Based on an unexplored slice of World War II history, Exile Music is the captivating story of a young Jewish girl whose family flees refined and urbane Vienna for safe harbor in the mountains of Bolivia As a young girl growing up in Vienna in the 1930s, Orly has an idyllic childhood filled with music. Her father plays the viola in the Philharmonic, her mother is a well-regarded opera singer, her beloved and charismatic older brother holds the neighborhood in his thrall, and most of her eccentric and wonderful extended ...
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Based on an unexplored slice of World War II history, Exile Music is the captivating story of a young Jewish girl whose family flees refined and urbane Vienna for safe harbor in the mountains of Bolivia As a young girl growing up in Vienna in the 1930s, Orly has an idyllic childhood filled with music. Her father plays the viola in the Philharmonic, her mother is a well-regarded opera singer, her beloved and charismatic older brother holds the neighborhood in his thrall, and most of her eccentric and wonderful extended family live nearby. Only vaguely aware of Hitler's rise or how her Jewish heritage will define her family's identity, Orly spends her days immersed in play with her best friend and upstairs neighbor, Anneliese. Together they dream up vivid and elaborate worlds, where they can escape the growing tensions around them. But in 1938, Orly's peaceful life is shattered when the Germans arrive. Her older brother flees Vienna first, and soon Orly, her father, and her mother procure refugee visas for La Paz, a city high up in the Bolivian Andes. Even as the number of Jewish refugees in the small community grows, her family is haunted by the music that can no longer be their livelihood, and by the family and friends they left behind. While Orly and her father find their footing in the mountains, Orly's mother grows even more distant, harboring a secret that could put their family at risk again. Years pass, the war ends, and Orly must decide: Is the love and adventure she has found in La Paz what defines home, or is the pull of her past in Europe--and the piece of her heart she left with Anneliese--too strong to ignore?
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Add this copy of Exile Music: a Novel to cart. $1.83, good condition, Sold by Orion Tech rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Arlington, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2021 by Penguin Books.
Add this copy of Exile Music to cart. $2.42, like new condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Dallas rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2021 by Penguin Books.
Add this copy of Exile Music to cart. $2.42, very good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Dallas rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2021 by Penguin Books.
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Add this copy of Exile Music to cart. $2.42, good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Baltimore rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Halethorpe, MD, UNITED STATES, published 2021 by Penguin Books.
Add this copy of Exile Music to cart. $2.43, like new condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Atlanta rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Austell, GA, UNITED STATES, published 2021 by Penguin Books.
Add this copy of Exile Music to cart. $2.43, very good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Atlanta rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Austell, GA, UNITED STATES, published 2021 by Penguin Books.
Add this copy of Exile Music to cart. $2.43, good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Atlanta rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Austell, GA, UNITED STATES, published 2021 by Penguin Books.
Add this copy of Exile Music to cart. $2.44, very good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Reno rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Reno, NV, UNITED STATES, published 2021 by Penguin Books.
Add this copy of Exile Music to cart. $2.44, good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Reno rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Reno, NV, UNITED STATES, published 2021 by Penguin Books.
Orly's youth is deeply entwined with music, from the serene opera tales of her famous mother to the impassioned strains of her father's viola. Despite the mounting political unrest in Germany, she finds solace and adventure in the company of her best friend and upstairs neighbor, Annalise, as they create fantastical, eccentric worlds to escape the encroaching challenges of their reality. However, 1938 brings a devastating upheaval when Germany invades, severing Orly from her cherished friend. Fleeing with her parents, they find asylum in the distant mountains of Bolivia. There, Orly faces a dilemma: should she forge a new existence in this unfamiliar land or dare to return to Europe and reunite with Annalise?
Jennifer Steil's Exile Music: A Novel, set against the backdrop of Vienna during Hitler's rise, depicts the life of a young Jewish girl. Steil employs historical references effectively, providing readers with a chronological compass through Orly's journey, and delivering an emotional resonance for those familiar with the Jewish plight during WWII. The novel also weaves in musical motifs, particularly through the tragic operas relayed by Orly's mother. These references, alongside vivid depictions of the opera house and Orly's Viennese village, enrich the narrative with a vibrant cultural tapestry, inviting readers into the heart of the characters' world. The specialized nature of the musical and historical references offers a rewarding opportunity for readers. A deep understanding isn't essential, but those familiar with these elements will find that their knowledge significantly enriches the emotional depth of the story. The novel's appeal might vary among readers based on their historical and musical knowledge. The family's profound connection to music offers a universal touchstone of passion and resilience.
Jennifer Steil has crafted a descriptive and evocative tale that encapsulates the tragedies and perseverance of a Jewish family during WWII. Exile Music is both captivating and eloquent, inviting readers to immerse themselves in a poignant period of history through the eyes of a deeply relatable protagonist.
