Ellie Midwood’s The Violinist of Auschwitz is so powerful and so meaningful and has quickly become my top read of 2020.

Midwood’s beautiful and heartbreaking writing flows effortlessly and really captures a time in history that was filled with atrocities that are hard to imagine. Yet, prisoners of Auschwitz-Birkenau faced suffering and cruelty beyond measure.

This is a true story about Alma Rose, a gifted violinist from Vienna. She finds herself held prisoner in Auschwitz-Birkenau and is made the head of the orchestra in the women’s camp forced to perform for prisoners and members of the SS. Alma is a fighter and vows to ensure the safety of her girls in the orchestra, often standing up for those in need to prevent needless deaths and atrocities. Alma’s story is heartbreaking and emotional, but also shows her strength when faced with the horrifying injustice, needless killings, and horrendous conditions many Jews faced during WWII in concentration camps.

Midwood shows through her writing how Alma, with her violin, is a symbol of hope and how something as beautiful as music and suffering can coexist at the same time. I could see this through many passages in this story how music brought the prisoners together and gave them hope even if it was momentarily. Midwood has really done her research and it shows time and time again page by heartbreaking page. I have read a lot of WWII books and while I loved many of them, The Violinist of Auschwitz really made me stop and think about our history and the Holocaust and how important it is to hear the stories from survivors of one of the most devastating times in our lifetime. I don’t think anything in our history can ever compare to what Holocaust survivors went through. More and more survivors are dying each year and an article I recently read estimates that by the year 2030 only 50,000 survivors may still be alive. It hits you right in the gut just thinking about it.

In no way can I ever give this story the justice it so deserves. This is definitely a book meant for your keeper shelves.

I’ve always believed that music brings people together. I don’t care what race you are, everyone loves music.

In The Violinist of Auschwitz this is exactly what happens. Deaths are happening everywhere. When Alma’s block elder made Alma the head of the orchestra, she saved Almas life which led to many others lives being saved as well.

I don’t know how Alma was able to hold it together at times. When women were being drug off to the gas chamber, Alma would play her violin and calm the women down.

This is a wonderful story of a woman who saved many lives just by caring for others. Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

A book with Auschwitz in the title is never going to be an easy read and once again, this was true. The story focusing around the real life Alma Rosé, a famous violinist who had the chance to escape the Nazis by going to England but instead stayed where she was and ended up in Auschwitz. Her musical talent got her noticed inside the camp and she is set the task of setting up an orchestra which helped provide some joy in the blackest of times. Friendship, love and music was beautifully woven in between the gruesome descriptions we have come to know so well about what the prisoners had to endure in the concentration camps.

I found the story a little hard to get into a first and rather slow paced however, it didn't take too long to get drawn into Alma's story and the life she had to endure in Auschwitz.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review,

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review

This book is a true horror story about survival at Auschwitz concentration camp. Alma Rose is a Jew and a famous violinist who is deported to Auschwitz . Alma finds herself amongst other musicians in the camp and because she is a well known famous musician in Germany she is encouraged to play for the SS who run the camp . Alma is given many privileges which enables her to protect her fellow musicians who she has organized in to a band. Alma also falls in love with a pianist this love is a forbidden love amongst the absolute horror that is Auschwitz.

This book is a descriptive drama with ever present dangers of the selections, the gas chamber’s ,the crematoriums, starvation and disease. The book also describes the brutality of the SS guards who sees their prisoners as less than human and treat them as such. These guards take pleasure in setting the dogs on their prisoners at will and shooting them for minor transgressions .
This book will make you cry that such horrors could happen in our life time and the author has captured the true essence of this terrible place. 5 stars

** I received an advanced copy of this novel from the publishers in exchange for an honest review. **

4.5 stars. It was such a haunting, beautiful tale of one woman’s quest to survive in one of the most horrific times in recent times - a concentration camp during WWII in Germany. Based on true events, this story is both sad and lovely time. I didn’t do any research on the validity of the story, and probably will, but it was so well done you feel so personally attached to each character.

If you have read the tattooist of auschwitz then you have a clear idea of the trauma, and pain, people went through in there. This book will shred your hearts into pieces and make you weep. The rawness of the pain and the hardship will gnaw at your hurt. Definitely recommend this for WW2 fiction lovers.

I received this book free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I’ve never heard of Alma Rose, but I’m a violinist myself and like historical fiction, so this sounded interesting to me. And it was. Alma’s story was different than what I was expecting, reading how she was able to use her position as the orchestra conductor to do good for the members of the orchestra, even if it meant doing something’s shed rather not have to do.

I received a free advance reader's copy and am leaving this review voluntarily

The Violinist of Auschwitz is based on a true story, that of Alma Rose, a Jewish violinist who was imprisoned at the Auschwitz facility during the Holocaust. She was one of the most esteemed musicians of her time and was appointed as the conductor for the women's camp orchestra. At first, she refused to play for the Nazis stationed there. However, she soon realized that her new position gave her powers to save at least a few women from the gas chambers. She promises to create an orchestra capable of playing on any European stage. While working within the camp, she meets a pianist who's just as good, maybe even better, than her as a violinist. They fall in love and, surrounded by despair and heartbreak, work on enjoying their time together until they are freed from Auschwitz...

This story was hauntingly beautiful even with the descriptions of abuse the inmates had to go through. After reading this story, I read the author's note on the history of this book and was amazed by how much was really true.

Alma was courageous and I admired her determination to save the lives of at least a fraction of the women in the prison. I did some research on her after and learnt that she referred to the girls in the orchestra as her babies and I was deeply touched by the ability of humans to be in the direst of straits and still be looking for ways to help others. However, many incidents during this book reminded me that there are some truly evil people in this world and that World War 2 is a stain that will never be erased from our history.

This story highlighted the tragedy that was World War 2 and it reminded me of the many injustices Jews faced. It was also a great introduction the Ellie Midwood's work. I would definitely be trying more of her work.

Due to some horrific incidents within this book, it should be read by adults. There was also some mention of sexual activity.

As I sat down to start reading The Violinist of Auschwitz, I don’t think I anticipated the sort of book I was getting into. I know for sure that I didn’t anticipate staying up until past midnight reading because I had to finish it right then. I also didn’t anticipate the emotional toll this book was going to have on me.

This a beautifully written story about Alma Rosé, a musician who is brought to the concentration camp of Auschwitz during WWII. Her journey starts out in the experimental medical ward, but then she is moved to another area after her talent is discovered. From there she trains other women also with some musical talent, and together they form an orchestra meant to entertain the SS officers.

Most of the fiction WWII books I’ve read are loosely based on fact. However, one thing to point out is the end of the book, the author’s note. She explains how every character is based on someone from the actual camp. The research she did was extensive and thorough, and this also comes out in her writing. The details are uncanny, and at times petrifying. The realism that jumps off the pages puts you at the camp with Alma and experiencing the ‘snow’ coming from the chimneys, only to discover it’s really ash.

I’ve read a lot of WWII fiction books. However, this one was different. The Violinist of Auschwitz is a book that will stay with me for a long time. It stamped memories on my heart with the tears I cried for Alma and her girls. It is a fantastic book and one that I highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for a copy of “The Violinist of Auschwitz” in exchange for an honest review.

Ellie Midwood has told the true story of Alma Rosé - Viennese Violinist Virtuoso so beautifully and respectfully. Alma was arrested in 1942 and taken to the Drancy Transit Camp in France. She was transferred to Auschwitz-Birkenau in July 1943 where she was placed in Block 10 - the Experimental Block.

The story takes place between July 1943 and January 1945 - mainly told through Alma’s “voice”.

The Women’s Orchestra were privileged prisoners who wore civilian clothes, were allowed to keep their hair intact, well fed and spared abuse.

Alma asked for a violin and after playing beautifully Birkenau Music Block 12 was created. Alma requested and received new clothes, better food, access to daily showers and having their clothes cleaned once a week. She demanded and received protection for the orchestra from selections.

Alma grew the orchestra to 40 members, gained a piano, a wood stove to warm the cabin and allow her girls to cook food from the parcels the girls received from home or the Red Cross.

Alma fell in love with piano player Miklós Steinberg who wrote a beautiful piece for her.

The book finishes with testimonies from the young women who Alma did everything in her power to protect.

Based on the true story of Alma Rosé, an esteemed violinist whose performances left her audiences spellbound. But when the Nazis descended on Europe, none of that could save her. While imprisoned in Auschwitz, she was appointed as the conductor of the orchestra performing for both prisoners as well as some of the highest-ranking Nazis. Alma soon realizes the power the position offered and how many lives she could try to save with it.

This is a book that everyone should read. Ellie Midwood did such a fantastic job accurately portraying Alma to create this devastating yet beautiful story of hope and resilience. You can tell Midwood really put in a considerable amount of time writing her story through the various resources she used, and I loved her letter provided at the end, so make sure to read that part too. It’s a book I will continuously recommend to anyone interested in learning more about the Holocaust and the real-life accounts from it. I never had heard about Alma Rosé before this, but now it is a name I will never forget. Published just yesterday (11/18) so be sure to add this one to your list!

Thank you so much to @bookouture and @netgalley for this unforgettable eARC!

Historical Fiction has become one of my favorite genres over the last five years. Sometimes they are really hard to read because of the context of the book and it’s story lines, but I find they are important. They give us a glimpse into a world we didn’t get to, or have to, experience. Some of my favorite historical fiction novels are about Hitler’s time and how people survived that time when being put in such terrible situations. Having read books like The Tattooist of Auschwitz and having The Librarian of Auschwitz on my To Read list on Goodreads, I saw The Violinist of Auschwitz and just knew I had to read it. Ellie Midwood did not disappoint.

This book was in no way happy. It follows the story of Alma Rose, a real person in the real world whose story was shared after Hitler’s reign was ended. She was a world famous violinist who was also Jewish and was captured and put in the Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp. This place was terrible. I have done much research on Auschwitz and the terrible things that happened there, but the way Midwood wrote it really gave a visual to a living situation that many had to deal with.

While the book deals with a very sad time in history, Midwood wrote about Alma’s story, which she had researched based on biographies, and stories from her fellow Music Block girls. Alma originally refused to play her violin for the Nazi’s, but quickly found that the position came with perks that she could use to her advantage to save herself and many of her orchestra friends. I found it incredibly interesting the way people were treated. German’s really loved their music then and she was treated very unlike most other Jews. Midwood wrote a story that hooks you and gets you emotionally attached to these characters.

When Alma was scared, I was scared. When Alma was joyous, I was joyous. And throughout the entire book, when Alma was disgusted, I was disgusted. I loved that a story could hook me so deeply that I felt I was watching everything play out from above. While it’s a sad story, we got glimpses of friendship, romance, and the little moments that most people take for granted, but those stuck in this camp thought were the best moments.

The Violinist of Auschwitz is definitely not for the faint of heart. There are graphic and detailed descriptions of things that happen. I felt like I could smell the crematorium ashes falling around me as I read with how well the descriptions were written. It really is a book that gives you horrific, but real visuals.

If you love Historical Fiction and love hearing stories of people drawing hope out of the darkest of places, then The Violinist of Auschwitz is definitely for you. I wish I had known Alma Rose. She sounds like one person everyone would want on their side in the worst situations. She knew how to hold her own and I feel privileged to have glimpsed her story through this book.

I received this book "The Violinist of Auschwitz" from NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own. wow! Based on the true story of Alma Rosé this book was amazing. I like to read historical books in this time era. I have to admit parts of this book are hard to read. You really felt like you were there with Alma. This is an emotional and heartbreaking story of her life in the camp. Get the tissues ready. I didn't expect to need them but you cannot stop yourself from feeling for her and the others in the camp. Also liked the end notes. Great Book!

What a beautifully tragic tale. Anything set in World War Two always tugs at my heart strings, it's such a stain on our history as a human race.

Alma is a prominent Viennan violinist, arrested and brought to Auschwitz. It turns out to be the very thing that saves her from the true horrors within the concentration camp. It is here that she ends up as an inmate with "privileges", extra rations, proper clothing, a bed and showers. She quickly learns that her prominent status as a musician gives her a certain amount of pull with the SS high command. Alma uses this influence to save a large group of women, forming an orchestra within the camp, able to perform for the SS. Based around a true story, Alma is another prime example of the true heroes of World War Two. With her influence, she manages to save countless people from the gas chambers, and they come away from the camps with their lives and life-long respect for Alma Rose.

Definitely 5 stars.

Wow oh wow! I am going to have a serious book hangover from this amazing, heart breaking, semi fictional story of love, hope, loss, beauty and culture…

The Violinist of Auschwitz tells the story of a the most remarkable lady, Frau Alma Rose. She was a real person, and a violinist at the Auschwitz Birkenhau concentration camp during WW2.

The story is a fusion of the writer’s extensive research into this fascinating woman’s real experiences of the camps, and the beautiful and varied writing skills of the writer that brings this journey, and these characters to life, in order to help you empathise with them.

I’m not sure if it’s because at the same time as reading this book, I have studying the Holocaust with students in my year 8 class, but this book really touched me on a really deep level, that is quite difficult to explain.

I am left with a complete admiration for a woman who is so talented, brave, selfless and loving, and a writer who has shown undeniable dedication and skill in bringing this incredible story to life through her words.

Thank you for sharing this beautiful book and allowing me to be part of the blog tour. It is one I will remember for a really long time.

Hands down The Violinist of Auschwitz by Ellie Midwood is the best historical fiction book that I have read this year. Nothing has come close to beating it and with two months left in the year I can’t see any other books toppling this astonishing read as my historical fiction read of 2020. It is quite simply a masterpiece. Right from the opening line, this story is absorbing, thrilling, tense and very very powerful and is a stark reminder lest we should forget of the horror and suffering endured by so many because of the actions of a mad man. You run the gauntlet of emotions with each of the characters and at times this is a very difficult book to read as the images and situations written about are horrific and the picture built up in your mind is a very difficult one to shake. We have all read and know about the death camps created by Hitler and the Nazi’s and just when you think you can’t read anymore that what could another story in this genre set during World War Two and specifically Auschwitz bring to the table, here comes this remarkable author to shine a light on a previously unknown to me aspect of the war.

The Violinist of Auschwitz is based on the true story of an Austrian woman named Alma Rose. I had never heard of her before but now after reading this phenomenal and exceptional story, Alma is a woman I will never forget. A woman who used her musical talents to bring some sort of hope and salvation to as many as possible in their darkest hour. It’s evident from the beginning that the author carried out extensive research in order to bring Alma’s story to life. Such compelling, detailed and emotional writing transports you instantly to the heart of the story and the spell that this book casts over you doesn’t relent its magic until you read the very last word. I couldn’t stop reading and any time I had to put this book down for whatever reason was so annoying as I was desperate to keep reading as I felt I was there alongside Alma and the orchestra she creates as they try to survive on a daily basis in the hopes that what they were doing would see them survive the most terrible place on earth.

They treaded a very fine line throughout the book but with Alma as their leader I was hoping they would be able to keep on going through the deprivation, starvation, annihilation, barbarism and brutality to emerge scarred yet victorious through the other side. In the camp one only had two choices, adapt or perish. Alma chose to adapt and use all her talents as a violinist with some renown throughout Europe pre-war and in making this decision she also knew she had to try and protect those around her. The orchestra and their task of performing for the evil Dr. Mengle by a certain date was a heavy burden to carry and one would never think that an orchestra could have existed in the camps. But it did and Alma used every ounce of her strength, conviction, determination and capabilities to see her task right through until the end. Even if in doing so herself and the other inmates experiences were life altering, damaging and degrading.

Auschwitz was an extermination factory and I have read numerous times about the camp in other historical fiction books that I have read but Ellie Midwood brought this atrocious time in history to life in a way I never thought possible. I thought it was brilliant that from the first chapter the reader was transported straight to the story. There was no messing around with the background to the war or Alma’s capture and subsequent transportation to the place that would changer her forever. Whatever we needed to know as to Alma’s previous life and how she came to be one of the millions transported to camps was told as the story progressed. The book begins in 1943 and in a way the entire story is compressed into a short space of time considering the overall length of the war but the author packs so much into that brief time period and never at any time did it feel rushed or that too much information was being thrown at the reader that there wasn’t a chance to digest what was happening. The pace is perfect and I felt like I ran the gauntlet of emotions and experiences with Alma and her group of incredible women. The highs and lows of which the lows far outweighed any positives but still through it all they persisted and kept going with music being their salvation as they clung to any fragment of hope that there might be light at the end of the tunnel.

Alma is traumatised and in pain when she first arrives at the camp but despite the suffering, torture and damage that she knows lies ahead she feels that perhaps everything is not lost if the beauty of music could find its way into the camp. This is what she clings throughout her incarceration and she spreads this positivity with her and later as love finds its way into her heart. Initially I questioned whether I liked Alma as a character, and this was perhaps because I was worried and afraid for her, she wasn’t playing by the rules. Instead she was standing up to the powers that be, placing herself in what I felt to be unnecessary danger especially given her situation was already very precarious with her life hanging on a knife edge. I thought really she should be keeping her mouth shut and just trying to make it through each day in the best way possible especially considering all that she witnesses and watching daily the crematorium working away and having no escape from knowing or seeing what was going on in those walls.

If Alma had played the game from the minute she disembarked from the transport train onto the grounds of the camp she could have kept herself safe and gone under the radar but instead she chose to put herself out there as she had a bigger plan in mind. One that would hopefully save women from death and freedom might just be waiting if they could survive long enough. Her initial actions slightly turned me against her as I was frightened for her but then as the book progressed I came to understand what an incredible woman she was. Every action, every word uttered was all done with a distinct end goal in mind. Therefore my opinion of her changed from the one I had first formed, and I found her to be beyond brave, courageous, loyal, creative and instinctive.

Alma was in a fight for survival and as she gathered her troops around her, in the form of the orchestra, there was no way she was going down without giving it everything she had got. Not that she would ever admit or concede to defeat. For when the gates of the camp she hoped would eventually open she was determined that she would be amongst those that made it through to the bitter end. Alma always showed such immense strength and dignity. Her talents as a musician, and later as a strategist, were second to none and above all else her integrity, resilience and the self-sacrifices she made make her a character that leaves the most profound of impacts on your heart and mind. Love and affection sustain her through the darkest and most challenging of times but when faced with the most difficult point of her journey will Alma fall apart after everything she has been through and all the lives she has saved or has she the resilience to see everything through to the bitter end?

There really are no words that I can write that do this stunning book any justice. To use the word stunning given the subject matter may seem wrong but that is what this book is. There is such depth, honesty and pure emotion oozing from every page and yes a lot of the scenes are incredibly painful to read but I am glad that the author never spared any detail. Every little bit of pain and suffering experienced by the inmates was described in minute detail and the extent of the experiments and the horrors inflicted are unspeakable. Yet those images are imprinted on my mind and I suppose they should be so no one will ever forget what so many went through in order for us to live the lives we lead today so many years later. The writing is exceptional throughout this book and there were endless paragraphs or even a simple sentence that I had to stop and reread several times just to fully appreciate what was being conveyed and the impact it was making.

No doubt about it The Violinist of Auschwitz is a book that deserves great success and to be read by as many people as possible. I can’t wait to read many more books from Ellie Midwood because if they are anything as near as the calibre of this remarkable story than I know I am in for a outstanding read.

4.5 stars!

Thanks so much to @netgalley and @bookouture for my e-arc in exchange for an honest review. THE VIOLINIST OF AUSCHWITZ publishes today!

Go read this book. If you have read The Tattooist of Auschwitz, go read this book. I dare you not to feel all the emotions. This book is heartbreakingly beautiful, yet full of hope.

I loved Alma, the Violinist who came from a privileged background, but put the needs of everybody else before her own. She saved the lives of so many women and girls by getting them to join her orchestra to entertain the SS guards.

While Alma was allowed to live because of her musical talent, she didn’t just use it to entertain he SS guards. Music heals people. That’s exactly what she did for so many. She would bring her choir of musicians and go to the sick ward and play music to the sick. Alma also hummed a comforting tune to one of her girls who found out her mother died. You don’t know how much music can help someone until you are in a place such as Auschwitz-where death isn’t a possibility, but a promise for most of the inmates there.

I really enjoyed reading the authors note too- this book is based on real life events. Having an orchestra run by Jews (who would otherwise had been gassed upon arrival in Auschwitz) were saved by Alma and played in her orchestra.

The ending wasn’t quite what I had hoped for, which bumps it down half a star, but upon further reflection, it’s more realistic how the author ended this book. I look forward to reading more from this debut author!

Instead of going to safety in England with her father, Alma Rosé a famous Viennese violinist stayed in Europe, she defied the German’s and continued to perform and she’s eventually arrested in Holland. She arrived at Auschwitz in 1943, and here she’s inspected, luckily she passed the first test, fumigated and tattooed. Thousands of people are kept in the worst conditions imaginable in the infamous camp; it’s a daily fight to survive and any sign of weakness; a person’s moldy bread ration could be stolen by someone stronger or they would be sent to the gas chambers and exterminated.

Alma’s fame was noticed by the head of the women’s camp, she’s to be the conductor of the camp orchestra, perform for visiting Nazi officials and she had until Christmas to make sure they are ready. Alma at first is very reluctant to do it, why should she share her precious music with the German’s and they don’t deserve it. Then she realized she could use it to her advantage, the members of the orchestra didn’t have to do the back breaking work other inmates are expected to do and they might survive the camp. Alma was incredibly fearless, she asked for extra rations for orchestra members, better living quarters; they could shower, wash and wear civilian clothes Alma and her group of musicians brought joy and hope to the entire camp; they looked after each other and become friends. Alma meets pianist Miklos Steinberg, they fall in love, surely the war had to end soon and the camp would be liberated?

The Violinist of Auschwitz isn't an easy story to read and you are made aware of all the horrible things that happened in Auschwitz and nothing is left out. Alma Rosé was a real person, her story is one of determination, dedication and she was bold and an incredibly brave woman. I highly recommend reading The Violinist of Auschwitz, well done Ellie Midwood on writing an amazing book and five big stars from me.

Heartbreaking, poignant, important... all words to describe this book. It's unfathomable how people lived in these camps, but the beauty of music can truly help the human soul. The beauty of this book was the music made by Ellie and Miklos despite the circumstances.

I would recommend this to anyone who has an interest in historical fiction or WWII.

Thank you for allowing me to read this and give my honest opinion.

My favorite genre of books is WWII historical fiction, so I was so happy when I received an ARC of this. The Violinist of Auschwitz was a great novel. It discussed friendships and love and so much more. It was nice to see someone that had such an impact on all characters in the book. I was leaning towards a 3.5 rating, but the ending made me push it up to 4 stars. I was reading this thinking that it was similar to other WWII books that I have read, but the ending was something that I did not expect. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this novel.