Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
3.5 stars
The cover is so beautiful! I just had to pick it up. They say "don't judge a book by the cover", but I can't help it. I always do. The Butterfly and the Violin was a really interesting read. I didn't LOVE it, but it was still pretty good. I enjoyed reading the book and I wasn't tempted to skim the end like so many other books I've read recently. I love the concept of the interwoven modern day and historical perspectives. It brought Adele's story to life. Even though the plot and characters are fictional, the setting was all too real. Auschwitz is a real place and 1.1 million REAL people died there. Stories like this are important; they drag the darkest moments of our history into the light and expose them. They keep the memories of the millions who were lost alive in our hearts.
Overall, The Butterfly and the Violin was a solid, enjoyable debut from author Kristy Cambron. I will definitely be reading her next book.
The cover is so beautiful! I just had to pick it up. They say "don't judge a book by the cover", but I can't help it. I always do. The Butterfly and the Violin was a really interesting read. I didn't LOVE it, but it was still pretty good. I enjoyed reading the book and I wasn't tempted to skim the end like so many other books I've read recently. I love the concept of the interwoven modern day and historical perspectives. It brought Adele's story to life. Even though the plot and characters are fictional, the setting was all too real. Auschwitz is a real place and 1.1 million REAL people died there. Stories like this are important; they drag the darkest moments of our history into the light and expose them. They keep the memories of the millions who were lost alive in our hearts.
Although I love the CONCEPT of the historical and modern perspectives, I wasn't altogether a fan of how Sera and Adele's stories fit together. Adele's story was very good. Sera's story was not. Sera's story was rushed and often seemed to leave out very important details. Plus, she and William fell straight into the dreaded "insta-love". *shudder* Her story could have used some extra length and substance.
Overall, The Butterfly and the Violin was a solid, enjoyable debut from author Kristy Cambron. I will definitely be reading her next book.
I didn't realize that this book was Christian based until I had already become interested in the story, otherwise I would have abandoned the book. However, I was enthralled by the historical component of the story, and was especially interested in learning about a men's and women's symphony orchestra composed of prisoners in Nazi concentration camps. It is an important story, one that we all should hear and then learn from. It is vital to understand our history and the horrors of war, to remember and honor all of the millions of people murdered by the Nazi regime, and to make sure the past is not repeated. I didn't care for the Christian spin on the more modern parts of the story and didn't feel like it flowed well with the overall message. The religious theme felt forced and left me feeling quite uncomfortable. I don't think I would read more works by this author though, because of the weird Christian theme mixed in with what was actually a well-written and shocking account of some of the horrors of a Nazi death camp.
i thought this was about art history and the holocaust but it is about jesus.
Absolutely incredible. I'm speechless. When I finished the last page, I was breathless and full of emotion. This is a tragic and touching story set in present day New York/California and in Vienna during WWII.
I honestly was not expecting to like this book as much as I did. Some friends of mine recommended it and they told me it was amazing. I got it, skeptical of whether or not I would truly enjoy it (the blurb on the back does the book no justice. It sounded good enough, so I picked it up along with some other books from the library for a weekend road trip. Little did I know that I would be wrapped so deeply into this story on the way home that I did not even speak to my own parents until I had finished.
Upon finishing the book, I sat clutching it to my chest and staring into blank space for a good amount of time before I finally was able to take words and formulate a sentence begging my mother to read it.
I recommend this book to anyone and everyone, ESPECIALLY if you like historical fiction (as I do). It has a rich, well formulated plot, a little bit of romance, a touch of humor, tragedy, triumph and art. Pick this book up immediately.
I honestly was not expecting to like this book as much as I did. Some friends of mine recommended it and they told me it was amazing. I got it, skeptical of whether or not I would truly enjoy it (the blurb on the back does the book no justice. It sounded good enough, so I picked it up along with some other books from the library for a weekend road trip. Little did I know that I would be wrapped so deeply into this story on the way home that I did not even speak to my own parents until I had finished.
Upon finishing the book, I sat clutching it to my chest and staring into blank space for a good amount of time before I finally was able to take words and formulate a sentence begging my mother to read it.
I recommend this book to anyone and everyone, ESPECIALLY if you like historical fiction (as I do). It has a rich, well formulated plot, a little bit of romance, a touch of humor, tragedy, triumph and art. Pick this book up immediately.
I really enjoyed the different relationships in this book. It was also refreshing to read a book that wasn't predictable.
A well-written and gripping book. I'm looking forward to reading more of Cambron's books.
Once in awhile, you just see the cover of a book and you know you have to read it even if the author is unfamiliar to you. This book was one of those books. I pre-ordered this one in print as well as receiving an eBook for review before I had even read it, simply based on the description and the cover. I was not disappointed. This book has for certain, stood out to me as an spectacular read. The story is woven in detail, so that you will not feel you are reading, yet again, the same story of a concentration camp victim, but an amazing tale of courage and faith in the time of great horror.
I know many people shy away from books about the holocaust, claiming they are too sad, too depressing, and they read for joy and laughter often. I would not call this book depressing. It does have sad parts, I will not deny that, but throughout the pages, there is a hope that should burn within the heart of any believer that will cause you to be grateful and thankful for those that walked before us in this past time. You will love the light romantic thread woven throughout a story where you did not think love could exist. Most of all, you will be kept up reading, abandoning all chores, schoolwork, and other responsibilities to finish this book. It is that good! This is the book you have to buy this year! Find a copy and share one with a high school student today. This book is one that will be enjoyed by teens as well as adults, as it brings a story to mind that many are forgetting today.
I wanted to rate this one higher, but couldn't. The parallel storyline method works really well sometimes, but not in this case. Adele's story was fascinating, but rushed to make room for Sera and William's drama. The ending was abrupt and woefully short on details. I will read the second book from the library to see if there is more of a resolution. This book could have been so much more...