Book Review: The Butterfly and the Violin by Kristy Cambron

Blurb
Manhattan art dealer Sera James watched her world crumble at the alter two years ago, and her heart is still fragile. Her desire for distraction reignites a passion for a mysterious portrait she first saw as a young girl - a painting of a young violinist with piercing blue eyes. In her search for the painting, Sera crosses paths with William Hanover - the grandson of a wealthy California real estate mogul - who may be the key to uncovering the hidden masterpiece. Together Sera and William slowly unravel the story behind the painting's subject: Austrian violinist Adele Von Bron. A darling of the Austrian aristocracy of 1942, talented violinist, and daughter to a high-ranking member of the Third Reich, Adele risks everything when she begins smuggling Jews out of Vienna. In a heartbeat, her life of prosperity and privilege dissolves into a world of starvation and barbed wire. As Sera  the secrets behind the painting, she finds beauty in the most unlikely of places: the grim camps of Auschwitz and the inner recesses of her own troubled heart.

My Review

Sera James is an art dealer with a broken heart. In this beautiful story the reader is taken on the journey of Sera’s healing. It’s a journey not only to love, but to wholeness and renewed faith. This part of the story is told with tenderness and, while quite predictable in some ways, it also holds some real surprises. William Hanover in particular is a character I found surprisingly endearing. There's a great sense of mystery and intrigue in the search Sera and William undertake for a long lost painting. The story of Sera and William is set in modern times, in a modern city, and Kristy Cambron creates the setting and atmosphere for this couple’s relationship very realistically.

This setting is in stark contrast to the atmosphere of the story about Adele Von Bron, whose life portrays all the tragedy and agony of World War 11 and the concentration camps. The historical aspects of the novel are well researched and very sobering. Adele’s story is heart-wrenching. The horror of the concentration camps is incredibly evoked in Cambron’s writing. I felt the pain of the prisoners, the injustice, the cruelty. The pathos and depth of struggle to survive is very moving. But the greatest beauty of this novel is its ability to the evoke a sense of hope, faith and love, as Adele and other prison inmates are able to worship God with their arts, in the midst of the terror and fear.

The two stories are woven together beautifully. Moving between them creates a sense of anticipation that keeps the reader turning the pages. It also breaks up the darkness of Adele’s story and I found it a relief at times to go back to Sera’s search for the painting she longs to see again.

There were times in the early stages of the story when I found the spiritual aspects of both Sera’s and Adele’s journey a little forced, but as their characters were developed more deeply this became more authentic. The character of Omara, who becomes a mother figure to Adele, is truly inspiring. I found the passionate search for something that has been lost spiritually symbolic, as was the relentless faith of some of the characters despite the seeming hopelessness of their circumstances. 

This is much more than a search for a painting. It is also a search for love and for God. It is a story of second chances, survival and hope and I found it truly engaging and very impactful. It is not a story for the faint-hearted. The romance is satisfying but costly and there are some surprises along the way which are intriguing. Something for everyone.

Carol writes historical novels based on her family ancestry in Australia from the First Fleet. They include the Turning the Tide series; Mary’s Guardian, Charlotte’s Angel, Tangled Secrets and Truly Free. Her earlier novels Suzannah’s Gold and Rebecca’s Dream have been re-released by EBP. Her new novel, Next of Kin, is soon to be released by Rhiza Press. You can see more about Carol and her novels on her website  

www.carolpreston.com.au

www.amazon.com/author/carolpreston

www.facebook.com/writingtoreach

Mates Matter

Among the things I like to consider when writing historical fiction are the cultural idioms and colloquialisms of a particular era. One of the great ones for Australians has surely been ‘mateship’.  Although ‘mate’ is a term which has been used for centuries in working-class British english, it surely came into its own in Australian culture during the World War 1, and depicted the bonds that were forged between those who served together in battle. Jack Simpson Kirkpatrick, the stretcher bearer during the Gallipoli campaign, who used a donkey to carry wounded soldiers from the front lines, exemplifies the spirit of mateship. John Howard, as Prime Minister in 1999, used the term in a Draft Constitutional Preamble … We value excellence as well as fairness, independence as dearly as mateship.

'Mateship' denotes equality, loyalty and friendship.

I’m wondering if this is a word that may be losing some of its earlier meaning as Australian society  becomes more and more diverse, with many different cultural backgrounds. Perhaps there is less sense of common ground, or less that brings about the bonding which occurred between those in the trenches of war. Although I’m sure the value of friendship has not decreased, it may be changing in quality.

As I look back on my own writing, I’m aware that my stories have almost always included close relationships between friends, and highlighted the value of loyal, trusted, dependable mateship, even though I haven’t always used the term ‘mate’ in reference to these relationships. I find such friendships deeply moving to write about, and at least as inspiring as romantic relationships. I think love, in the context of friendship, can have beautiful, profoundly meaningful significance in a character’s life. I believe in the early days of Australian history, mateship was necessary for survival, as so many people were without family, or any familiar source of support. But no matter the situation or era, I believe through characterisation of such relationships we can portray many Godly qualities that we would want our readers to aspire to.

In thinking about this I have come to realise that a source of mateship for me recently has been amongst the community of Christian writers in Australia and further afield. While many family members and friends have encouraged me in my writing, very few have a real understanding of the process that begins with an idea and ends with a printed book. It is those who are on the same journey who can identify with the agony and the ecstasy, the sense of calling, the vulnerability, the pleasure of immersing oneself in an emerging story, the awesomeness of the birth of a publication.

Having self-published my first four books, I am extremely grateful now to be part of a writing community; people who not only understand my journey, but are willing to give advice and feedback, who can offer constructive criticism, who are willing to mutually promote, and who participate in a non-competitive network of writers who are as excited about the success of others as they are about their own. Of course this includes those who offer their professional services in editing, publishing, design and marketing. Even with those I have not met in person, but have connected with on-line, or at one of the writer’s conferences on one or two occasions, there is such a strong sense of ‘mateship’, and mutual good will.

I pray this will continue,  and see us all further our dreams.

Mates matter because they affirm who we are as individuals, and what we are about. They test our dreams and give us a safe place to express our ideas and grow, to be challenged without fear of consequences often present in family relationships. They give us the opportunity to reflect honestly on our understanding of what God is calling us to, and whether we are getting side-tracked or seduced by lesser motives.

I pray that our valuable network of writers will never be soured by success, competiveness, busyness or loss of interest. And I pray that any writers out there who do not feel part of this wonderful network will contact the groups on Facebook and blogs; Australiasian Christian Writers, Omega Writers, or any of our authors individually. You’ll receive a warm welcome, and valuable encouragement and support.

Mateship really does matter. Long may it be part of our Australian culture!  

Carol Preston   

www.carolpreston.com.au

www.amazon.com/author/carolpreston

www.facebook.com/writingtoreach