Spellbinding is an over-used word in reviews; it usually gets attached to a book which keeps the reader driven towards the final page but that isn't genuinely captivating. "That Beautiful Atlantic Waltz" more than earns the description "spellbinding". It's a beautiful work that keeps you under its spell from the word go and haunts you for days afterwards.

The story is simple and the writing composed and spare, but they come together to bring depth to characters and atmosphere to the Shetland setting. In other hands, the use of hand-written lyrics could be just a gimmick. Here, they bring insight into Jack's small world and reach across the ocean to their spiritual homeland.

I read a ridiculous amount of books; it's a long time since I read one so marvellous and memorable.

An immersive and meaningful tale of loneliness, music and unexpected connections in a remote landscape. The music and lyrics both written by Jack gave the story a lovely aspect. The writing was beautifully descriptive, and the dual timelines of father and son flowed really well. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy.

The novel begins in the 1950s, with Sonny aboard a whaling ship, navigating the harsh realities of life at sea. After narrowly escaping death in a violent storm, he makes a solemn vow to return home to Shetland and marry Kathleen, the woman he fell in love with before his departure. Sonny’s determination and near-death experience set the tone for a life shaped by resilience and love for his family.

Fast forward to present-day Shetland, where we meet Jack, now in his 60s, living a quiet, reclusive life in an isolated house. Unlike his father, Jack has never ventured far from Shetland. He’s a solitary figure, content with his quiet existence. However, when a kitten mysteriously appears on his doorstep one day, Jack’s world begins to shift. This simple act of companionship gradually opens his heart to the possibilities of connection and love, something he has long kept at a distance.

As the novel unfolds, we discover that Jack is Sonny’s son, but the two men are starkly different. Sonny was a driven, hardworking man, deeply devoted to his family but often demanding as a parent. Jack, on the other hand, is reserved, and unambitious, and finds solace in country music, a passion he lacks the confidence to pursue fully. His life, in many ways, has been shaped by what he hasn’t done—by the dreams left unexplored and the connections left untended.

What makes the novel particularly poignant is the interspersing of song lyrics written by Jack himself. These lyrics provide insight into his inner world, revealing the emotions he struggles to express. In a unique collaboration, Malachy has released an accompanying album featuring these songs, which adds an evocative and immersive layer to the reading experience. The music is tender and beautifully complements Jack’s story—worth a listen for the added depth it brings to the narrative.

One of the novel’s greatest triumphs is its portrayal of Jack’s quiet transformation. As he forms relationships with Loretta, the kitten, and Vaila, the young daughter of a neighbour who visits regularly, we witness Jack's gradual emotional awakening. The tentative bonds he forms with these two unlikely companions bring warmth to the story, offering a touching exploration of how even the smallest connections can open us up to the richness of life.

In the end, this novel is a beautiful meditation on family, isolation, and the quiet power of human connection. Jack, with all his complexities and vulnerabilities, is a character who slowly wins your heart, and his journey toward rediscovering companionship and love lingers long after the final page.

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My first and definitely not my last access to the work of Malachy Tallack. This is truly a beautiful read. The poetic, descriptive style of writing is one that I found myself highlighting time and time again, there are phrases and sentences I feel I will remember for ever…the work of a literary genius. The story starts and ends whilst joining the circle of life. Centred by the quiet musical hero, Jack. His own life is not adventurous, exciting or heroic but the way in which he chooses to live will resonate with many of us, who at the end of our lives, realise we have been chasing peace but not finding it in the humdrum world we inhabit.
This is one of those books that will make you slow down and smell, if not the roses, the fresh untainted Atlantic air.
Thank you so much all for the ARC.

Malachy Tallack makes the ordinary extraordinary with his beautiful, lyrical, understated prose that brings alive the isolated windswept landscape of Shetland and the lives of 2 generations of the Paton family, interspersed with handwritten songs, though these can be a little hard to read on kindle. Sonny is working on a whaling ship in the South Atlantic in 1957, an ugly, brutal, harrowing job, making the decision to leave the life after living through a vicious storm. He returns home, asks Kathleen to marry him, the couple living with her Uncle Tom, at his home, Hamar, where their son, Jack is born. In the dual timelines, we follow glimpses of the family through the years, and in the present, we observe 62 year old Jack's life as it is thrown out of kilter with the mysterious gift of a kitten. He names it Loretta, as to his surprise, it weaves it way slowly and surely into his life.

Jack is a loner, his parents were lost at sea, he is unambitious, time means more to him than money, and he sees life through the lens of country music and songs. A shy and introverted child, he came alive listening to the music, the be and end all, teaching himself to play the guitar. Jack builds a rich interior musical landscape where the island, and his home, stuffed to the gills with albums, is composed entirely of country music. Jack writes and sings his own songs, performances no one else is privy to, keeping him company, ambling from note to note, idea to idea, asking deep philosophical questions of the genre, the singers, the magic of the songs. Through song, Jack experiences a rich vibrant. life beyond his immediate surroundings, he has been many people, done great things, experienced great loves, lost and found

Loretta is the trigger that shakes everything, opening up his world, as he bonds with neighbours, single mother Sarah and her 8 year old daughter, Vaila, besotted with the kitten, and becoming close to Jack too. This is an gripping read that held me entranced from start to finish, a lonely yet content Jack, sure with some regrets and feelings of nostalgia, having lived in one home all his life, yet inhabited by the joys, heartbreak and sorrows of country music. Loretta, Vaila, and Sarah open his life up further, although this is not without its challenges. It was fascinating to learn, from the author notes at the end, that a disproportionate number of Atlantic whalers came from Shetland, presumably because of the poverty and lack of other opportunites, which is to change through time.

This is a brilliant, emotionally affecting read that will stay with me for some time to come, the atmospheric location of Shetland, Jack, and his family, Vaila, a novel that I simply cannot recommend highly enough. I have no doubt it will do well on publication. Many thanks to the publisher for an ARC,

In That Beautiful Atlantic Waltz, Mallachy Tallack explores themes of grief, loneliness, and the strength of human spirit against the backdrop of the Shetland Islands.

The novel intertwines the historical family saga of Sonny, an Atlantic whaler, and his son Jack, now in his sixties. Jack had returned to Shetland after the death of his parents and now lives alone in their remote cottage. Grappling with his memories of the past, particularly of his parents and a previous stalled relationship, Jack navigates the complexities of social interactions and the daily routine of single life. He finds comfort in listening to country music, also singing and songwriting. Jack’s daily life is mundane until an unexpected delivery arrives, but the introduction of a friend brings challenges to Jack’s personal turmoil. Jack’s attempts at putting his thoughts into song are illustrated with handwritten lyrics.

The prose is beautifully written, almost poetic. However, there is a background of tension, as if a disaster is about to happen. Which it does, to some extent late in the narrative, but Jack’s experience and rersponse strengthens his and the reader’s faith in the human spirit. A deeply moving and memorable book.

I was asked to review this book by NetGalley

I found this to be such a beautiful book - this is the story of Jack who lives in Sheltland. Jack is a loner and it is essentially thought provoking as he looks on life, getting older and being quite lonely. Saying this I am painiting a rather bleak picture but not at all this author brings both Jack and Shetland to life. The setting is wonderful and we get to know Jack in this quiet yet tranquil setting.
This is such a good observational story and the reader gets drawn into this and will certainly agree with some of Jacks thoughts on life.
it is quite an emotional story but more thought provoking.

Really recommended I loved this.

What a lovely book
My First impressions were that this is a thoughtful quiet book and I very much enjoyed it
The story looks at two generations of a Scottish family living in Shetland primarily focused on the present day and Jack who is living alone in the house where he grew up. Jack is a man a few words but inside his heart is a country music song which is desperate to get out . The story is told in a mixture of present day and flashbacks to the life of Jack’s parents who were sadly lost in a boating accident.
Story touches on loneliness and self-sufficiency and the power of music to express emotions that are so difficult to say
I loved the handwritten song lyrics songs that Jack has written. It’s quite difficult to read on Kindle sometimes and I suspect these would come over better on a hard copy of the book but the handwriting the sections and the crossings out of lines or words he wants changing tell you so much about the character.

I can’t help thinking his lovely it would be to hear music to the beautiful songs he writes I found myself looking up some of the country music songs mentioned in the story on Spotify to hear them for myself
The order has a beautiful lyrical writing style, which is poetic and highly visual at the same time
The setting of the novel on the Scottish Islands of Shetland and its geographical isolation at another level of isolation to the character in the novel. I think Shetland tourist board would do well selling this novel in their tourist information shops. I’d love to see this novel made into a film the remote setting of the houses and particularly the sea which is so important in this novel would come over beautifully on the big screen
I would recommend this novel to those who love a primarily relationship based novel I think lovers of A man called ove by Frederik Backman or Frank and red by Matt Coyne will love this book
I read an early copy of the novel on NetGalley UK. The book is published in the UK on the 24th of October 2024 by Canongarte books.
This review will appear on NetGalley UK, Goodreads, and my book blog bionicsarahsbooks.WordPress.com.

After publication it will also appear on Amazon UK

Shetland loner finds kitten. It changes his life. The end.
Maybe I’m not enough of a kitty person to appreciate this and maybe the cat people will coo over this book, but I found that for me there wasn’t enough Shetland life covered here. That said, what WAS described was beautifully done. But where is Shetland’s dramatic and breathtaking landscape, where its terrifying weather?

That Beautiful Atlantic Waltz is utterly captivating. Five stars.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this.

Just the most beautiful, haunting book I have ever read!
Jack's story is told through music, glance backs at his parents lives and an unusual friendship that forms having been alone for so long in his isolated cottage. The pace is gentle, the scenery breathtaking and the characters have great depth and feeling.
5 stars is not enough.

An absolutely beautiful book. Loved everything about it. The writing, the characters, the story. OK the whaling bits were a little hard to swallow but the rest of the book was utterly charming. So much so that on its release I am going to buy a physical copy and reread

That Beautiful Atlantic Waltz is a gentle read set in the Shetland Islands. The story follows Jack, a man in his sixties who has lived his whole life in the same house. His quiet life begins to change when a kitten and a young girl come into his world, slowly helping him connect with others.

The book alternates between Jack’s life now and the story of his parents and although Jack’s life is simple, his story is moving and relatable, especially for those who have experienced loneliness or found comfort in small things.
A heartfelt and truly beautifully read

The island isolation and connection to the sea and seafaring are reflected in the people of Shetland, in particular one man whose story is told through his difficulties connecting with people, but not with music. He has reached the beginning of old age, still in his childhood home, taking pleasure in small things, but still finding difficulty in social situations. Life is about to change for him, and we learn more about his story going back through the family history. The isolation and changing situations of the islanders are really beautifully told, so we as readers experience the closeness and distance in these lives, spaced apart but closely linked through gossip and shared experiences. The language is sometimes unfamiliar, but this adds to the feeling of otherness encompassed in this lovely book.

A beautiful evocative Shetland setting and a haunting story, offset by songs and poetry that bring the language and characters to life. Alternating chapters between the storylines of Sonny, past, and Jack, present, the reader is aware of two very disparate personalities (and very quickly realise their relationship). The characters are beautifully drawn, and reclusive Jack gradually emerges from his shell through unexpected friendships. Music and lyrics are a very important element to the novel and my only quibble is that the ‘handwritten’ lyrics are very difficult to read on a kindle - I don’t think this detracted from the pleasure too much and I enjoyed every minute of this warmhearted and often powerful novel.

What an atmospheric book for the 21st century. Based in Shetland it brings home the tale of a mans struggle to interact with people outside the close family.

The opening of Solum Voe and the impact that has on some lives there. Can a wee kitten give so much love and trust to a person who's whole life really revolves around music and the wildlife and open spaces on Shetland? Then enters a small wee girl who changes his outlook slowly but surely.

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this book.

A truly beautiful book. Despite being quite a short novel this new story by Malachy Tallack really packs a punch. I laughed and I cried. Jack leaves a very simple life but when a kitten and an eight year old girl come into his life it is expanded beyond anything he has experienced before.

This, like some of Tallack's other books, is difficult to rate. It is fiction, but there is no coherent story. Instead it's more a reflection of Tallack's own general worldview, his passions and preoccupations — music, nature, people and the idiosyncrasies that make them tick. There are brief episodes where the reader might wonder whether they will turn into something resembling a proper story with context, but they never do.

The writing, as always, is astute, affecting and direct. Tallack describes his characters' traits and backstories in the way one might talk about people one knows — detached, yet also sympathetic.

Many thanks to the publishers and to Netgalley for the ARC.

That beautiful Atlantic waltz is a really beautifully written book interweaving the lives of Sonny, Kathleen, Tom, Jack, Vaila and Sarah. All set on the beautiful island of Shetland. A story that covers years in time but seamlessly intertwined the lives of these 6. Highly recommend this book.

This is such a beautiful book. It is the quiet and gentle story of Jack, a loner by choice, living on Shetland. The setting was magnificent; Shetland was really brought to life in the book. Through Jack's poignant observations on life, aging and being lonesome the story unfolds. I usually find myself getting frustrated with books in which there is very little happening but in this book, despite the lack of action, the pace was excellent and I couldn't put the book down. Jack is a wonderful character and I often found myself agreeing with his observations on life. Jack's own story of friendship in unexpected places and the comfort of music runs parallel to that of his parents. It is a book full of emotion without being too sentimental.
There is so much I still have to process and to take away from this book. One of my favourites for the year. Highly recommended.