social graces. Moreover, as her world expands culturally she travels to other socialite havens like New York, Boston, and France, where Lily’s life becomes a complete immersion into a lifestyle where lavishness, money, and etiquette are important elements for most in life, especially for women looking to be women of high standing. However, lavishness aside Lily’s thoughts and heart wander to memories of her life in Oklahoma, its natural beauty and her times with Wohali. Meanwhile, on her journey to cultural expansion Lily experiences and travels the roads of the culturally and socially high bred, bringing into clarifying focus the fine details of life in the territories as well in juxtaposition, contrasts the life among the elite during that era.

I enjoyed The Sound of Unheard Melodies, it made for a wonderfully engrossing novel, built with an artful blending of historical facts, romance, creativity, and well-devised characters, especially that of Lily whose tenacity and loving persona played out well within the story. Ultimately, this was a satisfying read, and I do recommend it for fans of engaging, literary fiction with a twist of history