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wildweasel105's review against another edition
5.0
This novel deals with the angst and seemingly impossible odds of a Jewish mother and daughter avoiding capture by the Nazis in WWII Poland. This book is destined to be a classic among those that depict the triumph of victims over the evil that pervaded Eastern Europe during the German invasion.
The story is intelligent, well told and above all, allows hope to shine through even in the darkest of circumstances. I especially liked how the daughter's "musical mind" ultimately paved the way for her survival.
Whereas Jerzy Kosinsky's "The Painted Bird", published in 1965, is similar in terms of a Jewish orphan boy escaping capture by the Nazis in war-torn Poland, there is a tremendous difference in terms of the darkness that permeates Kosinsky's story as opposed to the light and reconciliation found in Rosner's story. I highly recommend "The Yellow Bird Sings".
The story is intelligent, well told and above all, allows hope to shine through even in the darkest of circumstances. I especially liked how the daughter's "musical mind" ultimately paved the way for her survival.
Whereas Jerzy Kosinsky's "The Painted Bird", published in 1965, is similar in terms of a Jewish orphan boy escaping capture by the Nazis in war-torn Poland, there is a tremendous difference in terms of the darkness that permeates Kosinsky's story as opposed to the light and reconciliation found in Rosner's story. I highly recommend "The Yellow Bird Sings".
alicetaylorxox's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
alternativehippy's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
maryquitecontrary_22's review against another edition
5.0
Lyrical. Heartbreaking. Hopeful. Memorable.
franklyfrank's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
kvanhook92's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
licelotd's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
novelvisits's review against another edition
5.0
Note: I received a copy of this book from Flatiron Books (via NetGalley) in exchange for my honest review.
I have read A LOT of WWII fiction and loved much of it, but I’ve also reached a point of near saturation with this historical fiction sub-genre. For the last couple years I’ve been extremely selective in which WWII stories I’m willing to invest time in. Those that come at the war from a different angle or an unusual perspective are what I’m most likely to pick up. Even with the extra care in selecting books, I’ve been disappointed in a few, but happily that was not the case with Jennifer Rosner’s debut, The Yellow Bird Sings.
What set this book apart from other WWII stories was the intense mother-daughter relationship between Róża and her young daughter, Shira. Forced to hide her daughter in the loft of a barn for more than a year, Róża is willing to do anything to keep her alive. She sacrifices much of herself to build an almost silent world where Shira’s creative mind can thrive even as both their bodies grow weaker and weaker. I found the time the two spent together in the barn gripping in its very smallness. With little food, cold in the winter, sweltering in the summer, and near constant threat of discovery the two clung to one another with stories of a secret garden, and a love of music.
As the story moved forward, so did their circumstances. What never changed was the instinct to survive woven deep into both their hearts. The longer I read The Yellow Bird Sings, the more I liked it. The second half of the book was especially compelling and the ending not what I had expected. I think I’ll forever by haunted by stories of WWII, and know I’ll always appreciate ones that can touch me in a new way. The Yellow Bird Sings did exactly that.
Original source: Novel Visits - https://novelvisits.com/the-yellow-bird-sings-by-jennifer-rosner-review/
I have read A LOT of WWII fiction and loved much of it, but I’ve also reached a point of near saturation with this historical fiction sub-genre. For the last couple years I’ve been extremely selective in which WWII stories I’m willing to invest time in. Those that come at the war from a different angle or an unusual perspective are what I’m most likely to pick up. Even with the extra care in selecting books, I’ve been disappointed in a few, but happily that was not the case with Jennifer Rosner’s debut, The Yellow Bird Sings.
What set this book apart from other WWII stories was the intense mother-daughter relationship between Róża and her young daughter, Shira. Forced to hide her daughter in the loft of a barn for more than a year, Róża is willing to do anything to keep her alive. She sacrifices much of herself to build an almost silent world where Shira’s creative mind can thrive even as both their bodies grow weaker and weaker. I found the time the two spent together in the barn gripping in its very smallness. With little food, cold in the winter, sweltering in the summer, and near constant threat of discovery the two clung to one another with stories of a secret garden, and a love of music.
As the story moved forward, so did their circumstances. What never changed was the instinct to survive woven deep into both their hearts. The longer I read The Yellow Bird Sings, the more I liked it. The second half of the book was especially compelling and the ending not what I had expected. I think I’ll forever by haunted by stories of WWII, and know I’ll always appreciate ones that can touch me in a new way. The Yellow Bird Sings did exactly that.
Original source: Novel Visits - https://novelvisits.com/the-yellow-bird-sings-by-jennifer-rosner-review/
alexandbooks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
3.0