Review - A Little Wanting Song by Cath Crowley

Published by Knopf
Published 8 June 2010

Summary from Goodreads - Charlie Duskin loves music, and she knows she's good at it. But she only sings when she's alone, on the moonlit porch or in the back room at Old Gus's Secondhand Record and CD Store. Charlie's mom and grandmother have both died, and this summer she's visiting her grandpa in the country, surrounded by ghosts and grieving family, and serving burgers to the local kids at the milk bar. She's got her iPod, her guitar, and all her recording equipment, but she wants more: A friend. A dad who notices her. The chance to show Dave Robbie that she's not entirely unspectacular.

Rose Butler lives next door to Charlie's grandfather and spends her days watching cars pass on the freeway and hanging out with her troublemaker boyfriend. She loves Luke but can't wait to leave their small country town. And she's figured out a way: she's won a scholarship to a science school in the city, and now she has to convince her parents to let her go. This is where Charlie comes in. Charlie, who lives in the city, and whom Rose has ignored for years. Charlie, who just might be Rose's ticket out.

I think it's safe to say that this book firmly cemented my knowledge that contemporary fiction is a genre we all need to look out for.  It's a genre that spins so many tales and really get to the heart of readers.  Told in alternating points of views, we get to watch the story of Charlie and Rose come to life on the pages.  We get to follow them on their journey to self discovery and growing up.  We get to see the wonders that we all hope for.  

At first glance, Charlie and Rose couldn't be more different; however they have something in common, they both just want.  Whether it be wanting to leave a small town, or just wanting someone to notice you.  The longing they both felt was so powerful and intense, that I found myself wanting with them.  I wanted something more, and Crowley gave it to me.  I loved the characters almost like I knew them.  Charlie with her quitet soulful ways.  Rose with her emotions locked safe away.  Luke with his pain in my proverbial arse ways and Dave, with his sweet demeaner and killer looks.  

But, the thing that caught me the most was the writing.  Hot damn can this woman write.  These are the kind of words that I could read everyday, the kind of words that speak to you and want you to get lost in them.  I was just mesmorised with how the story was told in such a poetically beautiful way.  The writing almost made my heart ache with the beauty of it all.  It held so much raw emotion, so much passion and so much more.  Her writing is like magic.  Really, it just amazes me to the point where I can't even think straight.  

This book was just gold dust.  Poetic, beautiful and truly inspiring, run out and get your copy now and revel in the magic of her words.