Book Review: The Silver Music Box by Mina Baites

About:
The Silver Music Box by Mina Baites (translated by Alison Layland) is a historical fiction novel which takes place during World War II. Ms Baites lives in Germany and is the author of several books.

• 272 pages
• Publisher: AmazonCrossing
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1542048486

My rating for The Silver Music Box– 4
Buy The Silver Music Box from Amazon.com*
More Books by Mina Baites

Thoughts:
When I saw The Silver Music Box by Mina Baites I knew that this book would be right up my ally,  and I was not wrong. The author wrote a very compelling story taking place over decades in one of the darkest times in our recent history.

Ms. Baites created an interesting narrative, combining it with informative information and fascinating characters. The story is very interesting and engaging. Somehow, however, the author managed to completely skip over the holocaust and German atrocities. She describes life in the 1930s in Germany, how all the anti-Jewish laws had a devastating effect on persons and families, but then we move forward several decades.
It works, there is nothing wrong with the storytelling – I just found it strange.

I really enjoyed the first part of the book, it was well written and engaging. The characters were developed, interesting and likeable, the family’s journey was amazing and horrible as the reader could sense their hopeless depression and refusal to believe what their eyes see. The second part was good, just not as good and somewhat predictable.

One of the most disturbing aspects for novels like this, at least to me, is that I can imagine the behavior that people display at those evil times in Germany repeating themselves easily, almost with the snap of a finger. This is something, I believe, that we must always keep in mind, telling ourselves that us, or our friend, will never act like that is fooling ourselves.

Synopsis:
Johann Blumenthal, a Jewish silversmith, creates a magnificent music box for his little boy, Paul, before volunteering to go to the front during World War I. Paul keeps the music box as a treasure he will never let go of.

Decades later, Lilian Morrison of London, discovers the music box which opens up doorways to the past and sends her on an amazing journey.

Buy The Silver Music Box from Amazon.com*
More Books by Mina Baites

Zohar — Man of la Book
Dis­claimer: I got this book for free.
*Ama­zon links point to an affil­i­ate account