I really enjoyed the writing in this WWII novel and I was easily and quickly sucked into this story - such a horrible time in our history, but such an inspirational novel!

Max Mueller, a piano tuner/journalist is about to realize just how strong the power of music really is. He's such an interesting character and his writing and his music were big factors in developing and keeping relationships, keeping ties with those he loved, and getting him through such a troubling era.

Even though it was such a dark time, it was so vividly written that I felt I was there. I loved how music shaped people, how it got people through these times and how it not only defined Max but propelled him to keep going when the Nazis start closing in.

Spanning time and place, this one grabbed on to me and never let go. A beautiful story.

“ We were the dreamers of dreams, the singers of songs. We were the music makers. We would not hear nor play nor love without each other. This is a prelude to our experience, an overture to who we were and how we arrived on the shores of friendship.''

When choosing historical fiction I always gravitate toward World War II era stories. I am drawn to the endless examples of heroism, resiliency, and triumph of the human spirit, during a time of unthinkable atrocities. Nathaniel Lande has written a heartbreaking and beautiful coming of age story of brilliant musician Max Mueller. This book is very well researched and rich with historical facts, while still easily readable and relatable. I would encourage historical fiction fans to add While The Music Played to your TBR.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book. This read is perfect for fans of WWII fiction. I have been a long time reader of this period and enjoyed While the Music Played by Nathaniel Lande. It was reminiscent of the movie The Pianist. If you love music, you will be swept away by Max's story.

It is 1939, in prewar Prague, and Max Mueller, a budding musician, piano tuner, and nascent journalist, is on the cusp of adolescence, as the Nazi influence begins to invade the city’s tolerant spirit with alarming speed. As everyone Max loves is compromised by intolerable conditions, his world grows increasingly conflicted. Music is the one constant connecting him to both his lost childhood and the man he still hopes to become. But will it be enough to sustain him against the relentless Nazi threat?

Blending historical and fictional characters and sweeping across Prague, London, and Berlin, as World War II rages, this meticulously researched novel is unique with diverse narratives, threaded with news accounts, and encompassing some of the most triumphant and devastating moments of the war—from the opera houses of Berlin to the music halls of London and the making of the famous children’s opera Brundibár.

While the Music Played is a lyrical, absorbing, and heartbreaking story of love and courage from the widely revered and bestselling author Nathaniel Lande.

This novel reminded me of “The Book Thief” by Markus Zusak in that the story was seen through a young person’s eyes as they are trying to fit into a new family situation, survive and figure out what is happening in the changing world around them. What makes this novel different from the “Book Thief” is its backdrop. This is set in the world of music and is shown through the Great Victor Mueller’s son’s eyes, who tries to make sense of what his father is doing and why. The German’s are giving the appearance that life is good, even “normal” as they perform all over with composer Victor Mueller’s music.


Here’s a quote from the book that will give you a peek into this spell binding novel Max says,…”My world revolves around music almost as much as yours does. I think we need all kinds of music- from when we were born to the moment we die. After all, we all live with the rhythm of our own heartbeats, and Poppy says, “Music reminds us of the mysterious beauty that is in each of us and connects everyone to everyone else,” But he reminds me so often that it’s not easy, “You must work to master it, and you may never master it, but you will improve, you will learn to understand it, and to express yourself, but you must practice,”

The holocaust is a horrific part of history and most times tough to read as in this book. This story is told through 12-year-old Max Mueller’s eyes as the world spins out of control. Max is a musician, who tunes pianos yet has a “news” sense of the world.

He and everyone he knows is trying to piece together and understand the bigger picture of world events. He seeks the help of two-good friends, one who is Jewish, and another who has a nose for news and from his loving father.

There are lovely, tender moments sprinkled throughout the Nazi Germany invasions and the systematic extinction of people. Max is sent to Tezzeni which he’s told is a supposed gift from Hitler to the Jewish people. But things are not what they appear. This isn’t a gift at all.

This book is the authors debut novel. I look forward to what he’ll write next. This novel is a remarkable, compelling, thought-provoking read as the author shows a deep understanding of human capabilities, flaws, and potential during times of war. I highly recommend this for your next book club pick. It’s a novel you won’t soon forget.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network www.bookfun.org

This is a beautifully written, well researched novel about WWII told through the eyes of Max who is a teenager when the novel begins but becomes part of the resistance as the Nazi regime takes over his country. Max and his friends and family all connect through music - at times it is the only way they can keep their sanity in their world gone crazy.

1939 in Prague - Max Mueller lives with his father Viktor, a world famous conductor. He isn't Jewish but has been taught to respect everyone no matter what their religion or heritage. He and his father are very close and his father has instilled the love of music into him and he has become a pianist and is a piano tuner on the side. The two most important people in his life are his best friend David and the girl he is falling in love with, Sophie. As the Nazis invade Prague and change the life that Max has always known, the truths that he has carried since childhood come into conflict. His father gets drafted into the German Army and becomes friends with a high ranking Nazi. As their friend ship continues, Viktor gets more involved in the Nazi party and helping them with their propaganda. Max is confused by this change in his father who had always taught him to be accepting of everyone and he begins to rely more on his friends. After both David and Sophie are sent to live in Terezin which was referred to as a spa area but was actually one of the first concentration camps. Max goes there to live outside the camp through the help of his father's Nazi cronies but he goes into the camp as much as possible to spend time with David and Sophie and to help them and others where he can. This camp was known for known for its relatively rich cultural life, including concerts, lectures, and clandestine education for children. As conditions worsen and people start to disappear on the trains to Auschwitz, Max and David know that the only way there can stay alive is to escape...but is it even possible?

I read a lot of WWII fiction and found this one exceptional. The writing is beautiful, the friendship between Max, David and Sophie is very honest and real and the way that music ties everything together throughout the novel was outstanding. This is a WWII novel that I will long remember. Be sure to have tissue close at hand while you read this book.

Note: Be sure to read the author's notes at the end to see which of the characters in the novel are based on real people and their effect on WWII.

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Sincere thanks to Netgalley for providing this copy that may not have otherwise made its way onto my radar. 4.5 stars. This is the most unique WWII perspective I've ever read - a young Czech boy struggling to understand the changes in the world around him and what those changes mean for those he loves, especially his father as a German native and his many Jewish friends. Beautiful story telling along the way to explain Max's journey of becoming who he wanted to be and becoming a witness in its true sense. I can tell what a labor of love this book was for the author and I'm thankful to him for writing it.
"I hurt because I love, I say goodbye so I can say hello. I cry so I can smile, I go out so I can come in."

What an exquisitely told historical fiction novel!. Starting in 1939 Prague and encompassing WWII and the rise of Nazism, young Max Mueller must navigate life and coming-of-age in the most dire of circumstances. Soon after the Nazi invasion, Max's father, a renowned German composer, is conscripted into the German army and finds himself torn between doing what's expected of him while also keeping Max safe. All of those closest to Max are Jewish and he struggles to understand what's happening all around him. Told from multiple points of view with historical as well as fictional characters, I found this to be one of the most compelling coming-of-age stories I've ever read. With family, friendship, love and music at its core, this one is about hope and the unflappable human sprit. Often cinematic, the scenes are richly described and put you in the middle of the action. The fictional characters are so fleshed out that you don't really think they're fictional at all. Lots of research went into writing this story and the blending of the real life characters with the fictional ones is seamless.
There have been plenty of historical WWII novels written over the last few years but none are as original and heartfelt as this one. I can't recommend this book highly enough and if you're a fan of the time period (and even if you aren't) I implore you to pick this one up, it's that good!

Courtesy of NetGalley, I received an ARC of While The Music Played by Nathaniel Lande.
This novel looks at the rise of Hitler and the Nazi party through the eyes of twelve year old Max Mueller, living in Prague. The portrayal of the rich musical heritage of Czechoslovakia sets this lyrical novel apart from other WWII fiction. Focusing on various historical figures, the story of Hans Krasa, the talented composer of the childrens opera Brundibar, was especially moving.

Kudos to Nathaniel Lande, author of "While The Music Played" for writing such a poignant, unforgettable, heartbreaking, and emotional book. The genre for this novel is Historical Fiction, and this is " A Remarkable Story of Courage and Friendship in WWII."(cover) The timeline for this story is just before World War Two in 1939 Praque, and then during the war. This is a coming of age book during a tragic and devastating time in history.  The author describes many of his characters as courageous, brave, and talented. There are characters that are also very evil. Some of the described settings are in Concentration Camps. 

I appreciate that Nathaniel Lande vividly describes his characters and events, and the influence of music and art during this time. The music and art live long after the characters are gone, but not forgotten. The Arts provide historical documentation of sorts. There is clearly a tremendous amount of research that has been done in preparation for this book.

Max Mueller is almost a teenager,  has a distinct ear for piano tuning, and has a desire to be a newspaper reporter. His father Viktor Mueller is a renowned conductor. Many of Max's friends are Jewish. As Nazism spreads, and Max's father is sent into the German Army, Max becomes conflicted and confused. His father's friend, Hans Krasa, a famous Czech composer and influences some of what Max is thinking. Max doesn't understand the discrimination, antisemitism, and hatred that surrounds him. Music is one thing that seems to keep Max grounded. As the German Nazi's take over, Max has to deal with deceit, destruction, damage, and grief.

I would recommend this heartbreaking novel to those readers who read Historical Fiction and appreciate a thought-provoking book. Be sure to have some Kleenex on hand.

Nathaniel Lande’s While the Music Played skillfully blends historical figures and fictional characters. Like several recent popular World War II novels, it introduces elements of the underground resistance. However, while important, those elements remain secondary. Instead, Lande dramatizes how the arts, especially music, helped created moments of hope during a time of despair. Although the central plot involves music—the children’s opera Brundibár, the author also alludes to classical pieces and popular songs, works in several apropos lyrics, and employs artful music imagery.

The story comes to us through several points of view, including a British female reporter, a German-Czech orchestra conductor, and his young son, who is twelve when Germany annexes Austria and Czechoslovakia.
Early in the novel, readers first encounter Max, now an adult, listening to a performance of Giuseppe Verdi’s Requiem during the tenth anniversary commemoration of the war’s end. Overwhelmed by his memories, Max flees the sanctuary, haunted by thoughts of childhood friends David and Sophie. He recalls how three had vowed to save one another and how the others had changed his life. “This is how it was. This is how it all began,” he explains as he begins telling about his idyllic boyhood in Prague as son of “The Great Viktor Mueller,” his flamboyant hero who could turn any moment into a celebration.

We meet Max’s talented friends David and Sophie, his father’s former conservatory classmate named Hans Krása, and a visiting British reporter named Anna Kingsley. We spend time sitting in concert halls, marching through the streets with Viktor, Max, and Max’s classmates, each playing an instrument, watching Max’s budding interest in the news, which leads to his job delivering papers for Sam Raggle, who runs the newsstand, and listening to Viktor regaling Max with tales of “The Distant and Mysterious Man,” Armand Duval, whose mission it was to travel the world collecting emeralds to give to the poor.” Little did Max know that he would soon need to discover his own life’s mission.

When Conductor Mueller becomes Major Mueller, cultural program director for the Reich, Max’s world is turned upside down. Max, David, Sophie, composer Hans Krása, artist/architect Norbert Troller, film maker Kurt Gerron, and Rabbi Leo Baeck find themselves in a darker reality at Terezín (Theresienstadt), doing their best to bring moments of light through their music, art, and teaching.

Having already mentioned Lande’s music allusions and imagery, I cannot fail to mention the literary allusions and quotations, ranging from Tennyson to Twain, also scattered throughout the novel. Much as music influences the characters’ lives, so do the words of a few of our greatest writers.

The author’s notes and photos at the end of the novel provide a useful, valuable supplement.

Thanks to NetGalley, Blackstone Publishing, and Nathaniel Lande for providing me with an Advance Reader Copy of this highly recommended contribution to Holocaust fiction.

Thank you to the author, Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a well-researched WWII story, with a combination of historical figures and fiction. I did find it started very slowly, and took a long time to really get going - and since I have read many WWII histories, based on both true stories and historical fiction, much of this was a bit long-winded and well-known for me. Intriguing was the way the story was told, from differing viewpoints and geographical standpoints (e.g. Prague and London), the way historical figures are woven into the narrative, and the overarching theme of music being healing in the midst of chaos and horror.

My problem arose with the main character, Max Mueller: His responses, language and actions do not match the age he is when the story starts - they jump back and forth between being childlishly naive and much older than he should be, and I found the inconsistencies jarring. The second issue I had was that I felt the book was much too long, and needed more stringent editing. There were a lot of loose threads, and it took much too long for a lot of them to start coming together. I did very much like the ending, where an overview of some of the characters is given, and the differences between fact and fiction.

I have read many WWII novels, either based upon true stories or historical fiction, if you have not read very many WWII stories, then this book may be for you. If you have, such as my case, then this was a rather redundant tale of many events that I had previously read before and for the main character this is a complete historical fiction. Other than that, it does include many true facts and mentions real people who were involved in the holocaust but they are redundant of other books I’d read.
I also had several major cons with this one. The first con is Max Mueller, he is the main narrator of this story and his language, responses, and advanced musical abilities do not match the age of 13 when the story begins. Sometimes his telling of his actions and feelings are almost childish but then other times he tries to sound far more advanced than he should be, there seemed to be no consistency. My second con is many of the events were unbelievable or to convenient, I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but for me, they ruined the authenticity of the story.
The pro, I liked the ending when it gave an overview of some of the characters and recounted the differences between fact and fiction. All and all this was an OK read, but I did not find it remarkable nor memorable, I just truly never warmed up to Max, maybe if he would have been several years older to match his abilities and feelings, it may have worked better.
I was allowed an ARC from Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for my honest unbiased review. This one earns 3 stars.

I got this book from NetGalley in an exchange for an honest review.

After reading this book it took me nearly two months to write this review. My emotions were such a mess - I was sad, angry, happy, frustrated, and wanted to just cry after reading it.

The horrors of WWII never seize to shock me. It doesn't matter how many book I read, how many documentaries I watch, how many stories I listen to - it just makes me utterly depressed and sad knowing what happened to all those people and that a lot of people of the time thought that was normal.

In this book we follow the story of a boy, later a man called Max that lived with his father in Prague before and one period during the war. He tells us dashing stories about his father, a famous orchestra conductor, and all the famous composers and writers as well as musician and artists of every kind.

The authors undeniable way of putting in a same story a real person from that period of time with a fiction of his imagination is just marvelous. The method of going into every characters emotion, distress, description, especially fear got me caught in a whirlwind of going back into history, trying to depict more about actual people from the book and trying to think what were their thoughts at that exact moment.

The incredible research, the in depth characterization and incredible manner of portraying Theresienstadt - the concentration camp got me thinking about what those people must have felt, what horrible things did they had to endure and if they have ever found their piece.

I cried myself for 7 nights in a row whilst reading the book because I am finally in that part of my life where I understand that nationality, religion and ethnicity are in fact the most stupid things to go to war to.

Music, beautiful books, pictures are something that will be passed from one generation to another and it will always survive.
The beautiful music, the opera Bumblebee will tell everyone that comes to this Earth about everything that happened almost 80 years ago.
And it will survive. Because music is eternal and it surpasses the everyday life.

The story starts in Prague in 1938 with a twelve year old Max. His family is not Jewish, but his father instilled in him respect for Jewish people as they made many contributions to people’s lives, especially in the arts and science. While WWII progresses and people pick sides, Max tries to make sense of everything that goes around him. And to rise above all horror, he finds refuge in music.

As the story shifts between Prague and London, it shows the contrast of progressing events in continental Europe and the oblivious reaction to its events by Londoners, who think it is just a phase that may pass. There is a journalist from London, who meets Jewish composer and then takes her investigative skills to Prague. She wants to find out what is going on on the continent.

I enjoyed the appearance of Churchill and involvement of some famous names including Sigmund Freud seeking refuge in England.

I appreciate the historical background, but the problem is the cohesion of the story. It needs to be tightened up.

It is a fact that music is healing. It gave a piece of dignity to those who went to the concentration camps and to the very few who survived concentration camp only because they were musically talented. So the premise of this book is beautiful, music being a healing balm, while facing the horrors of war. But I had a hard time connecting with any of the characters. Also, the story has a lot of loose threads and it takes a long time for them to start connecting.

I felt this started off slow but once Max starts to tell his story I was hooked. Aww, poor Max, I was so desperate to find out what happened to him and his lovely friends and family. Pre war Prague seemed like a lovely place to be. I am not a massive classical music fan but it was lovely how music seemed to bond everyone together. It would have been great to have a list of all the music mentioned or even a Spotify playlist!
I started looking up some of the characters about halfway through to see if they were real. I was thrilled to find out that some of them were, but it unfortunately meant that I found out their fate.
I learnt a lot from this book and became very attached to the characters, a box of tissues might be a good idea throughout the book, especially the last quarter or so. I can't rate this book highly enough and will be recommending to everyone I know!