The Melody of the Heart by Liz Tolsma Book Review

A Nazi officer. A Jewish Czech violinist. Her music haunts him. When he's faced with losing it, he'll go through any length to save it. And her. 

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. 

My Thoughts: 

I enjoy reading historical fiction. The history of the Jewish people is very dear and near to my heart. On Yom HaShoah the Holocaust Remembrance Day it is said, “Never Again.” This story is a reminder that people with lives and feeling were affected by the dreadful Holocaust. The world lost many brilliant musicians, artist, scientist, housewives, children, and everyday people just like you.

The story is fairly fast past and keeps you not wanting to put the book down. It was an emotional rollercoaster at times. You really feel this story like a composition of music that stirs your heart. Grab a box of tissues as you’ll need them.

The author has made the characters realistic. Anna Zadok is a Christian Jewish Believer with strong character with the will to live despite the odds against her and her grandmother.  

Then you have the Nazi Officer Horst Engel who moves into the apartment below Anna and her grandmother. He struggles with what is going on with the Jewish people. Then he hears Anna’s music and it brings healing to his turmoil. He risks his life to save them from deportation to the concentration camps.

May we never forget the history so it doesn’t repeat itself? I find myself having a hard time putting this story in words as it was powerful and very heartfelt. It was well written with the WWII background and the historical setting of the time period.

For some this may be a difficult book to read with the information on the concentration camps. The author does a remarkable job portraying the realities of what the Jewish people endured in the Nazi concentration camps. Don’t forget that many Jewish people throughout history and even today face persecution all because they are Jewish.

I highly recommend this book. Thank you Liz Tolsma for doing an excellent job writing this story and bringing to the forefront of the Holocaust.  It seems to be a topic that isn’t taught about much anymore.  “Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it.” A very moving and powerful story.

I received a free copy of this product from Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions I have expressed are my own or those of my family. I am disclosing this information accordance with the FTC Regulations.