Playing For The Commandant (2014) - Plot & Excerpts
As a general rule, I dislike fiction stories about the Holocaust (or really any fiction books about a period where nonfiction books/memoirs are abundantly available about the same period). This book turned out to be an exception. This book doesn't strive to be nonfiction. It doesn't attempt to beat the reader over the head with horror, despair, anger, and hopelessness. Instead while it conveys the horror of what was happening, the prevalent fear, the resignation in submission, these emotions are paired with the disbelief, resistance, and hope that I believe must have existed for there to be any survivors.A few other facets that were brought into the story that most of the fictional accounts I've read have neglected to include, and strong marks in the author's favor:The Russians liberated many of the concentration camps. They were sympathetic to the Jews, political prisoners, etc., that they rescued.The Russians imprisoned, "interrogated," and (not included in the book) shipped off to their own work camps any SS officers, prison guards, and collaborators that they located. Some Germans who risked their lives daily in underground resistance to the Nazis were without trial condemned to living in horrible circumstances in Siberia.There were survivors, and those survivors had to return to life without--in most cases--any legal recourse to recover what was taken from them. Europe didn't know what to do with these displaced and persecuted people. Something I hadn't considered, although it makes perfect sense, is that many survivors did not wish to begin again in the same place with daily reminders of bad memories and missing family members. They emigrated to Australia, the United States, Canada, and Palestine.Although I didn't realize until I read the author's note at the end of the book, her father was a Holocaust survivor and this book was influenced, if not based in part, upon her father's own experience in the camp. Is it any wonder I found the story compelling and credible?I strongly recommend this book to its target audience (grades 7 through 12) or even younger. I think this book would be appropriate for 5th through 9th grade. By 10th through 12th they're mature enough to read the nonfiction accounts, like the "Diary of Anne Frank," "The Hiding Place," or "Night," which I would also recommend...although that's for another review!Disclosure: I received a free electronic copy of this book for review from the publisher, which did not affect my rating or review. "Look after each other . . . and get home safe. And when you do, tell everyone what you saw and what they did to us.”Playing for the Commandant is a beautiful book and at the same time it broke my heart, because I couldn’t imagine people who really went through such inhumane treatments and conditions. This is a story about the Nazis and the Jews during the time of Hitler. Hanna is a Jewish girl who was sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau with her Dad, Her Mom and her sister Erika and it’s all because of the whims of a sadistic camp commandant. Before they got shipped away their life was great, her dad owned a watch company and she was offered a scholarship to go to Budapest Conservatorium of Music to be a pianist. When they arrived at the camp their dad was separated from them because there’s a different camp for guys. Their mother got very frail and detached from reality and was later on sent to the infirmary and she never came back to the camp. Their heads was shaved and they were given so little food and they were treated like animals in the camp. Hanna auditioned to become a pianist for the commandant and she got the job, the commandant has a son named Karl and he was different from the commandant. He secretly helps the Jews that works in their house. Karl and Hanna became secret friends well it looks like they were secret lovers, but Hanna was feeling guilty because Karl’s family was the enemy and she feels like she’s betraying her people.“I wish we could have met somewhere else,” he said. “At the symphony or a dance. If I’d walked up to you and asked you to dance-“ “I would have said yes.”I recommend this book; it has a touch of history and a story about love and friendship that blossomed during a difficult time. It’s a fast read, I couldn’t put the book down because the story makes you feel the emotions on what the Jews were feeling. I took a little break from time to time while reading this book, it made me tear up a little and I was sad for Hanna and Karl because they met at such an ugly circumstance.
What do You think about Playing For The Commandant (2014)?
it was honest and it was great, and you just know that in the end she will have a happy ending
—lauryn
Brilliantly written. Finished it in a day. Every emotional.
—Jaloolii
Is there a second book where they get to meet again?!:)
—bengiiii
It was amazing a story of love and loss
—kirankk
Great book!!! Easy but a good read!
—Christina23xoxo
