We’ve finished the fourth month of the Unlocking the Past 2022 Reading Challenge: Around the World. This month we traveled to Eastern Europe, and with me being on deadline, my partner Among the Reads shares her review of The Refrain Within by Liz Tolsma. Once you read the review, don’t forget to comment to be entered for your chance to win a copy.
*Want more interaction and/or suggestions each month? Join the Facebook Group. Want a bookmark with the monthly themes? Fill out this Google Form. Need a reminder on the details of the challenge? Go to the Unlocking the Past Reading Challenge page.*
The Refrain Within
by Liz Tolsma
Just between you and me, I can’t read many books dealing with the Holocaust. Or read them often. Reading about that terrible time in history tears me up inside!
A few years ago, I came across The Melody of the Soul by Liz Tolsma and was so intrigued by the synopsis, I decided to give it a chance. When the next book in the Music of Hope series came out, When the Heart Sings, I read that as well, this time with no hesitation. Though these stories stand alone, I still knew that I wanted to read The Refrain Within when it came out! I love that this series revolves around music during such a bleak time.
Patrick’s love for Éva and for music blends so beautifully! It is very touching the way she is his muse. The songs he composed that sprang from his affection, as well as his grief, were described so perfectly I felt that I could hear them!
I greatly admired Éva as she courageously sought her missing student, who was said to have been taken by the Nazis. She then did her small part to help ease the suffering there. Her struggle whether to trust Patrick was portrayed so well.
My heart ached as I read of the injury that was done to various characters. The author balanced telling the facts and not giving too many details well. Considering the cruelty that was inflicted on the Jews at this time, it was still painful to read – that is not the author’s fault.
Éva’s faith, understandably, was weak in the face of the destruction of lives and her beloved city. It was so precious to see her truly grasp the truth, first from her father and then from Patrick, that when God is our foundation, we cannot be shaken.
If you enjoy historical fiction with a strong Christian foundation, I recommend The Refrain Within.
PURCHASE LINKS
Amazon Barnes & Noble Books-a-Million Book Depository Bookshop.org Christianbook.com Indiebound.org
Giveaway
For your chance to win a print copy, comment with what book YOU read for this month and you will also be entered into the year-end Grand Prize Reader Basket. Use the Rafflecopter below for extra entries and to mark that you left a comment. Entries end on May 7th at midnight EST, and the winner will be drawn sometime that week and notified by email. The winner will be announced don’t the Rafflecopter widget. *Open to all residents of the contiguous USA, legally able to enter, and an e-book format or Amazon Gift Card will be awarded to those outside that range who are legally able to enter.
I read Cathy Gohlke’s book The Medallion for the April challenge. For May I will be reading Tricia Goyer’s book Remembering You.
I’ve heard good things about The Medallion. Let me know what you think of Tricia Goyer’s books!
I read Bread Upon the Waters by Anne de Graaf. I’m planning on reading The Lost Castle by Kristy Cambron for next month’s challenge.
Wow, The Lost Castle sounds really good. It’s going on my TBR list
I’ve heard great things about The Lost Castle! I’m not familiar with the other.
I read Echoes from Auschwitz, by Eva Mozes Korr.
Anything Holocaust can be a difficult read. How was it?
I read Written on the Wind by Elizabeth Camden and also Like a River from Its Course by Kelli Stuart.
AHHHH!!! I cannot wait to read Written on the Wind. Love her books. I’ve not heard of that Kelli Stuart book. She’s a newer author to me.
I read Progeny by Tosca Lee. I struggled with this one- I really wanted to like it but it felt kind of blah to me. There was a lot of action, interesting characters and a puzzling plot for the plus column. On the negative, I was uncomfortable with some of the scenes and plot points. I struggled to find the Christian is this Christian fiction book because other than some monks and acknowledgment that there is a God, there was none.
I’m not sure how to answer that one, Alisa. She’s previously been a Christian Fiction author, but I know that she tends to skirt farther from it as of late, under the label of gritty. I’m not sure. I’ve not read her other stuff, but I’ve decided not to based on what I’ve heard other people say. I don’t know if she’s slipping into the secular market for wider appeal and to reach more people. If you pick up one of her books in the future, maybe skim through it first if you have the ability, or put the question out there to Avid Readers or other trusted readers.
For April I read the griping story based in truth, Mischling by Affinity Konar. A tale from the Holocaust, it was not bedtime reading. However, it was a horrible reminder of what happened.
It’s always good to be reminded of those horrible truths though. Forgetting means reptition.
I read Then Sings My Soul by Amy K. Sorrells.
For May, I will be continuing the Shadows Over England series by Roseanna M. White that I started earlier this year. I will be reading A Song Unheard.
That series is on my shelf as well. I’ve hear of Amy Sorrells books, and it was on my list for April but I didn’t have time to read anything in April. 🙁 Did you enjoy it?
I read The Medallion by Cathy Gohlke. For May, I’m planning on reading Melanie Dobson’s Chateau of Secrets. It’s been on my TBR list for a while!
I’ve heard such great things about The Medallion, but I haven’t heard of Chateau of Secrets. I’ll have to look that one up.
I read The Ice Swan by J’Nell Ciesielski
That one looks so good! I have your entries added!
I read two dealing with Russia
The Master Craftsman by Kelli Stuart and Written on the Wind by Elizabeth Camden
For May maybe Moonlight’s Budding Morrow by Carolyn Miller
I’ve heard great things about those books, and they are on my TBR. I’m reading the first one in Carolyn’s series for May. 🙂 I just bought it at FRS. I’ve got your entries added.
For April I read a (Dear America series) The Royal Diaries: Elisabeth The Princess Bride by Barry Denenberg. It caught my eye because it takes place in 1850s Bavaria and Austria, and that’s near where some of my ancestors should have been during that time frame.
I liked the peek at how life back then varied, even among the upper class. Without this book, I’d likely have never heard of these people. I appreciate the factual epilogue discussing that (contrary to some movies) marrying a royal bachelor didn’t mean a fairytale ending. It wasn’t as enjoyable as some other entries in the series, largely because of the inter-related marriage.
For April’s theme, I also started reading “Zlata’s Diary” (it seemed a fitting way to get a better sense of what people in Ukraine have been going through this year) but I haven’t finished it yet. I do like how she finds hope and joy in the small moments of peace and silver linings, including summer school music lessons.
For June, I hope to find time for Charles Dicken’s “A Tale of Two Cities”. It’s at the top of my TBR pile. A pile this blog is definitely adding to with your intriguing book suggestions 😉 !
Oops, for May- not June.
You have some amazing book choices! They are ones I hadn’t heard of (minus Charles Dickens 😉 ) I’ve got your entries added.