Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ 3.5/5
Playlist for the Dead is a debut novel by Michelle Falkoff. The book is about a shy geek high school boy named Sam and how his best friend, Hayden committed suicide. Sam was left behind with a playlist and a suicide note: For Sam— listen and you’ll understand. The night Hayden died, the two of them went to a party and had their biggest fight. The next morning Sam found the dead body and blamed himself for his best friend’s death. He tried to gather information to unlock the mystery behind the suicide but, as he continues to listen to the playlist and meet more people he realized that his memories weren’t as reliable as he thought.
For a debut novel, the book is good. I am not a writer to criticize the writing but it was also good. The plot, the use of a playlist to unravel the suicide mystery, the characters, and the twists were all great. I could relate to Sam in some way but there was just no way I could connect to the book. I didn’t hate it but I didn’t like it that much either. Usually when I read books, let be it I could relate to it personally or not, there is always that connection that draws me to a book but this one doesn’t have that feel and connection.
Furthermore, the book will teach us a very important lesson we’ve long known but only a few practiced— to listen. In order to genuinely understand someone, you first have to learn how to listen to their stories.
To sum it all up, it is still a great read. I will recommend the book to anyone who can personally relate to the story, lessons and advises can be learned and taken from it. It is a great debut novel so I am a bit expecting more from the author. Besides, just like songs, not all books are going to be a hit.
jerrylreads 