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A review by sarahatheart
The Butterfly and the Violin by Kristy Cambron
4.0
I very much appreciated this story. I have read many books about WWII and the Holocaust and hearing the story again from the POV of a character who was naive to the horror, to the atrocities being committed, was poignant. I had also never heard of the Women’s Orchestra of Auschwitz, so that was a new bit of history learned. The writing was lovely in many places as well. As an example:
“‘Sleep for him.’
The suggestion so surprised Adele she felt emotion rise up in her throat.
‘What did you say?’
‘You heard me, child. Do you love the man in your photo?’
She nodded once, her eyes wishing they could produce tears.
‘Then close your eyes in sleep for him. Stay strong. Fight to survive.’”
I liked the pairing of the modern search for the painting with the journey of Adele, as neither we nor Adele know what her fate or that of the painting will be.
A few things that didn’t really work for me: Part of the modern day story came across as a little cliche, and certain parts of the story lean more toward telling than showing (for example, we are simply told that Adele has figured out the purpose of Auschwitz and we are told that she becomes friends with the other prisoners, but neither of these transitions is actually witnessed). Despite that, I loved the story and even teared up at the end. I will read the sequel.
“‘Sleep for him.’
The suggestion so surprised Adele she felt emotion rise up in her throat.
‘What did you say?’
‘You heard me, child. Do you love the man in your photo?’
She nodded once, her eyes wishing they could produce tears.
‘Then close your eyes in sleep for him. Stay strong. Fight to survive.’”
I liked the pairing of the modern search for the painting with the journey of Adele, as neither we nor Adele know what her fate or that of the painting will be.
A few things that didn’t really work for me: Part of the modern day story came across as a little cliche, and certain parts of the story lean more toward telling than showing (for example, we are simply told that Adele has figured out the purpose of Auschwitz and we are told that she becomes friends with the other prisoners, but neither of these transitions is actually witnessed). Despite that, I loved the story and even teared up at the end. I will read the sequel.