Sunday, January 21, 2018

The Melody of the Soul {a Litfuse Blog Tour review}

I'm excited to talk a bit about a book I read this weekend.  The Melody of the Soul by Liz Tolsma was a fantastic look into life in Prague during World War II.

I haven't been doing all that many book reviews lately, but with as much as I loved Daisies are Forever, I knew I had to get in on this one too.

Fortunately, this review is easier to write than that one was.  There are some similarities--
  • The book is set in Eastern Europe during World War II.
  • The characters are far more complex than just their nationality would indicate
  • Tolsma clearly strives for historical accuracy


Let's start with a description of the book from the publisher:
Anna has one chance for survival-and it lies in the hands of her mortal enemy.

It's 1943 and Anna Zadok, a Jewish Christian living in Prague, has lost nearly everything. Most of her family has been deported, and the Nazi occupation ended her career as a concert violinist. Now Anna is left to care for her grandmother, and she'll do anything to keep her safe-a job that gets much harder when Nazi officer Horst Engel is quartered in the flat below them.

Though musical instruments have been declared illegal, Anna defiantly continues to play the violin. But Horst, dissatisfied with German ideology, enjoys her soothing music. When Anna and her grandmother face deportation, Horst risks everything to protect them.

Anna finds herself falling in love with the handsome officer and his brave heart. But what he reveals might stop the music forever.


melody pin1


What did I think?

I did not want to put this down!  I had to, but I didn't want to!

The characters are all so fascinating.  Of the characters who have more than a couple lines of dialogue, all but one are wonderfully complex.  The main "bad guy" is pretty thoroughly bad, with virtually nothing at all that ever makes you think "maybe he isn't completely awful."

Everyone else, though, seems like a real person, where you see a mix of good and bad, faults and virtues, and real life experiences coloring how they react to the events of the story.  Reading through the book, there were points I wanted to slap some sense into even the most likeable characters. 

The best part of the book for me was in the final pages, where Tolsma talked about how her story lined up with actual history.  Especially the idea of music being a savior.  That bit really hit home.  I absolutely have had points in life where I turn to music when I should be turning to Christ.

That part left me thinking.

Her books always leave me thinking.









Check out this fun giveaway!

Travel back in time to 1943 and meet Anna Zadok, a Jewish Christian and concert violinist whose career is ended because of Nazi occupation in Prague. Don't miss the new historical novel, The Melody of the Soul, by Liz Tolsma. Though musical instruments have been declared illegal, Anna defiantly continues to play the violin. But Officer Horst Engel, quartered in Anna's flat and dissatisfied with German ideology, enjoys her soothing music. When Anna and her grandmother face deportation, Horst risks everything to protect them.

Join Liz Tolsma and other bookworms for a Facebook Live event on February 6, plus enter to win Liz's prize pack giveaway!




One grand prize winner will receive:


Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on February 6. The winner will be announced at Liz's Facebook Live Party. RSVP for a chance to connect with Liz and other readers, as well as for a chance to win other prizes!

RSVP today and spread the word-tell your friends about the giveaway and Facebook Live party via social media and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 6th!




Disclaimer:  I received this book through LitFuse Blog Tour.  No other compensation was received.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own.  

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