Malachy Tallack is a singer-songwriter as well as an established writer of books about his beloved Shetland. His second novel is about a man who has spent almost his entire life in one place who finds an unexpected friendship.
Jack's father had worked on a whaling ship in the 1950s. Opportunities were rare in Shetland, and whaling money was good. Sonny salted his away, marrying Kathleen in 1958. Jack was born two years later, growing into a quiet boy who knew to avoid his father’s temper. Sonny brought a passion for music back from South Georgia, passing it on to his son who became an ardent country music fan. Now in his sixties, he’s a man of simple routine with many acquaintances who have never quite become friends. Songs are still written but the fuzzy ambition to become a singer which sent him to Glasgow for a few weeks four decades ago has long gone. One day a cardboard box containing a kitten is left on his doorstep to Jack's consternation. Loretta is a tiny thing but she’s the spark for a surprising change in Jack’s life.
Tallack weaves Sonny and Kathleen’s story through Jack’s present in episodes that are often vividly lyrical in contrast to their son’s mundane life. There are passages of beautiful descriptive writing in both narratives, Jack’s threaded through with a gentle, affectionate humour and steeped in music. Tallack is a close observer, not least of cat behaviour: Loretta is as lovingly drawn as Jack himself, and eight-year-old Vaila’s adoration of her is spot on. I thoroughly enjoyed this touching novel which steers well clear of sentimentality.

3.5 The minute I started this book, a huge downpour rolled in off the Firth of Clyde which was, to say the least, atmospheric!

Boasting a stunning cover, That Beautiful Atlantic Waltz is an intimate slice-of-life featuring a quiet, older man living on Shetland.

While, at times, I struggled with the slow pace and the references to oldies country music, this book has a tremendous sense of time and place. The setting of Shetland comes alive as we spend time with Jack and in this wee community. Jack’s story is interspersed with some of the song lyrics he’d written, which was a nice touch. I particularly enjoyed watching Jack warm to Loretta and his sweet friendship with Valia.

This book is a charming character study beautiful illustrating that even the quietest lives can be extraordinary.

I was privileged to have my request to read this book accepted through NetGalley. Thank you so much, Canongate!

This book opens in the South Atlantic ocean in 1957 with Sonny on a whaling boat. There is a violent storm and an enormous wave that nearly sinks his ship. Sonny - a 20 year old deck boy - decides that when he returns to Shetland he will marry a girl who caught his eye before he left and he will not go back to whaling again. After that we meet Jack, a solitary man and ageing, who lives in the house he was born in on Shetland. He is retired now, both his parents are dead and he lives a quiet and simple life rarely going far from the area he was born in. The book alternates between these two threads following, and going back over, lives lived.

Fairly quickly we discover that Sonny did return to Shetland and marry the girl of his dreams. Life is hard in those days but they are happy together and start a family. Jack's house is isolated with only one neighbour who is at all close. He has had various jobs over the years but the real love of his life is Country music. He collects both the music and guitars. However there are very few people he interacts with other than visits to the very small local shop run by a lady he was at school with and the occasional visit to the supermarket further away..

I guess this is a book about isolation and the inner strength to deal with that - an acceptance of what is and what has been maybe. The chapters in the book are interspersed with hand written Country and Western songs by Jack and heard by no one other than him. However the world has a way of intruding on people sometimes. Jack has a visitor and a mystery gift.

Sonny and his wife (and other family members) are rather more sketched than fleshed out though that worked well for me. Without doubt Jack is the star of this book though. As a person he is far bigger than the small world he inhabits and in a wonderfully positive way. Shetland as the setting with its isolation worked very well for me. While that sense of isolation comes over well the feeling of community too is very apparent in both timelines. While in my notes the word "loneliness" crops up several times this is not in a depressing way and Jack does reflect on that.

It's fair to say that this is a book I really enjoyed - indeed I was affected quite a lot simply by it ending. I found Jack as a character one of the better ones I've come across over quite a few years. The tone of the book and writing worked well for me. Some of the events that take place are very dramatic and some are really quite small - almost all were powerful and it is just possible that a tear will be shed when reading this. It is several weeks after finishing this that I am writing this review and even now my eyes are unaccountably moist… 4.5/5 and certainly one of the best of the year for me.

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.

What a lovely story. I was both charmed and captivated by the lives of the characters encountered throughout the book. I enjoyed the way their stories were told through different decades and then brought back to the present.
This gives a complete picture of the lives of each character.
Some parts filled me with happiness and others left me feeling sad and sorry that some things turned out the way they did; although that added to the story’s charm. The relationships of the Islanders was moving too; particularly that of Jack, a little girl and a kitten.
It is beautifully written and towards the end, I thought it would break my heart but there was a way through. This book moved me and I feel privileged to have read it.

This book by Malachy Tallack is set on Shetland and mainly deals with Jack, son of Sonny and Kathleen. The parents back story is included throught the book to pad out the history. It is a well written book with a great sense of time and place and is heartwarming - and heart wrenching - without being sentimental. I really warmed to Jack and just wanted to give him a hug, which he probably wouldn't have wanted. I really like the inclusion of Jack's handwritten songs at the end of some chapters. Not always the easiest to read on a kindle but worth the effort. With thanks to NetGalley, the publishers and the author for an e-ARC to read and review.

That Beautiful Atlantic Waltz is a truly Beautiful book in so many ways. I was captured by this story from the outset. The characters are all really well written. However the main character, Jack, is a wonderful creation from Mallachy Tallack's pen. Jack is in his early 60's for the main part of the book although we also meet him as a child and young man. He lives alone in the house he was born, in Shetland. He no longer has paid employment and spends his time doing maintenance jobs around his house, gardening and most of all listening to and playing country music. He also writes country style songs, inspired by events and locations around him. These songs (actually written by the author) are interspersed through the narrative in a hand written style and really aid getting to know Jack as a person. The narrative switches back and forwards in time to also tell the story of Jack's parents, Kathleen and Sonny and his grand uncle Tom. This leads to wonderful descriptions of the landscape, weather, lifestyle and attitudes on Shetland over a period of over 60 years, with changes to the way of life through crofting, knitting, whaling and the oil industry. The turning point of the story occurs when Jack finds a kitten left in a box on his doorstep. His first instinct is to take it to the cat home which he discovers no longer exists. Gradually the cat becomes part of Jack's solitary life and he names her Loretta (after one of his favourite country singers). Loretta is a great character in her own right and leads to Jack getting to know 8 year old Vaila and her mum Sarah. I laughed and I cried while reading this book and I read many passages over again due to the lyrical writing. Jack reminded me in many ways of my brother and I have already decided to buy this book for him on publication. I am delighted to find out that there will be an accompanying CD with Jack's songs brought to life and will be purchasing that also. Thanks to Canongate for an ARC of this title for which I am delighted to write this review.

Jack Paton lives a solitary life in the remote Shetland cottage where he was born and has lived for most of his life. Constrained by the trauma of his past, he avoids social interaction wherever possible and lives an imaginary life through his love of Country Music and the songs that he writes. Until, unconditional friendship, love and forgiveness threaten to provide an alternative future.
A beautifully written, perfectly paced, book from the perspective of a man in his early sixties, struggling to confront the realities of modern life. A five star read.

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.

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

Oh dear, I'm sorry to say this put me in mind of Colm from Derry Girls. Something did happen, but it wasn't very exciting and it took far too long to get to that point.