The Violin of Auschwitz

Dec 14, 2011 Mark rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: anyone

Recommended to Mark by: Waterstones' shelf organization

Shelves: translated, war-works

Read this short novel over breakfast this morning which involved my failing to start any other work until 930 but it was worth the need for any catch up. It is the story of Daniel a young jewish violin maker, technical term Luthier, who is taken from Warsaw and imprisoned in the horror of a concentration camp. Here he struggles with the bestial cruelty and unpredictability of the Nazi guards and along with the other men he is caught up just in the need to survive but for him his great gift, his...more

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Dec 28, 2011 Lance Greenfield Mitchell rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Maria Àngels Anglada brings the history of the violin made by Daniel, the Jewish luthier, during his internment in the Auschwitz concentration camp, to vibrant life.

The story opens with the playing of the violin by Regina in the present time. Her relationship to the craftsman becomes apparent about half way through the book, but is not fully revealed until nearr the end.

The brutality of the Nazis in the WWII camps is vividly described in such a way that the reader can feel the day-to-day tension...more Maria Àngels Anglada brings the history of the violin made by Daniel, the Jewish luthier, during his internment in the Auschwitz concentration camp, to vibrant life.

The story opens with the playing of the violin by Regina in the present time. Her relationship to the craftsman becomes apparent about half way through the book, but is not fully revealed until nearr the end.

The brutality of the Nazis in the WWII camps is vividly described in such a way that the reader can feel the day-to-day tension. The prisoners live on a knife-edge between survival and horrific punishment, or even death. Their fortune always hangs on the balance and depends on the moods of their captors as much as on their own actions. Should one stand to attention and salute when a German officer enters the room, or continue with one's work until spoken to? The answer to that question varies, as do the consequences of the answer. Every day is filled with gambles of life for every prisoner.

Amidst all of the stress and anxiety, Daniel is awarded the opportunity to create a perfect musical instrument for the Camp Commandant. His chance comes when he observes a fellow prisoner, a violinst called Bronislaw, being berated by the Commandant for playing bad notes. Daniel can hear the fault in Bronislaw's violin, and knows exactly what it is. Risking his life, he steps forward to point out a split in the shoulder of the instrument. He is allowed to make the necessary repair, demonstrating his expertise.

Suitably impressed, the commandant orders Daniel to make the perfect violin and allows him to choose his tools and materials.

Daniel knows that failure could put his life on the line.

The translation from Catalan to English by Martha Tennent must be good, as the strength of feeling, which must have been in the original, comes shining through.

There is some tiny thing, which I can't quite identify, which is lacking in this book, for me, but it is well worth four to four-and-a-half stars. I would thoroughly recommend it to any of my friends.(less)

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Jun 17, 2012 Adam rated it 2 of 5 stars

On the back of this slender volume, Tatiana de Rosnay is quoted as having said, "Read this little book and it will haunt you for ever." Having read it, I doubt that it will.

Everything that is described in this brief, concisely written novel might have possibly happened in the peculiar atmosphere that reigned in Auschwitz. Yet for me, the narrative voice did not ring true.

Daniel was a maker of stringed musical instruments before he entered the Nazi concentration camp system in Auschwitz. When, qu...more

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Aug 26, 2012 Meaghan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: holocaust, read-in-2010, adult-novels, holocaust-fiction, holocaust-auschwitz

I received this book from LibraryThing's Early Reviewers.

A slim and beautiful novella, the story of a young man in a sub-camp of Auschwitz, making a violin that could save his life, or end it. Daniel had been pretending to be a cabinetmaker, but after he accidentally revealed his real profession the commandant ordered him to make a violin. It must be a perfect violin and play beautifully, or Daniel will be turned over to the tender mercies of a sadistic camp doctor who is clearly based on Joseph...more

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Jul 27, 2010 Juliana rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, historical-fiction, holocaust, jewish-related, novella, advance-reading-copy-or-galley, holocaust-fiction, 2010-reads, 2010-jul-reads, 0-reviewed, 0-own-in-dead-tree-form, 3-half-stars, librarything-early-reviewers

Strong in its quiet simplicity, but I felt somewhat disconnected from the characters (3.5 stars)

Maria Àngels Anglada is described as "one of the most important figures of Catalan twentieth-century literature," and her talent is evident in this novel. Both the story and the writing were simple and I don't intend that as a criticism, because in my opinion this simplicity is the book's greatest strength.

The Auschwitz Violin has two frames to its central tale, so it's a story within a story within a...more Strong in its quiet simplicity, but I felt somewhat disconnected from the characters (3.5 stars)

Maria Àngels Anglada is described as "one of the most important figures of Catalan twentieth-century literature," and her talent is evident in this novel. Both the story and the writing were simple and I don't intend that as a criticism, because in my opinion this simplicity is the book's greatest strength.

The Auschwitz Violin has two frames to its central tale, so it's a story within a story within a story. The central one tells of Daniel, a young man in a concentration camp. He was a violin maker by trade and now "works" as a carpenter in the camp. Through a turn of events, he is assigned the task of creating a violin for Sauckel, the camp commander, who collects musical instruments. Bronislaw, a young violinist, will be the one to play the violin once it's completed.

As with everything during that horrific time, nothing is clearly defined, yet everything carries an aspect of danger, with the threat of death ever present. Daniel and Bronislaw know that their lives depend on this one instrument and this one performance, though even should they survive this test, who knows what the next one will be.

The book is a very short one (109 pages), which contributed to the feeling of simplicity, yet also to the lack of depth. I did not feel especially connected to the characters, nor implicated in and bound to what their fate would be. There were a few magical moments filled with poignancy, reflecting the utter desperation and helplessness of the prisoners' situation, and showing their amazing strength of spirit. But certain other parts did not really draw me in - most notably Daniel's process of and progress in creating the violin.

The inhumane treatment that is mentioned almost in passing and the real documents that begin each chapter add to the starkness of the story and the characters' reality. Anglada's language is also at times poetic and it often contrasts with what it is she is describing. Writing of the SS officers: "From their serene (or fanatical) eyes and delicate, heinous hands hung a thin thread: life or the illusion of it" (p18). And describing the morning after several prisoners have been murdered: "The sun began shamelessly to unravel the fog, banishing it from the sky, and the names of the murdered were swept away by the wind, removed to nothingness" (p66).

Anglada is talented with words, but for the most part the book didn't affect me as much as I thought it would. The exception to this was the ending, in which the story comes full circle. These last few pages were poignant, delicate, and beautiful, and make what came before them worthwhile. I would recommend this as a library check-out though, and not a purchase.
[This review is of an advanced copy format of the book:](less)

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Feb 07, 2012 Inés rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: my-library, read-in-catalan, war

Es la historia d'un home que va sobreviure a un camp de concentració nazi gràcies a les seves mans que van ser capaçes de fer una perfecta imitació d'un violí Stradivarius.
És interessant que a l'inici de cada capítol hi ha unes dades reals sobre el camp de concentració d'Auschwitz (on està basada l'obra).
És un llibre ràpid de llegir, però... li falta sentiment, és a dir, que poguem sentir alguna cosa pel protagonista.

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Sep 19, 2010 thewanderingjew rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is a tender little book, very moving and enlightening although it is barely more than 100 pages. I find that no matter how much I have read or how much I think I know about the Holocaust and its perpetrators, there always seems to be some new horrible behavior or event to learn about with regard to the heinous actions that were perpetrated upon a helpless people simply because of what they believed and/or how they worshiped. I believe sincerely that it is the reason why we must never forget...more

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Aug 29, 2012 David rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Fans of Holocaust Literature

Shelves: european-literature, 20th-century, literature

Pretty typical holocaust literature.

And the prose style was lifeless. With literary fiction style and character drive the work and this possessed neither compelling characters nor an interesting use of language.

If Ms. Anglada is indicative of the best Europe has to offer then I weep for the peninsula.

It wasn't bad, and if this is your introduction to holocaust literature you may even call it good. But within the space of holocaust literature it isn't either original or compelling...the best w...more

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Dec 18, 2012 Diane Warrington rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction

Not just another holocaust novel. Well written, not melodramatic. Shows the arbitrary cruelty and horror of the guards mindless thuggery but also the resilience of the human spirit. The description of the making of the violin was like taking a masterclass. It was suspenseful because of Daniel's precarious position. It's also made me go and find the music mentioned in the story to listen to it. The novel shows the on going damage that this time in history had not only on the people who had to end...more

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Feb 21, 2013 Elisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Reseña: http://vocesdeloslibros.blogspot.com....

Este es un libro que leí hace ya tiempo y al ser tan corto y fácil de leer, pues me animé a darle una segunda lectura.

Aunque no creáis que por su corta duración se trata de un libro ameno. En bastante duro, pues mientras vamos avanzando en el transcurso de la historia de nuestro protagonista, se van intercalando pequeños artículos sobre los presos de los campos, lo que llegaban hacer por seguir viviendo y como los nazis experimentaban con ellos.

E...more Reseña: http://vocesdeloslibros.blogspot.com....

Este es un libro que leí hace ya tiempo y al ser tan corto y fácil de leer, pues me animé a darle una segunda lectura.

Aunque no creáis que por su corta duración se trata de un libro ameno. En bastante duro, pues mientras vamos avanzando en el transcurso de la historia de nuestro protagonista, se van intercalando pequeños artículos sobre los presos de los campos, lo que llegaban hacer por seguir viviendo y como los nazis experimentaban con ellos.

El protagonista principal es Daniel, un judío de Cracovia que al ser detenido y reportado mintió sobre su profesión. Sabiendo que su carrera de violinista no es algo “rentable”, de modo que se hace pasar por carpintero, profesión que conoce en cierta medida. Pero un día le descubren y le proponen construir un violín perfecto dentro del campo. Sabiendo que del resultado depende su vida, comienza a fabricar el instrumento con sumo cuidado.

No solamente se nos muestra la vida en los campos de concentración, sino también en las fábricas y en los sistemas de transporte. Sencillamente se nos muestra como mucha gente intentó seguir con vida a pesar de estar viviendo un horror, y como a pesar de tener pocas esperanzas de sobrevivir, seguían intentando averiguar que había sido de sus seres queridos. También nos dejan ver cómo fue salir de aquel infierno y volver al mundo real, llevando consigo las consecuencias y los recuerdos constantes de lo que habían vivido.

La historia es muy lineal, no profundiza mucho en los personajes ni se detiene en muchos detalles. Tampoco hay sobresaltos, ni grandes momentos de tensión, ni sorpresas. La autora se limita a contarte un pequeño hecho que supuso la diferencia entre la vida y la muerte de nuestro personaje, y como después cada persona siguió con su vida.

Si estáis buscando un libro profundo o muy gráfico sobre lo que ocurrió en los campos de concentración nazis, este no es vuestro libro. Es realista, pero muy sutil. La información nos llega en muchas ocasiones como si estuviésemos leyendo un artículo en el periódico, pues algunos extractos fueron copiados de los archivos de los alemanes. Pero la historia en sí sobre Daniel también es simple, hay poca emoción al tratar los personajes, pero el libro en general ya hace sentir a uno suficiente, no necesita añadir nada más a la mezcla.(less)

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Jan 21, 2013 Jim rated it 5 of 5 stars

A heart rendering novel. You live in the Auschwitz concentration camp with a Jewish prisoner and experience the horrors of survival he experiences. When entered on the rolls of prisoners Daniel lists himself as a carpenter while in reality he is a talented violin maker. When working at the commandant's home he hears a violin player getting berated because of his bad playing, he then commits the unpardonable sin by speaking up and telling the group gathered it is not the player but the violin has...more

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Dec 30, 2012 Philip rated it 3 of 5 stars

The Auschwitz Violin by Maria Àngel Anglada is a short novel set mainly in the Nazi concentration camp of its title. Daniel, a violin maker from Krakow, is given a task by an officer in the camp, a task that only his personal skill can fulfil. The book’s story oscillates between two contrasting scenarios. Internally, Daniel’s consummate skill and all-consuming pride in his work motivate him to take care, not to cut corners and remain faithful to the demands of the quality he has always acknowled...more The Auschwitz Violin by Maria Àngel Anglada is a short novel set mainly in the Nazi concentration camp of its title. Daniel, a violin maker from Krakow, is given a task by an officer in the camp, a task that only his personal skill can fulfil. The book’s story oscillates between two contrasting scenarios. Internally, Daniel’s consummate skill and all-consuming pride in his work motivate him to take care, not to cut corners and remain faithful to the demands of the quality he has always acknowledged. In this case, of course, failure to deliver what the order demanded will have dire consequences. Externally, on the other hand, Daniel has to cope with the exigencies of concentration camp life. Not only has he poor material and a paucity of tools, he has also to cope with a starvation diet and a pervading, systematic, almost industrial approach to extermination.

The fact that the book does achieve most of the aims the reader would expect, given such a scenario, is both a credit and a criticism. Maria Àngel Anglada manages in less than thirty thousand words to construct character within an enclosing narrative that both interests and convinces. She manages also, largely via contemporary documents that preface each short chapter, to create a feeling of the environment within which Daniel is incarcerated. The most terrifying aspect of the book, in many ways, is the almost scientific rationality that is assumed to underpin the exercise. It may be occasionally questioned, as in the case of a report from an officer who refuses to allow a woman to be posted to enforced prostitution duties because she has Nordic features. But such exceptions do no more than highlight the absurd brainlessness and unspeakable barbarity of the norm.

Overall, however, The Auschwitz Violin is not a novel for a reader who has read the other books of that address similar scenarios. Anyone who has encountered Fatelessness of Kertesz will probably not want to read their way inside such a camp ever again. That particular tale is so harrowing and the book so powerful that trying to re-live any aspect is pointless. Unfortunately, and this is the criticism of the book, The Auschwitz Violin is very much a restatement of what has already been written by others.

On the other hand, there may be others who find a conjunction of the tale of this novel and the plot of Weinberg’s opera, The Passenger. There are indeed similarities, The Auschwitz Violin lacks the guttural tension provided by the opera’s sharing of the SS guard’s experience alongside that of the inmates. The Auschwitz Violin also lacks the irony provided by the opera’s denouement, when the commandant’s ignorance of his own cultural heritage becomes a bad but still tragic joke.

The Auschwitz Violin is short and, for any reader who has not yet encountered fictional accounts of concentration camp life, the book might prove both satisfying and enlightening. For the more widely read, The Auschwitz Violin still offers a worthwhile experience and, because of its brevity, one that is almost guaranteed to repay invested time. It remains, however, a small scene from a very much bigger picture.
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Nov 25, 2012 Lorri rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, holocaust, jewish-fiction, novels

The Violin of Auschwitz, by Maria Angels Anglada, Translated by Martha Tennent is a Holocaust-related novel written from a unique perspective.

The novel begins in 1991, during a concert in Krakow, where a woman is playing a violin, but not just any violin. A musician who has finished his part of the concert, and is listening to the rest of it, is enthralled with the exceptional sound and look to the violin. Herein begins a journey that reveals the tale behind that violin, as told by that woman, a...more

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Sep 21, 2012 Tommy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

See the original review here: http://justanotherbooknerd.tumblr.com...

Originally published in Spanish in 1994, The Auschwitz Violin, by the late Catalan writer Maria Angels Anglada, has only in the past couple of years seen an English release.

The novella begins with a glorious concert and an enthralled listener who wants to know the origins of the exquisite violin being played for his entertainment. He decides to learn it’s secrets and tracks down it’s owner, who recounts the tragic tale of its...more See the original review here: http://justanotherbooknerd.tumblr.com...

Originally published in Spanish in 1994, The Auschwitz Violin, by the late Catalan writer Maria Angels Anglada, has only in the past couple of years seen an English release.

The novella begins with a glorious concert and an enthralled listener who wants to know the origins of the exquisite violin being played for his entertainment. He decides to learn it’s secrets and tracks down it’s owner, who recounts the tragic tale of its origin, and the life of the man who had to make it.

The book then travels to the not so distant past of World War II where a Jewish Luthier named Daniel has been sent to a concentration camp to live in awful, squalid conditions under the rule of Nazi Germany.

Daniel’s life in camp changes when he is present at a concert in the house of the camp commandant. During the performance a violin suddenly cracks, ruining the experience for the commandant and his guests. Before the Jewish musician can suffer any repercussions for his misfortune Daniel bravely steps up and offers to repair the violin and is then subjected to a cruel wager and told to craft a Violin that could contend with the world’s most expensive instruments.

Now, some of you will know that a book cover can have a very powerful effect on whether or not you buy a book, and sometimes you won’t even need to see the blurb before you add it to your collection. This was one of those books, I saw the cover and instantly decided that I wanted it and fortunately was not made to regret that impulse.

The Auschwitz Violin manages to go someways to describe the horrors of the persecution of Jews in concentration camps in World War II whilst somehow managing to maintain a strange sense of light heartedness. It probably sounds like a drastic juxtaposition but when Daniel begins to craft that violin, the desolation in his soul begins to heal, slowly but surely, and it really comes across in the book and I found myself becoming more engrossed in this world.

This book demonstrates some of the worst kinds of people at the same time as presenting some of the best kinds, though alarmingly it does clearly show a severe lack in the latter. It’s powerful, it’s emotional and it’s truly a lovely read. At only 128 pages, I read this book within an hour and a half but still enjoyed it just as much as I would if it had lasted me two days.

If you’re after an endearing, light read, buy this book!(less)

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Aug 13, 2012 Birgitta Abimbola Heikka rated it 4 of 5 stars

A beautifully written book about survival and legacy.

In 1991, a middle-aged woman played a violin at a concert. The violin emanated such beautiful tone that captivated the attention of another renowned violinist, Bronislaw. He wondered where the well-crafted violin came from.

Daniel was a young man when he found himself in an Auschwitz camp. He was a violin maker by trade. Working in a carpentry workshop in the camp, it became known to the commander of the camp that Daniel was a good craftsman at...more

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Oct 15, 2011 LitAddictedBrit rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-2011

In 2008, Boyfriend and I went to Krakow (and the photos scattered around this review are ones that I took while there). I was continuously surprised by the city. It was architecturally beautiful, because World War II was over before it could be invaded and destroyed (unlike, say, Warsaw). It was kooky and fun with adorable boutique-style restaurants and bars (we spent one evening drinking in a bar where all the tables were renovated Singer sewing machines, for example). We had already decided th...more In 2008, Boyfriend and I went to Krakow (and the photos scattered around this review are ones that I took while there). I was continuously surprised by the city. It was architecturally beautiful, because World War II was over before it could be invaded and destroyed (unlike, say, Warsaw). It was kooky and fun with adorable boutique-style restaurants and bars (we spent one evening drinking in a bar where all the tables were renovated Singer sewing machines, for example). We had already decided that we would visit Auschwitz Birkenau and I thought that would be at least one part of the trip where I knew what to expect. I knew it would be an emotional day and I knew it would be humbling and would put all of our "problems" into perspective; I just didn't know how emotional and humbling it would turn out to be.

The scale of the site and the associated horror was for me almost incomprehensible; almost as though it is simply too much to process. The part that had the biggest impact on me (and that made me cry) was a corridor filled with framed photographs. Each photograph was a simply shot picture of a woman/man/child in a blue-and-white outfit looking straight at the camera. To this day, recalling the haunted/terrified/devastated looks in the hundreds of sets of eyes can bring me to tears.

This book is the literary equivalent of those photographs.

It's a snapshot of a tragedy that allows you to forget the statistics and remember that those catastrophic numbers were made out of individuals and families who had their own worries, their own battles and their own hopes. Daniel's story is a tiny part of a huge attrocity. I think that too often authors attempt to convey the magnitude of the Holocaust and try to impress their readers with the horrifying numbers. In the end, though, most of us can't really imagine it or understand it. Or at least, I can't. What we can understand, however, is Daniel's sense of loss and hope, his physical and emotional torment and his daily fight to survive.

The story is told very simply, as you would expect for a book narrated by a prisoner in a concentration camp. Daniel is a wonderful character and I'm sure there's something in him for most readers to identify with, which I took to be part of the point. And in case you were concerned that this would be too introspective, his fictional endeavours are painted against a backdrop of fact. Indeed, on one of the first pages of the book is the statement:

"Author's Note: The documents at the beginnings
of the chapters are authentic"

These excerpts are extremely well chosen and timed and the balance of Daniel's emotional narrative with terrifyingly clinical documents is perfect. Because of this elements, I think that it would be nigh impossible to read this book without having at least one moment where you flinch/look away/sneak away to guiltily remind yourself how lucky you are - I know that I did and it was part of what made the book such a powerful one for me.

In a way, because of the strengths of the book, I was disappointed by the ending. I know that sounds strange given the subject matter so I won't say any more than that. I wouldn't want to ruin it for anybody that wants to pick this up and it could well just be me. Don't let it put you off and do let me know if you read this and have any particular thoughts on the matter.

Overall: There isn't much more to say; only that, despite the vocabulary and sentence structure being relatively basic, this book is obviously not an "easy read". It is a short book that I think will stick with me for a long time and one I would certainly recommend. (less)

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Jun 09, 2011 Devon rated it 4 of 5 stars

The English translation of Maria Angels Anglada's beautiful short novel The Violin of Auschwitz recently debuted in paperback. I ironically received a copy as a Christmas gift and read it before 2011 was even in view. The book was originally written and published in 1994 in the Catalan language and was only translated to English in 2010.

The book inserts real-life documentation of Nazi concentration camps during World War II in the beginning of its chapters and follows a violin maker, Daniel, thr...more

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Dec 22, 2010 Greg rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction-and-humor, thought-provoking

I’ll admit that I’m of two minds about The Violin of Auschwitz. Like many who have already reviewed it here, it didn’t affect me as powerfully as have other novels or biographical accounts of the Jewish holocaust and the Nazi concentration camps. I think, for example, of the dark power of Elie Wiesel’s Night, or the tremendous wisdom to be found in Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning, and this one simply doesn’t compare. However, not all books can be Pulitzer prize winners, and that this on...more

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Sep 01, 2010 Jeannie Mancini rated it 1 of 5 stars

Maria Angels Anglada's new novella titled The Auschwitz Violin, is very short on both length and story. Even calling it a novella is stretching it, it's not much more than a long short story at 109 pages. I read this piece in just two hours and when I finished it, my thought was that it was the most pointless story I've ever read, and certainly one of the top ten worst books I've ever encountered. I just did not see the reason in why this story was written, and with the fact that there are other...more Maria Angels Anglada's new novella titled The Auschwitz Violin, is very short on both length and story. Even calling it a novella is stretching it, it's not much more than a long short story at 109 pages. I read this piece in just two hours and when I finished it, my thought was that it was the most pointless story I've ever read, and certainly one of the top ten worst books I've ever encountered. I just did not see the reason in why this story was written, and with the fact that there are other novels with the same topic, it was not an innovative idea.

Daniel is a prisoner in a WWII concentration camp, working with other men at odd jobs the guards and Commandant order them to perform. Before the war, Daniel was a Luthier, a maker of fine violins. When asked what his occupation is upon entering the camp, he lies and tells them he is a cabinet maker and carpenter and is put to work on building a greenhouse. One night while working in the Commandant's house during a party, he hears the sound of a screeching violin and the Commandant's harsh accusations towards the violin player. Daniel foolishly speaks out for the musician and informs the Commandant that it is not the player's fault, that the violin is cracked. Daniel is then put to work immediately to repair the violin and when finished is praised and then given the opportunity to make a custom violin for the Commander who is a collector. Hoping this wonderful opportunity will prove his talent and gain him rewards, he spends the next few months creating a special violin, putting his talented hands and loving care into this wonderful instrument. While Daniel is crafting this violin, background stories of the death camp horrors flash around him offering the reader a close view of what life was like in the camps and the cruelty inflicted upon the prisoners.

But that is it folks. The entire story really. A man in a concentration camp that makes a violin. End of plot. There is no drama, no action, no mystery, no suspense, no romance, and not one character has any redeeming qualities that would have the reader latch on emotionally. Their personalities are flat and lifeless, no life-blood is breathed into their bodies, they had no soul. I felt the author's ability to create atmosphere with an engaging story was strongly lacking. The writing is choppy, skips and jumps hither and yon, and I truly kept asking myself, "what is the point of telling this story?"

Arriving near the end of the book I really got even more astonished as we are at one moment with Daniel still not with a finished violin, and in the next paragraph the author jumps to the future long after the violin is done and we are in the presence of one of Daniels camp friends reminiscing about the past. Daniel's experience got left behind somewhere without the details of how he finished the instrument and what the reaction was of the Commandant who wanted this violin. There was a huge gap here that should have been filled in, and not so suddenly rushed ahead to the future long after the fact, and then followed up with a very predictable ending that was pretty much anticlimatic. Why did the author choose to just leave out a huge number of years in between or an on the spot finale when Daniel had completed his task that had caused so much angst for him and anticipation for reader?

The one word that comes to mind when describing this book is "lackluster". We all truly feel for those that suffered in the camps, and most people do know the horrifying acts that were performed there, but the author gives us no sense of depth or substance in the telling of this story. It was way too short and probably could have been greatly improved if a little more effort was put into it. It almost read factual, as if the book was meant to be a non-fiction essay account of a true person's experience, but even then there was too much missing. Not too much praise here, sorry folks, I can't recommend this.
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Aug 09, 2009 Mazel marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: shoah, roman

Auschwitz. 1944.

Les privations et les coups. Les humiliations s'enchaînent, les hommes, traités comme des chiens, n'existent aux yeux de leurs persécuteurs que comme de la main-d'oeuvre peu chère.

Un prisonnier juif, Daniel, y lutte pour la survie de son âme.

Surprenant un concert organisé par Sauckel, le commandant du camp, Daniel révèle son talent de luthier pour sauver son ami Bronislaw, violoniste de génie accusé à tort d'avoir joué faux.

Il va alors être mis à l'épreuve et devoir construir...more

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Apr 21, 2011 Michele rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book begins in 1991 in Krakow, Poland, where a string trio is playing a guest concert. Climent (the violinist) is intrigued by a violin he hears played by a local violinist by the name of Regina. Climent then learns that the violin is not made by a any of the famous makers, but by Regina's Uncle Daniel. The story than reverts to Daniel's story. Daniel is a luthier by trade but upon entering the camp claims to be carpenter..he survived daily life in the camp(the starvation, the beatings, the...more

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Apr 26, 2012 E.I. Blot rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: reviewed, good-fun

What a lovely little gem of a book. No Holocaust account/story fails to tug at my heart, and this is no different. Beautifully written, in a lovely voice; my heart is heavy even hours after finishing it.

There was one abrupt shift in POV near the end, but I guess the formatting was a bit funny since I was reading an ebook. There were a couple of other minor jumps in the narration as well, but I never felt them to be jarringly obvious.

The blurb basically tells you everything you need to know about...more

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Sep 30, 2010 Barb rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: holocaust, vine, most-disappointing, gave-it-a-try-and-then-gave-up

I did not find this story engaging on any level. I have read quite a few books on the Holocaust and I have only read one other one that was able to make the Holocaust seem dull. I didn't think it was possible for one person to achieve that, let alone two but this book is the proof. Was there something important lost in the translation? It is possible, but in my honest opinion, not likely.

There was an overall lack of realism to the story and the author just didn't seem to have a very good knowled...more I did not find this story engaging on any level. I have read quite a few books on the Holocaust and I have only read one other one that was able to make the Holocaust seem dull. I didn't think it was possible for one person to achieve that, let alone two but this book is the proof. Was there something important lost in the translation? It is possible, but in my honest opinion, not likely.

There was an overall lack of realism to the story and the author just didn't seem to have a very good knowledge base to draw from when creating the exchanges between the characters. She repeatedly mentions them fearing the worst and instead of referencing a horribly painful death, she is referring to a whipping as the "worst".

At one point in the story the main character is talking to another prisoner in his bunk at night and then she has a third prisoner say to him "Hey, how about letting me get some sleep." Here's another passage that just didn't seem to ring true; 'His body still ached from the whipping, but his sleep was deep and free from nightmares --- maybe because he felt the comforting presence of those around him.' I'm not saying it isn't possible for him to feel comforted by the people around him, but if he is then perhaps the author could show us just a hint of a relationship with them.

Another thing that didn't have the ring of truth was that the main character has a very low number but the year the events being described are taking place is 1943. That is if the chapter documents are supposed to indicate the date the events in the following chapter are happening. If that is the case a prisoner with a low number would have been incarcerated for a very long time and would have a much greater knowledge of the way things work in the camp than our main character here seems to have. Someone please correct me if I am mistaken.

I didn't find the story, the characters or the story telling at all interesting or engaging. There is no emotion in this story and this is in my opinion one of the most moving topics an author can write about. I find it hard to believe that this was published at all, let alone translated for a greater market. (less)

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Sep 14, 2010 Amy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed

The Violin of Auschwitz by Maria Angels Anglada is a haunting tale of dignity found amidst the horror of Auschwitz, one of the Nazi death camps. Written in Catalan and translated into English by Martha Tennent, this short book (really a novella) follows the story of Daniel, originally a violin maker by trade. However, upon arriving at the concentration camp, Daniel quickly realized that “violin makers” were of little use to the Germans and were swiftly escorted to their deaths. So, instead he st...more The Violin of Auschwitz by Maria Angels Anglada is a haunting tale of dignity found amidst the horror of Auschwitz, one of the Nazi death camps. Written in Catalan and translated into English by Martha Tennent, this short book (really a novella) follows the story of Daniel, originally a violin maker by trade. However, upon arriving at the concentration camp, Daniel quickly realized that “violin makers” were of little use to the Germans and were swiftly escorted to their deaths. So, instead he stated his occupation as “carpenter” and his attention to tiny details make him an excellent carpenter indeed.

Spending his mornings in the carpenter’s shop and his afternoons doing backbreaking factory work, Daniel’s life in the camp consists of barely sustainable meals of watered down coffee, plain bread, and turnip soup. Every area of his life is managed by the SS guards and random beatings are commonplace. The terror with in which Daniel lives is only managed by living in the moment, but sometimes he escapes to thoughts of his family (if they’re alive) and his beloved, Eva.

Eventually, Daniel’s luthier skills become evident to the Commander of the camp, who is a collector of fine instruments, including violins. He orders Daniel to build him a fine violin. If the violin cannot play a wonderful tune, then Daniel will be handed over to a disgusting Dr. Rascher, who experiments on the unfortunate inmates.

While this book doesn’t have the depth of Night by Elie Wiesel, I thought The Violin of Auschwitz was well-done. It did not focus on the horrible stench of death, but rather on the life within the walls of the Three Rivers Camp. As Daniel develops, the privilege of making a violin again, even for the abhorrent Commander, gives Daniel the will to live just a little longer. In the face of impossible circumstances, Daniel does very human, not superhuman things, like hopes he will get a big potato in his potato soup (served only on Thursdays) or ferrets away a crust of break to make it through a labor intensive afternoon. Often, we are exposed to the inhumanity of the death camps, but this book tells the story of a man defying the odds and finding pleasure in the darkest of places.

Amy’s Grade: B(less)

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May 27, 2010 Doreen rated it 4 of 5 stars

I decided to take a break from the poor reading choices I've been making recently and read this novel, just arrived in the mail today. It was a swift read -- the book barely breaks 100 pages -- but so refreshingly good! It describes a Jewish prisoner in a concentration camp whose vocation as a luthier is discovered, whereupon he is commanded to make a virtuoso violin to rival the works of Stradivarius. Saying anything more would ruin the story, but I will say that I particularly enjoyed this pas...more

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Oct 20, 2010 Joanne rated it 4 of 5 stars

This short novel takes us into the life of a Jewish prisoner of a concentration camp over just a short period of time. We are introduced to Daniel, whose profession was building violins before becoming imprisoned.

Although Daniel is a carpenter at the work camp, he somehow ends up being at the right place at the right time when a violin needs repairs at a dinner the officials are attending. At this party Daniel meets Bronislaw who happens to be a very talented violin player. How could Bronislaw k...more

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Mar 16, 2012 Mazmi rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: world-war-two-related

I have this fascination with the Holocaust and World War 2 area so The Auschwitz Violin for £0.99p naturally caught my interest. It was disappointing that the story wasn’t real but the passages at the beginning of each chapter were. The book bored me at the beginning and by the time I had gotten to the end I had forgotten all about what went on at the beginning. It didn’t really leave an impression on me and the characters weren’t solid enough for me to feel for them. I did hope for a happy endi...more

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Jul 02, 2012 Veronica Singleton rated it 4 of 5 stars

I have seen dozens of documentaries on the Holocaust, the camps, and have read a couple of other books. I know this book was on human survival, the strength of the human soul and friendship, but through all of that and for whatever reason this particular read left me with one thing. When I'm cleaning around the house - sometimes I get so involved in the cleaning I forget to eat. When this happens, my system always alerts me, and I become nauseous. Then, something in the brain clicks and I say to...more

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Feb 21, 2012 G.S. Johnston rated it 5 of 5 stars

The novel is startling. It rides on a series of deep contradictions. It’s written with almost a childlike simplicity and yet it charts the depths of humanity. Whilst there are no detailed descriptions of sustained violence, the deft recording of the incidental in camp life shows the absolute dehumanisation of the whole Concentration Camp system. For example, Daniel’s friend the violinist can’t overhear a conversation that would salve Daniel’s nerves because he’s not allowed to approach to close...more

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Mar 11, 2012 Nikki rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction-alternatehistory

I've been meaning to read this one for a while. It's a quick read, though that's partially because it got no hooks into me. I didn't really want to linger over it. It's a simple story, set amid the horrors of the Second World War, with a Jewish violin maker as the central character.

It manages to evoke that atmosphere reasonably well, but not so much the characters. I couldn't link up with Daniel and feel for him. Maybe it was the fact that I had to read this in translation -- very few translator...more

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