Songs of No Provenance

A Novel

By: Lydi Conklin

Narrated by: Kristin James

A suspenseful, wildly engaging debut novel by the award-winning author of Rainbow Rainbow, following a musician spiraling in self-doubt and self-searching after a night—and a relationship—gone wrong

Songs of No Provenance tells the story of Joan Vole, an indie folk singer forever teetering on the edge of fame, who flees New York after committing a shocking sexual act onstage that she fears will doom her career. Joan seeks refuge at a writing camp for teenagers in rural Virginia, where she's forced to question her own toxic relationship to artmaking—and her complicated history with a friend and mentee—while finding new hope in her students and a deepening intimacy with a nonbinary artist and fellow camp staff member.

A propulsive character study of a flawed and fascinating artist, Songs of No Provenance explores issues of trans nonbinary identity, queer baiting and appropriation, kink, fame hunger, secrecy and survival, and the question of whether a work of art can exist separately from its artist.

©2025 Lydi Conklin (P)2025 Highbridge Audio

Interesting story, unlikable protagonist

The thing that most ruined this book for me is the narrator. I just don't like when women narrators lower their voices for male characters--it's so obvious and fake sounding. She also drops her voice distractingly for the (woman) protagonist. She puts on a voice for every character, but not subtly or very well. It just takes me out of the story and grates on me. (Sorry.) Her regular voice was perfectly fine! Just read it in your voice.

As for the story... if you don't mind hearing a lot (I mean, a LOT) about pee (the protagonist's kink), then go for it. It's fairly entertaining--if slightly unbelievable at times--and sort of like watching a train wreck. Personally, I think Conklin's short story collection, Rainbow Rainbow, is much stronger than this debut novel.

Incredibly moving and funny

A wildly specific story that somehow encompasses everything. A perfect novel about making art. More from Lydi Conklin soon please.