1980's London. music store owner Frank is determined to sell nothing buy vinyl even though CD's are the new trend. He has a special gift of being able to recommend music to people that, by listening to it, helps them solve a problem or makes them happy. His store is located on a downtrodden street with various other small shop owners who are all quirky in their own way. And he meets Ilse and they fall in love. But Frank has a troubled past with an unconventional upbringing, the developers want to buy up the street, and he and Ilse can't figure out a way to make it work. The book dragged a little in the middle but found new life when it picked up 21 years later in 2009. Tears came to my eyes when they were all singing Handel's Messiah in the mall. Happy ending.
