During the dark days of World War II and the ugliness of Auschwitz, there is a beacon of hope and light that comes from the strings of a violin. Alma Rosé quickly learns that she can stave off the hideousness of the gas chamber due to her musical skills. She is losing people left and right and does not know when her number will be up - literally. She makes a request, albeit seemingly odd, and that is for a violin. Talented beyond belief, getting her hands on a violin brings her an amazing opportunity.

Not only does she get to keep playing, Alma stays alive, and so do others that she trains to play in the small orchestra that was formed. She plays for both prisoners and the enemy and learns tricks along the way to thrive during the darkest of times. Reluctant at first, Alma quickly learns that her exceptional skills hold great advantage. Not only can she stay alive, but she can keep others alive as well, even getting extra food and other necessary things to survive.

I learned something while reading The Violinist of Auschwitz. I had read in other novels about the subtle differences in the different camps, and how certain skills gave the otherwise hopeless prisoners something akin to hope. In this case it was music. However, music was not the only thing that brought more to Alma's life. She meets a pianist named Miklos, and they proved to be kindred spirits. I fondly remember the gentle words that Miklos uttered to Alma and truly enjoyed their gentle love story.

This book brought intense feelings of sadness, as is always the case when reading of this time in history. However, those feelings of sadness were well matched with the lightness that I have mentioned. That light brought beauty. Brought hope. Brought love. What a story! Even while writing this review weeks after reading this book I have a lump in my throat. This is the fourth book that I have read by Ellie Midwood and I was truly touched by reading this, just as I was with the other three books I have read by her. She writes of the darkest of times, but brings a beacon of hope in her stories.

Many thanks to Bookouture and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Author: Ellie Midwood
Book: The Violinist of Auschwitz
Publication Day: Nov 18 2020

Description:

Auschwitz, 1943: In the depths of hell, can hope rise? And can love triumph over hatred?

Based on the unforgettable true story of Alma Rosé, The Violinist of Auschwitz brings to life one of history’s most fearless, inspiring and courageous heroines. Alma’s bravery saved countless lives, bringing hope to those who had forgotten its meaning…

In Auschwitz, every day is a fight for survival. Alma is inmate 50381, the number tattooed on her skin in pale blue ink. She is cooped up with thousands of others, torn from loved ones, trapped in a maze of barbed wire. Every day people disappear, never to be seen again.

This tragic reality couldn’t be further from Alma’s previous life. An esteemed violinist, her performances left her audiences spellbound. But when the Nazis descend on Europe, none of that can save her…

When the head of the women’s camp appoints Alma as the conductor of the orchestra, performing for prisoners trudging to work as well as the highest-ranking Nazis, Alma refuses: “they can kill me but they won’t make me play”. Yet she soon realizes the power this position offers: she can provide starving girls with extra rations and save many from the clutches of death.

This is how Alma meets Miklos, a talented pianist. Surrounded by despair, they find happiness in joint rehearsals, secret notes, and concerts they give side by side––all the while praying that this will one day end. But in Auschwitz, the very air is tainted with loss, and tragedy is the only certainty… In such a hopeless place, can their love survive?

This devastatingly heartbreaking yet beautifully hopeful tale proves that even in the darkest of days, love can prevail––and give you something to live for. Fans of The Choice, The Tattooist of Auschwitz and The Orphan Train will lose their hearts to this magnificent tale.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW

Review for 'The Violinist Of Aushcwitz' by Ellie Midwood.

Read and reviewed via NetGalley for Bookouture publishers and Bookouture anonymous

Publication date 18th November 2020

This is the first book that I have read by this author.

I was originally drawn to this book by its beautiful eye catching cover its intriguing synopsis. I have also previously read 'The Tattooist of Aushcwitz' and 'The Librarian of Aushcwitz' and enjoyed both so am looking forward to see if this is just as good. I must admit I was also biased due to the publisher being Bookouture. I have yet to read a book published by Bookouture that I haven't enjoyed. Hopefully this won't be the first... Watch this space! (Written before I started reading the book).

This novel consists of a prologue, 29 chapters and an epilogue. The chapters are medium in length so possible to read 'just one more chapter' before bed...OK, I know yeah right, but still just in case!

This book is based in Aushcwitz, Kraków, Poland.

This book is written in third person perspective and the main protagonist is Alma Rosé. The benefits of third person perspectives are that it let's you see the bigger picture of what's going on and you get to know more characters more, what they are thinking and what they are doing. It feels like you get to see the whole picture and not miss out in anything.

Well, what can I say but wow!!! This story is definitely not going to leave my head anytime soon. Firstly I must congratulate Ellie Midwood for her extraordinary novel that seriously needs to be made into a movie which I assure would be best selling. This book is very powerful and extremely well written. It is devastatingly heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time.

The storyline of this book is based on a true story which is another thing that drew me to read it. It is absolutely rammed with emotions that will make you smile, cry and laugh on the roller-coaster ride to hell that is Aushcwitz. Nothing is left out and the author has done an immense amount of research and brings Alma and Miklo's story to life. Although the fate of Miklo cannot be confirmed the majority or Alma's story is based on factual information and eyewitness statements.

Alma is such a powerful woman and I am looking forward to reading more about her. I had never heard of her before reading this but read 'The tattooist of Aushcwitz' and 'The librarian of Aushcwitz', both of which I enjoyed so when I seen this I was intrigued to discover the ongoing of Aushcwitz through another person's eyes. This book did not disappoint. Some people believe that these stories should not be written but I am a strong believer that these victims earned the right for their stories to be told and to not be forgotten and this book does just that. I loved discovering not just Alma's story but those who surrounded her also. This amazing group of people who supported and lifted each other up during these dark times and helping them see the light are absolutely... Words can't really describe but I will go with angelic.

This book was very hard to read as a whole but there were certain parts that will stay with me for a very long time and that we're soul destroying. What the Nazi's did to these innocent people makes me absolutely sick to my soul. The poor children and parents watching each other suffering especially.

Again congratulations Ellie Midwood on all your research and for writing this amazing story of Alma who'd deserved to have her story told in a way that did her justice and you have done that. I would say this book is almost,, if not on par with 'The' diary of Anne Frank' which left me with the same feelings your novel has.

Overall a heart wrenching, absolutely beautifully devastating story of a lesser known hero,

Genres covered in this novel include Romance Novel, War Story and Jewish Fiction amongst others.

I would recommend this book to the fans of the above as well as fans of 'A diary of Anne Frank' and well, basically everyone!!

344 pages.

This book is £1.99 to purchase on kindle via Amazon which I think is an absolute bargain for this book!!!

Rated 5/5 (I LOVED it ) on Goodreads, Instagram, Amazon UK and Amazon US and on over 30 Facebook pages plus my blog on Facebook.

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Author Bio:

Ellie Midwood is a USA Today bestselling and award-winning historical fiction author. She owes her interest in the history of the Second World War to her grandfather, Junior Sergeant in the 2nd Guards Tank Army of the First Belorussian Front, who began telling her about his experiences on the frontline when she was a young girl. Growing up, her interest in history only deepened and transformed from reading about the war to writing about it. After obtaining her BA in Linguistics, Ellie decided to make writing her full-time career and began working on her first full-length historical novel, The Girl from Berlin.' Ellie is continuously enriching her library with new research material and feeds her passion for WWII and Holocaust history by collecting rare memorabilia and documents.



In her free time, Ellie is a health-obsessed yoga enthusiast, neat freak, adventurer, Nazi Germany history expert, polyglot, philosopher, a proud Jew, and a doggie mama. Ellie lives in New York with her fiancé and their Chihuahua named Shark Bait.

Author Social Media Links

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/EllieMidwood

Website: http://elliemidwood.com/

Buy LINK

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Compelling story about a young woman's attempt to save others at the horrendous place of Auschwitz. Alma is a professional violinist at the breakout of Nazi political movement, her father is the conductor, they are of the jewish religion. Stripped of their ability to be part of the Viennese Orchestra they flee to London. Alma ends up going back to Holland to try to earn additional money for her father, she is captured and sent to the camp. Based on a true events and what a wonderful story Alma provides. She is a wonderful character amongst so much terror. The book is chilling and terrifying in the subject matter of the Nazi's. It is mind boggling to read about the cruel and inhuman treatment of the Jews and other innocents who were imprisoned at Auschwitz as well as other camps. This well researched novel brings it all into a vivid view. The characters sprung to life off the page and I was completely absorbed and felt great admiration of such a strong women. The Violinist of Auschwitz is a beautifully tragic tale of a fearless woman’s trials during the Holocaust. A true tale of heroism and strength.

Thank you Netgalley, Bookouture and Ellie Midwood for the ability to be able to read this story which moved me so much for an honest review. I feel honored.

What a beautiful yet heart wrenching book! Another Auschwitz novel written with such care. You can clearly see that Ellie Midwood has thoroughly researched all there is to know about the well known Violinist Alma Rose that brought music to Auschwitz.

Although some of the book was fiction, it is based on the unforgettable true story of Alma Rosé, The Violinist of Auschwitz brings to life one of history’s most fearless, inspiring and courageous heroines. Alma’s bravery saved countless lives, bringing hope to those who had forgotten its meaning…

Like all Auschwitz novels I have read, this deserves 5 stars because I can never get over the absolute hell these poor souls had to go through for so many years.

Thank you Ellie and @netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Amazing read (which is hard to say given the topic at hand). The material is a tough read and had to take some breaks in between reading chapters, but excellent book. Beautifully written. And really liked the follow-up notes at the ned to distinguish fact from fiction.

I unfortunately ran out of time and was not able to finish this tragically beautiful story, but what I was able to read, I was engulfed in it. The fact that it was based on a true story only made the story more captivating. I will be purchasing this book, so i can finish it, but also to have for my WWII collection.

Unfortunately I could not finish this book. It was just too heavy and lengthy to pursue. Whilst I appreciate that the atrocities are based on truth, it just was not for me.

Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture Publishing and Ellie Midwood for the advance readers copy of "The Violinist of Auschwitz" for my honest review.

I loved this book! It is based on the true story of Alma Rose an esteemed violinist. The historical WW11 novel is tells the story of Alma a prisoner inside Auschwitz. She is appointed as a conductor of the orchestra performing for the highest ranking Nazi. Her survival and others depended on her. The book made me cry, It was deeply moving.

There were moments while reading this unbelievable story that I thought I wouldn't be able to finish it -- not because it was a poor read, no, in fact it was incredible -- but because it was shattering me one chapter after the other.

I have read a lot of historical fiction about WWII but none have relayed the horrors of the Nazi death camps in Auschwitz in this way. I had to read this book at a snail's pace taking in only 2-3 chapters at a time. It was a slow and heartbreaking experience but also a tragically beautiful one. 

I did not know the story of Alma Rose, the revered Viennese violinist imprisoned in Auschwitz, but now I will never forget it. This novel is based on true events, witnesses and accounts of Alma's time in Auschwitz as the conductor of the prison orchestra. Please be sure to read the last two parts, A Letter from Ellie and A Note on the History, to fully grasp the story and history. 

The writing is extraordinarily detailed and intentional with every part having a special role. Some parts of this story are slow but they serve a purpose in building the depths and breadth of emotions the reader will experience. I couldn't have picked a more poignant book to be one of my last reads of 2020.

Thank you NetGalley, Bookouture, and Ellie Midwood for a copy of this book for review.

The Violinist of Auschwitz gave me a perspective on life in Auschwitz that I wasn’t aware of prior to reading this book. Alma Rose is a famous violinist but during the war she finds herself in Auschwitz. There is an orchestra created to play for and entertain the SS guards that Alma ends up managing. She and her orchestra are considered “privileged prisoners” and they have advantages other inmates do not. I didn’t know that there were different levels of inmates in these concentration camps. The author does a great job educating the reader about how prison life is different for these inmates, but still terrible all the same. The book is based in a true story and the epilogue and authors note were great additions to the book to cola in to the reader more of the truth behind the book. I did struggle with the time jumps throughout the book and at times the story seemed a bit disjointed. The book was a bit long as well but had a lot of information I think was crucial to the story.

This is based on the true story of Alma Rose, a famous Jewish violinist from Austria. It is about the joy of music in an awful place. Through Alma, numerous women were saved, and some happiness was found. She expanded a Women’s Orchestra and taught women to play very well for the Nazis in a very short time. “With the power of her music, she made these women free for a few precious moments.” Through Alma’s violin playing and mentoring, she was able to obtain privileges for the entire band, i.e., more food, warm building, and better clothing, including evening gowns to perform in. Alma didn’t simply make requests, she demanded change. “If you want me to lead your orchestra, I’ll need new quarters.”

These women were also exempt from Mengele’s experiments. Unfortunately, Alma witnessed Dr. Mengele in action after she required medical care when she was almost raped. Alma’s strength was using her musical abilities, which the Germans valued, to stand up to the SS. “It wasn’t mere bravado; she truly didn’t care one way or the other if the SS took her to the wall and shot her for her long tongue.” She literally had a woman pulled before the gas chamber and saved her life.

What I really liked about the book is the details that I haven’t read in other WWII books such as the Kanada warehouse, the storage warehouse used to store the stolen belongings of prisoners, and the Kapos, a prisoner functionary who was assigned by the SS guards to supervise forced labor, markings on inmates’ breast such as “Green Triangles—criminals—constitute half of the Kapos.” The respect Alma earned from everyone in the camp, including the high-ranking SS members, guards, camp administrators, and prisoners, was impressive.

This isn’t just a WWII book about survival; it is a book about relationships. The relationships Alma nurtures include prisoners both men and women, supervisors, guards, German officers, and even Dr. Mengele. The author does a very good job describing life in the camp through the senses: smell, touch, and sight. “The camp was a ruthless teacher. There were only two choices—to adapt or to perish.”

“Alma’s violin roused something in them [prisoners]; something that the Nazis had tried to eliminate and erase from their very memories for all eternity – the national pride of the long-suffering people that had survived for thousands of years against all odds.” Alma fought hard until the Nazis were able to break her with a broken heart. No spoiler intended. I recommend this book; it is a page turner. “All this time, she believed that she was saving them, but perhaps, it was them who were saving her.”

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Bookouture, for an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I've procrastinated on writing this review because I'm not even sure where to start or how to adequately put my feelings into words.

I guess TL; DR: This book is difficult to read at times due to the subject matter; however, it isn't the main focus of the story. If you can handle the more gruesome parts of the story, you'll be gifted with one of the most beautiful books written recently. You'll also come away more knowledgeable about an important part of history.

I feel like this review is going to get long and rambling, but this book hit me in a way that hasn't happened in a really long time.

Plot: This follows the (true!) story of Alma Rosé, a famous violinist who was sent to Birkenau-Auschwitz and took over the women's orchestra. She became one of the best-treated and most-respected prisoners to ever reside in a concentration camp and used her status to elevate the lives of all of the girls under her care. This is the story of how she came to Auschwitz, took over the orchestra, transformed it into a true musical phenomenon, and even fell in love. ***Spoiler*** If you know her story then you know it doesn't end happily, as she dies the year before Auschwitz was liberated.

Background: So from what I've gathered, this book stays very close to the true and documented stories of Alma. The only aspect that is more fictional is regarding her love interest, though even that may not be all fiction. ***Spoilers ahead*** In the book she falls for a man who is staying in the Family Camp, a privileged camp that was under Red Cross protection. Near the end of the book, the entire Camp is killed. After his death, she becomes suicidal and eventually commits suicide. So while the love story may be fictionalized, it is documented that she became suicidal after the extermination of the Family Camp. Her death is also somewhat argued, as it isn't known for sure whether it was suicide or not. The author has used the suicide plot in the book and I think it fits well with the story and character.

Characters: These are some of the most well-rounded characters I've had the pleasure of reading. All of the side characters were well fleshed-out and I truly felt I knew all of them. A rare book where the characters jump off the page. Even the side-side characters were more alive than some main characters I've read - such as Drexler *shudder* who was terrifyingly menacing with minimal mention. What's more interesting (horrifying?) is that almost all of the characters were real people, and the author has tried to stay true to their documented actions and personalities. But Alma - it's like you become her when reading this, it's so well written. Her thoughts, struggles, all of the planning and devising that she did is presented in such a way that I was holding my breath in fear and laughing out loud at her audacity. Her struggle with needing to command respect from the SS in order to protect her orchestra girls but also being disgusted with the fact that the SS respected her so highly was just... heart-wrenching.

Setting: I mentioned in the TL;DR that the subject matter can be difficult but isn't the main focus. Let me explain more fully - This is the story of Alma, and her thoughts and actions are the focus, not Auschwitz. Having said that, she IS a prisoner in a concentration camp, and it is reflected in the story. Some parts of this book had me silently crying in horror and wishing it was truly a work of fiction. There were days I had to put the book down and couldn't continue because I was so broken-hearted. I feel that it is so important to read books like this for those very reasons.

Storytelling: The author manages to keep a critical balance with this book. She describes gruesome aspects of life in the concentration camp, but in a way that feels respectful and observational rather than for the sake of being gruesome, if that makes sense. It would be easy to use the setting for shock factor and include gratuitous violence but she instead describes it as Alma sees it. It at times blends into the background in a strange way, until something happens to remind you that this isn't a fun cultural night but a concentration camp and you could be murdered at any moment. It's very natural, and I'm impressed with the author's ability to walk that line.

Thoughts: This book will stay with me, and I'm very thankful to the author for bringing Alma's story to life. I tend to shy away from books with difficult subject matter, but I'm so glad I didn't with this one. I think one reason the author has done such a fantastic job in writing this story is because her respect and love of the subject matter are evident - not only in the story itself, but in the background and research information she included afterward. ***Spoiler*** My one (small) gripe is that I'm not sure why Miklos dies. I guess it's to give a reason for Alma's suicide (which fits with the story of her depression after the Family Camp extermination mentioned above), but it still seemed pointless. He was so happy helping the resistance and then he just...decided to die? For what purpose? He didn't seem to be suicidal, quite the opposite. If he'd spoken up they wouldn't have sent him to die with the rest of the Camp. Maybe it's just my broken heart, but I don't see the point.

I feel like I could write a million more things about this book, but I'll stop here. I want to say thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for lending me an e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

My Thoughts:
It’s interesting the story starts with a foreshadowing of the ending. Since I had not read the true story of Alma Rosé, I read the story fresh and without knowing the events in her life.

The Violinist of Auschwitz is an emotional story. The name and setting of the story is immediate at causing an anguish in my spirit.

The story is a reminder of the harsh and stressful daily survival for the prisoners. But, the story is a reminder of the bond and unity of the prisoners. Their quiet defiance against the Nazis and their devotion to help one another.

The writing style and tone expresses the serious and somber story. Yet, there is beauty in certain scenes. For example, a stolen and tender moment between a couple. There is also sarcasm. Alma is a person who has a strong personality. It is difficult for her to remain quiet and stoic. Her feelings are often expressed as sarcasm. However, she has moments that are emotionally overwhelming and she is stunned.

The Violinist of Auschwitz has external conflicts, but there is internal conflicts with the prisoners who are confronted with gut-wrenching type decisions.

Themes in the story: courage, death, bravery, loyalty, love, passion, kindness, compassion, and perseverance.

I’m thankful Ellie Midwood wrote this important story. It is a strong testament of Alma Rosé.

Source: NetGalley. I received a complimentary e-book copy, but was not required to write a positive review.

Written well this is one of my favourite genres to read......and this is most definitely written extremely well.

I had no idea when I picked this book up that it was based on true story and that just made the whole reading experience far more remarkable.

Alma Rose was an exceptionally strong and determined character and I don’t think I’ve ever read of a character strong in the way she was. I can’t do her character justice in this review so please if enjoy reading this genre, pick it up and you’ll see what I mean.

Thank you to Edelweiss, #Bookouture, @EllieMidwood for providing me an Advanced Reader Copy of #TheViolinistofAuschwitz.

Alma Rose played the violin in a German prison camp,Auschwitz to be able to survive. Ellie Midwood, she did a excellent job in writing this book of a true to life story of this woman's life,how she survied, fell in love and tried to save as many prisoners as she could and all she had to do is play the violin and start up a all woman's orchestral to entertain the Nazi's that ran the prison camp in exchange for better food and treatment than the rest of the women in the prison. Follow her life,her adventures in this camp and how she tried to survive and help others. This is a really powerful story and you had better grab tissues as you read this emotional heartwarming story. This author, Ellie Midwood,she has you right there in the prison with all of these women and what they had to go through living there and dying there! This really got to me and at times I had to stop not cause it wasn't any good but because it was that good and I just had a really hard time seeing what they all went through.. It is a very much of a read!! Received this from Net Gallery!

This is an absolutely tragic yet beautiful tale, based on the life Alma Rosé, a violinist turned conductor at Auschwitz-Birkineau. It is beautifully written and narrated from Alma’s unique perspective as she ends up conducting an orchestra inside the camp and saving the lives (and raising the spirits) of many. Alma risks her life by becoming close to the notorious Dr. Mengele in order to obtain medicine for sick prisoners. The descriptions of the camp and its atrocities are incredibly sad and graphic. These intense and horrific scenes will not appeal to all readers but they are an important depiction of this terrible time in history that needs to be remembered always. I recommend this to fans Lilac Girls and Sarah’s Key.

The true story of Alma Rose, famed Viennese violinist, sentenced to a slow death in the horrors of Auschwitz. This brave, amazing woman managed to build an orchestra from other inmates, saving them from a slow death from overwork and starvation. So well written and poignant, I would recommend this book to anyone interested in this dark time of our history, and a monument to the human spirit. Spellbinding!!!

The Violinist of Auschwitz by Ellie Midwood is an excellent novel about a musician who is a prisoner in the horrific Auschwitz concentration camp. Her gifts as a well known concert violinist become her saving grace in the camp. The SS officers decide that she should take over the camp orchestra that is used to entertain the SS officers and also accompanied the horrible prisoner marches. The violinist named Alma makes it her mission to save as many people as she can be adding them to the orchestra, Alma is a true hero during these terrible times. Much of these novel, although fiction, is based a detailed research. The violinist actually existed in the camp as well as many of the other characters portrayed. The atrocities of war never fail to shock me! This novel shares this story through the unique lens of a musician. I enjoyed this exquisite novel and will remember it for years to come. Thank you to netgalley, Ellie Midwood, and Bookouture fir allowing me to read this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishing house and the author for the opportunity to read a complimentary advance reader copy of this book in return for a review based upon my honest opinion.

This was such a poignant, sometimes hard to read story; haunting and beautiful. It is based on the true story of Alma Rosé, a violinist and the conductor of the Auschwitz orchestra. The author seemlessly binds true events with a haunting love story; most of the people in the book are also based upon real people that Alma would have interacted with. I knew very little of the orchestra before reading this book and have since googled and read so many stories and interviews with some of the people written about in this book. While the love story is fictional, it leads us through Alma’s mindset and through that we can see the strength and determination that she had to save the women she saved and to try to bring some humanity to such inhumane times. We must never forget the atrocities that were brought against the Jewish people, to forget is to chance history repeating itself.

This book will stay with me for a long time, I appreciate all the work and research the author did for this book, it shows in the depth of the characters and details. I really like that she has added in the end of the book, the parts that were true and some interesting facts. When I googled Alma, it led me as well to the story of Helen ‘Zippi’ Spitzer and how she was reunited with her boyfriend from Auschwitz 72 years after the end of the war, such a lovely reunion for them. This was a wonderful book, I will definitely be reading more of their author’s books.

I don’t even know where to start with this one. When you read it, take the time to soak it all in. This story has everything you would expect from a novel that has “Auschwitz” in the title but it also has hope. Alma is an unlikely heroine. But when an opportunity presents itself, she grabs it and uses her musical talent to save other women by forming an orchestra. The characters are vivid, the scenes are graphic (both good and bad), and it’s all memorable. It’s heart-wrenching, realistic, and emotional, and it will be with me for a long time. For a full review, please visit Fireflies and Free Kicks. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for a digital ARC of the book.