Scan barcode
nuriadi's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
book_concierge's review against another edition
2.0
Translated from original Catalan by Martha Tennent
2.5**
From the book jacket: In the winter of 1991, at a concert in Krakow, an older woman with a marvelously pitched violin meets a fellow musician who is instantly captivated by her instrument. When he asks her how she obtained it, she reveals the remarkable story behind its origin…
My Reactions
I really wanted to like this book … no … I wanted to love this book. But it missed the mark for me. I think that is because it felt unfinished.
The basic story line is engaging and what kept me reading, but there were huge gaps that left me hungry for more detail. Anglada began with a date in 1991, so we know where we are at when the violin first makes an appearance. And the next chapter begins Daniel’s story (the luthier who crafted the violin) as he struggles to survive in the concentration camp. In bits and pieces we learn of the conditions, the sadistic doctor, the capricious whims of the commandant, the deprivations, the dreams and nightmares, and the fragile friendships formed. But suddenly Daniel is crafting a violin and we don’t know why. Or how he got the tools and materials. I actually went back to the previous chapter and re-read, thinking I must have dozed off and accidently skipped ahead. But I hadn’t.
Eventually we are able to piece together the story, but not until there are a few more abrupt changes in time frame that not only were disorienting, but made me feel that parts of the story were left out. In summary, while the story line played the reader’s heartstrings like a violin virtuoso, I felt that the book was unfinished.
2.5**
From the book jacket: In the winter of 1991, at a concert in Krakow, an older woman with a marvelously pitched violin meets a fellow musician who is instantly captivated by her instrument. When he asks her how she obtained it, she reveals the remarkable story behind its origin…
My Reactions
I really wanted to like this book … no … I wanted to love this book. But it missed the mark for me. I think that is because it felt unfinished.
The basic story line is engaging and what kept me reading, but there were huge gaps that left me hungry for more detail. Anglada began with a date in 1991, so we know where we are at when the violin first makes an appearance. And the next chapter begins Daniel’s story (the luthier who crafted the violin) as he struggles to survive in the concentration camp. In bits and pieces we learn of the conditions, the sadistic doctor, the capricious whims of the commandant, the deprivations, the dreams and nightmares, and the fragile friendships formed. But suddenly Daniel is crafting a violin and we don’t know why. Or how he got the tools and materials. I actually went back to the previous chapter and re-read, thinking I must have dozed off and accidently skipped ahead. But I hadn’t.
Eventually we are able to piece together the story, but not until there are a few more abrupt changes in time frame that not only were disorienting, but made me feel that parts of the story were left out. In summary, while the story line played the reader’s heartstrings like a violin virtuoso, I felt that the book was unfinished.
ellejaoy's review against another edition
With only 109 pages this should of been a breeze to read through but it took much longer than expected. The choice of words seemed nearly obnoxious at times and the sentence structure was unpleasant throughout the book (lets be clear that I feel hypocritical saying this - but I make no claim to be a writer). Being an Historian, the plot felt recycled. This has been done to death and adding in intricate details of violins and classical music certainly didn't attract me more to the story. I was bored throughout and only sheer will power kept me from putting it down.
karinlib's review against another edition
3.0
The Violin of Auschwitz is the story of a violin, made in Auschwitz, by an inmate as a result of a bet between the commandant and the sadistic camp doctor. It isn't the most powerful story of the Holocaust, but I think it is worth reading.
magy's review against another edition
3.0
The story in general is phenomenal. The idea of putting parts of real Nazi documents at the start of each chapter is genius and really bring the story to life. However, the story didn't advance as much as I wanted it to. The pacing was too slow. I feel like if the author took out some pages, it wouldn't have impacted the story at all. Some part was unnecessary and didnt bring anything to the story.
novellenovels's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
papidoc's review against another edition
4.0
I’ll admit that I’m of two minds about The Violin of Auschwitz. Like many who have already reviewed it here, it didn’t affect me as powerfully as have other novels or biographical accounts of the Jewish holocaust and the Nazi concentration camps. I think, for example, of the dark power of Elie Wiesel’s Night, or the tremendous wisdom to be found in Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning, and this one simply doesn’t compare. However, not all books can be Pulitzer prize winners, and that this one is not does not mean it has no value.
For me, its value lies in the symbolism I found in it, which may or may not have been intended by the author (or fully brought to life by the translator). The violin itself was symbolic of things that bring beauty and light into life. Such things allow us to transcend the difficulties, challenges, and even evils that come upon us sometimes, and our immersion in them, bringing all of our talents and energies to bear upon them, can take us out of ourselves and to a different, better place. Friends such as Bronislaw also prove to be lifelines (and we to them) in those dark times, and also in times of goodness and hope. Even the prison commander and the evil doctor are symbols, of that which is most evil and destructive, but that still has not the power to destroy us (not our shell that we call our body, but us), and can only take our soul if we allow it. Death may remove us temporarily from this world, but never from the memories of those we have loved, and who loved us, and never permanently from the eternal world.
Like others I have read of this genre, this book led me to pause from time to time, to think and ponder, and to appreciate the ease and joys and blessings of my life. That made it worthwhile.
For me, its value lies in the symbolism I found in it, which may or may not have been intended by the author (or fully brought to life by the translator). The violin itself was symbolic of things that bring beauty and light into life. Such things allow us to transcend the difficulties, challenges, and even evils that come upon us sometimes, and our immersion in them, bringing all of our talents and energies to bear upon them, can take us out of ourselves and to a different, better place. Friends such as Bronislaw also prove to be lifelines (and we to them) in those dark times, and also in times of goodness and hope. Even the prison commander and the evil doctor are symbols, of that which is most evil and destructive, but that still has not the power to destroy us (not our shell that we call our body, but us), and can only take our soul if we allow it. Death may remove us temporarily from this world, but never from the memories of those we have loved, and who loved us, and never permanently from the eternal world.
Like others I have read of this genre, this book led me to pause from time to time, to think and ponder, and to appreciate the ease and joys and blessings of my life. That made it worthwhile.
apolodelimalimon's review against another edition
5.0
Vaig llegir Quadern d'Aram durant els meus anys de Batxillerat perquè m'entrava a Selectivitat, d'allò ja fa avui quatre anys justos i aquest any que acabo la Universitat, no he pogut evitar recordar com em va emocionar Aram i com em va filtrar dins el cor sentiments molt potents i la sensació d'impotència que transmetia el genocidi armeni. Imagineu com m'he sentit d'impotent i conmogut llegint l'experiència d'en Daniel (amb qui comparteixo nom) al Campament dels Tres Rius, a Auschwitz, com de cruel i d'horrible va ser la seva no-vida a Auschwitz i l'amor que sentia fent violins, moment en que, tot i el que suceeix, aconsegueix fer-lo feliç per uns instants. Recordava la professora de Literatura Catalana dient-nos en què ens havíem de fixar per llegir Quadern d'Aram, les referències mediterrànies de Maria Àngels Anglada, la natura, les emocions, la llibertat i l'espurna d'esperança tot i la foscor del que es descriu.
Quadern d'Aram va significar molt per a mi, però El violí d'Auschwitz, llibre que persegueixo des fa quatre anys, ha estat moltes coses, el tenia molt idealitzat i ha superat les expectatives i se les ha passades.
Estic corprès.
Quadern d'Aram va significar molt per a mi, però El violí d'Auschwitz, llibre que persegueixo des fa quatre anys, ha estat moltes coses, el tenia molt idealitzat i ha superat les expectatives i se les ha passades.
Estic corprès.