I read this book a few years ago and remember really liking it.
It's quite lyrical and twee and sweet, and really charming.
Always in exile. Everywhere.
I've raved enough about Natasha Solomons' novels. This is another lovely piece of writing, a Jewish story and one to make the reader feel guilty as well as delighting in the stroppy heroine.
Enjoyed learning more about the period, again, made me nostalgic for old England, the countryside, old ways... Gave me some insight to wartime and emotional complications.
I was not very impressed with this book. The story is pleasant enough and having Elise Landau based on real life aunt and Tyneford on the ghost village of Tyneham on the Dorset coast, added a charming element to the premise.
C'est un tres beau 2eme roman que l'auteur de Mr Rosenblum's list signe ici. Melancolique et poignant, il nous offre un magnifique portrait de jeune femme deracinee dans une Angleterre qui voit s'eteindre une epoque charniere de son Histoire.
I began thinking this book was awfully cliched, but gradually warmed to it until I couldn't put it down!.
I read this as part of a readalong. To see my posts over the whole readalong journey, see the link below
http://www.
I liked the premise of this book, but the protagonist lost my interest towards the end. I think part of the problem was the first person narrative, and I got annoyed that she used the technique of quoting letters while she was doing other things - quite long letters sometimes, no-one memorises things like that verbatim.
I've been hesitant on writing a review about this book since I really don't know how I feel about it. The author captivated me for the three quarters of the book and I was left disappointed about the third part.
Beautifully written. Heartbreaking story set during World War II.
A great book following the life of elise an Austrian jewess who escapes to England during the second world war and is employed as a maid for the wealthy rivers family. Highly recommended!.
The Novel in the Viola was a sweet, subtle and well-written book. The slow pace (which I'm normally not a fan of) actually worked really well with the subject matter, and even when I thought I knew what was going to happen next it still kept me guessing a little.
Second best book I've read so far this year. The period descriptions arfe fantastic.
