Tuesday, October 17, 2017

The Butterfly and the Violin & A Sparrow in Terezin


     Aren't these covers gorgeous?!?!?! 


I saw the Butterfly and the Violin in my library years ago and was drawn to it but at the time was not looking for books in that genre.  However, I knew it would always be there waiting for me when I was ready for it.
Recently I decided it was time.


I'm going to review them in the same post although I did rate them a bit differently...


These are WWII books.  I have always been fascinated (in a non morbid way) by this period of history.  As a youth I read books like Number the Stars, As the Waltz was Ending, Searching for Shona and Alicia: My Story.
Kristy Cambron puts an interesting twist in these books as she weaves in a modern day story along with the history.  It is not time travel/unrealistic stuff but tastefully and beautifully done.

****
PG
{GS}
Easily Recommend

{GS} There are graphic ideas involved...much of it takes place in a concentration camp... but I felt like she handled them well and was not overly detailed.
I definitely cried...seriously gripping and emotional.


***1/2
PG
{GS} {L}
Probably Recommend

In the Butterfly and the Violin, I came to the conclusion that all the addresses to God were prayers...not so sure in this book.  Some of them seemed more in vain than anything. {L}  This disappointed me because other than that I thought it was a great book.
I think I liked the story a bit more in The Butterfly, but this one was also touching and well done.

One other thing bothered me, and it really shouldn't have because it's trivial, but I pick up on adjectives used repetitively.  When the same adjective is used too closely in multiple instances or too often in the book as a whole, it is an annoyance to me.  
Kristy uses the word "embattled" probably 8-10 times throughout this book.  It's a great word but I think she overused it :)  I know, silly!

Anyway, conclusion...
These are tear jerkers but beautiful WWII novels with a modern day story braided in.
Kristy has a few other novels that I am anxious to try!

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