Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Plume (2011), Edition: Original, Paperback, 368 pages
Description
"It's the spring of 1938 and no longer safe to be a Jew in Vienna. Nineteen-year-old Elise Landau realizes her only means of escape is to advertise her services as a domestic servant in England. Fate brings her ad to the attention of Christopher Rivers, handsome scion of the aristocratic Rivers family and master of Tyneford. An anxious Elise arrives at Tyneford and immediately falls under its spell. When Christopher's young son, Kit, returns home, the two strike up an unlikely friendship that will change Tyneford--and Elise--forever"--
User reviews
LibraryThing member BeyondEdenRock
I loved The Novel in the Viola.
It is one of those books in which everything – characters, emotions, settings, writing, period, storylines – is right. And everything works together beautifully to produce a book that is far more than the sum of those parts.
At heart though, The Novel in the Viola
But the year is 1938. The Landaus live in Austria, in Vienna. And they are Jewish.
Anna and Julian realise that their family is at risk and take steps to flee. Margot and her husband secure American visas and they hope that they will be able to do the same. But they know that they will not be able to secure a visa for Elise, and so she writes an advertisement:
VIENNESE JEWESS, 19, seeks position as domestic servant. Speaks fluid English. I will cook your goose. Elise Landau, Vienna 4, Dorotheegassee, 30/5.
A position is secured and Elise is despatched to London. A temporary arrangement, to keep her safe until things change, until the family can be reunited.
Elise, her family, her world were alive for me, and I felt her sorrow as she was separated from them. I admired her character as she coped with the journey, the things she had to do in London. I empathised with her as she worried about making her money last, as she devoured the chocolate her sister tucked into her luggage, as she struggled to cope with the separation from her family and her home.
Or, to put it simply, I grew to love Elise.
She becomes a parlour maid at Tyneford House on the Dorset coast. During her life there she will experience both love and loss. She will make friends, and grow to love the house and the surrounding countryside. But she will also suffer slights and setbacks as she tries to find her place in the world, and reunite her family.
The slights come because Elise doesn’t quite fit. She plays the part of a parlour maid but she comes from the world of the family. The butler observes that, after Elise, Tyneford would never be the same again and he is right, for more reasons than he knows.
It would love to write about so many wonderful details, characters and events, but I mustn’t. This is a book that needs to unravel slowly, so that you can watch over Elise as her life progresses.
The settings, from Vienna to London to Dorset, are wonderfully painted, and the sense of period and the point in history too are never lost. The characters, and their relationships, are fully and beautifully drawn. I believed in them utterly.
That meant that I was completely involved as Tyneford House and its occupants faced both war, and the end of an era. Things would never be the same again.
I knew that. I had the benefit of hindsight, and that made the story so much more moving.
It was such a wonderful story, so beautifully written, and with such a range of emotions. I think I felt every emotion that a book can inspire before I reached the end.
That end came quickly. Maybe a little too quickly, though it might have been that I just didn’t want to leave Elise and her world. It was unexpected and yet completely right, and it was given extra poignancy by the very real events that it mirrored.
A few small things didn’t quite work.Maybe a few too many nice, understanding characters. One or two modern idioms slipped in. And the story of the actual novel in the actual viola didn’t quite work for me.
But they were small things, and I could happily let them pass by, because the many delights of this novel made them seem unimportant.
And because The Novel in the Viola really is a book that can touch your heart, if you only let it.
And, as I said, I loved it.
It is one of those books in which everything – characters, emotions, settings, writing, period, storylines – is right. And everything works together beautifully to produce a book that is far more than the sum of those parts.
At heart though, The Novel in the Viola
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is the story of a life. The life of Elise, younger daughter of Anna and Julian Landau. Opera singer and novelist respectively. Elise worries that she is not as talented as her sister, Margot, but that casts just a very small shadow on a wonderful life. Because Elise is loved, and because she loves her family, she is happy and she is secure.But the year is 1938. The Landaus live in Austria, in Vienna. And they are Jewish.
Anna and Julian realise that their family is at risk and take steps to flee. Margot and her husband secure American visas and they hope that they will be able to do the same. But they know that they will not be able to secure a visa for Elise, and so she writes an advertisement:
VIENNESE JEWESS, 19, seeks position as domestic servant. Speaks fluid English. I will cook your goose. Elise Landau, Vienna 4, Dorotheegassee, 30/5.
A position is secured and Elise is despatched to London. A temporary arrangement, to keep her safe until things change, until the family can be reunited.
Elise, her family, her world were alive for me, and I felt her sorrow as she was separated from them. I admired her character as she coped with the journey, the things she had to do in London. I empathised with her as she worried about making her money last, as she devoured the chocolate her sister tucked into her luggage, as she struggled to cope with the separation from her family and her home.
Or, to put it simply, I grew to love Elise.
She becomes a parlour maid at Tyneford House on the Dorset coast. During her life there she will experience both love and loss. She will make friends, and grow to love the house and the surrounding countryside. But she will also suffer slights and setbacks as she tries to find her place in the world, and reunite her family.
The slights come because Elise doesn’t quite fit. She plays the part of a parlour maid but she comes from the world of the family. The butler observes that, after Elise, Tyneford would never be the same again and he is right, for more reasons than he knows.
It would love to write about so many wonderful details, characters and events, but I mustn’t. This is a book that needs to unravel slowly, so that you can watch over Elise as her life progresses.
The settings, from Vienna to London to Dorset, are wonderfully painted, and the sense of period and the point in history too are never lost. The characters, and their relationships, are fully and beautifully drawn. I believed in them utterly.
That meant that I was completely involved as Tyneford House and its occupants faced both war, and the end of an era. Things would never be the same again.
I knew that. I had the benefit of hindsight, and that made the story so much more moving.
It was such a wonderful story, so beautifully written, and with such a range of emotions. I think I felt every emotion that a book can inspire before I reached the end.
That end came quickly. Maybe a little too quickly, though it might have been that I just didn’t want to leave Elise and her world. It was unexpected and yet completely right, and it was given extra poignancy by the very real events that it mirrored.
A few small things didn’t quite work.Maybe a few too many nice, understanding characters. One or two modern idioms slipped in. And the story of the actual novel in the actual viola didn’t quite work for me.
But they were small things, and I could happily let them pass by, because the many delights of this novel made them seem unimportant.
And because The Novel in the Viola really is a book that can touch your heart, if you only let it.
And, as I said, I loved it.
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LibraryThing member laytonwoman3rd
I had my doubts about this one, a couple times. My daughter read and enjoyed it, and recommended it to my mother, who also liked it. But I was a little spooked by the enthusiastic blurbing of two authors whose own work I have tried and Pearl-ruled in the past. Still, I liked the premise, and there
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were those recommendations from readers I trust, so I plunged in. I enjoyed it quite a lot at first, then had a few chapters of uncertainty when credibility was strained a bit, and then found myself utterly unable to turn out the light and put it down night after night. The setting is irresistible: an English manor house on the cusp of the dissolution of everything that makes the "upstairs/downstairs" world tick. With the western world shivering in dread of war, 19-year-old Elise Landau is obliged to leave her comfortable Viennese bourgeois life to take a position in service in an English aristocratic household, because no Jew is safe in Austria anymore. She obtains a domestic service visa; her married sister travels to the U.S., where her husband has been offered a position at Berkeley. Elise's parents, an opera singer and a novelist, wait for the bureaucracy to issue them visas so they, too, can escape the Nazi regime before they simply disappear as so many already have. Elise manages to take with her a few bits of her mother's jewelry, and a viola stuffed with her father's latest manuscript, which no one in Austria will publish. At Tyneford, Elise finds it very difficult to take on the attitude expected of a servant; she isn't especially good at the work required of her; and her anxiety for her family is constant. Eventually, she makes two friends, a spunky red-haired girl from the village, and Kit, the son and heir of Tyneford. There are predictable developments, and surprising ones as well. A lot of research obviously went into this book, but the author knew how to turn that research into narrative detail that never hit the reader like a history lesson. A good old-fashioned Story with few pretensions. I'd have given it another fraction for 3 3/4 stars, if that option were available. Show Less
LibraryThing member arielfl
I decided to start this book after reading in Entertainment Weekly that it was perfect for fans of Downton Abbey. I don't know if it was as good as all that but it did prove to be a diverting if not compulsive read. In this novel the lead character, Elise, a Jew living in Vienna prior to the start
I enjoyed the story presented in the novel but I never really believed the relationship between Kit and Elise. It was not clear to me why they were so drawn to each other. The second love story seemed to make more sense because there was a common bond of tragedy and emotional pain between the two characters.
This novel did not have the depth of the story lines as those presented in Downton Abbey. I could however picture Carson of Downton Abbey in the role of Tyneford's butler Mr. Wrexham. I enjoyed reading the author's notes at the end of this novel pertaining to her inspiration for writing it. I was surprised to learn that the British military evicted an entire town of it's residents in order to requisite for military purposes. This novel portrays another side of the suffering people endured and their strength of character during WWII. Fans of WWII fiction should enjoy The House at Tyneford.
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of WWII takes a job as a parlor maid for the Rivers family in England in order to escape the growing danger facing people of her religion. This is quite a step down for Elise who goes from upper crust to downstairs overnight. Elise is quite homesick and longs for her family and the life she once had but her sorrowful thoughts soon turn towards the young, handsome master of the house, Kit. The two strike up an unlikely relationship much to the dismay of the surrounding community. A tragedy befalls the Tyneford estate and Elise is left to see if she can pick up the pieces. I enjoyed the story presented in the novel but I never really believed the relationship between Kit and Elise. It was not clear to me why they were so drawn to each other. The second love story seemed to make more sense because there was a common bond of tragedy and emotional pain between the two characters.
This novel did not have the depth of the story lines as those presented in Downton Abbey. I could however picture Carson of Downton Abbey in the role of Tyneford's butler Mr. Wrexham. I enjoyed reading the author's notes at the end of this novel pertaining to her inspiration for writing it. I was surprised to learn that the British military evicted an entire town of it's residents in order to requisite for military purposes. This novel portrays another side of the suffering people endured and their strength of character during WWII. Fans of WWII fiction should enjoy The House at Tyneford.
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LibraryThing member Bookoholic73
Ultimately, I think this is a book about discovery. Elise, slightly spoiled daughter of two intellectual Austrian Jews, arrives in England to serve as a housemaid at the brink of the war. She discovers Tyneford, a stately home, which becomes her home, but she also discovers England, English life
I love the tone and the way the author conveys the sentiment of the time: " Wars might be declared, kitchen boys vanish to the navy, blackout curtains smother the French windows, and previously reliable footman leave without notice, but lunch would be served at five minutes past one and the butler would wear white cotton gloves". I also love the idea of the novel in the viola. All in all, this is a spirited and well written story which allows you to feel the atmosphere, smell the sea and be drawn into the life of Elise.
Hurry up and read it, I am sure it will be picked up by Hollywood and then God knows what they will make of it, (although I could see Colin Firth as mr. Rivers:))
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style, love and also herself. She finds that she can meet many challenges and the there is more to her than she thought. I love the tone and the way the author conveys the sentiment of the time: " Wars might be declared, kitchen boys vanish to the navy, blackout curtains smother the French windows, and previously reliable footman leave without notice, but lunch would be served at five minutes past one and the butler would wear white cotton gloves". I also love the idea of the novel in the viola. All in all, this is a spirited and well written story which allows you to feel the atmosphere, smell the sea and be drawn into the life of Elise.
Hurry up and read it, I am sure it will be picked up by Hollywood and then God knows what they will make of it, (although I could see Colin Firth as mr. Rivers:))
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LibraryThing member thewanderingjew
Written with the feel of the Victorian novel, this book is much more. The tone is sometimes light, sometimes romantic and sometimes tragic, but it is never overbearing. This book is about the memories of a house and the lives of the people who dwelled within it, during a time of terrible turmoil.
It begins in Austria, during the early years of Hitler’s onslaught. The dangers facing the Jews are just beginning. Their plight and possible escape routes are explored and painted realistically so that the menacing situation is truly experienced. The Jewish question is dealt with as a theme, and it, along with the coming war, moves the story along.
The time is 1938 and Vienna is no longer a safe haven for Jews. Although they formerly thought of themselves as Viennese Jews, they soon discovered that they were simply Jews to the third Reich and nothing more. Humiliations and deprivations were heaped upon them, and those that could began to leave and go to other countries. Elise Landau's parents were waiting for their visa to America, her sister Margo had married and was leaving for California, but she, unable to secure a visa, was to become a servant in a manor home in England.
Afraid and alone, unsure of her next move, she departs by train for her new life. Instead of being served and waited upon, as she was used to, she would now be the servant in Tyneford House for the Rivers family, simply because she was a Jew, unable to remain safely in her own country. She was hoping that her parents would soon be able to secure a visa for her and bring her to America too, but for now, she was to work there for a year. She was 19 and ill prepared for the future that faced her. However, she was accepted into the Rivers household, and although life was hard, it was a bit better than she expected it to be. Mr. Rivers, the master of Tyneford treated her kindly, and she soon met his very charming, eligible bachelor son, Kit. They were from different worlds, of different religions and different stations in life, but still, an easy relationship developed. There were some times, when Elise’s behavior, and the way she interacted with the other characters, left the reader wondering if it was plausible. Overall, though, the story depicted the history of events, fairly accurately.
The class divisions, between the gentry and the servants, was very clearly defined. The upper classes were waited upon and the lower classes served. However, they looked upon their profession with respect and everyone had a place and knew and respected it. Elise must now learn hers.
The book really illuminated the deprivation caused by war, the degradation of the normal rhythm of life, until finally, false hopes mixed with the realization that there was no escape from the reality of the war with its hardships amd suffering. The false hopes that lingered were just that, false hopes; the war would not end quickly, lives would be lost. As one group complained of its suffering, another suffered far worse. Only at the end would the true measure of the destruction be calculated.
All of the characters were well drawn, from the highly professional Mrs. Ellsworth and proper Mr. Wrexham to the friendly and sweet Poppy and petty and haughty Diana, from Elise and her talented family, sister Margo, and parents Julian and Anna, to carefree, rambunctious Kit and his highly respected and gentlemanly father, Christopher Rivers, the squire of Tyneford; they all came alive with the authors apt descriptions.
I loved the book. It was historic fiction, a war story and a romance novel. Every sentence was crafted carefully to provide a beautiful visual image. I walked on the sandy beach at Tyneford with Elise, I felt her trepidation on the train to England, I felt her fear for her parents’ safety as she waited in her attic room for letters, and I felt her happiness as she fell in love. I listened to the book in an audio version and found the reader to be so expressive and able to change her voice to match each character so well, that I was never confused and I felt all of their emotions, their joy, their sadness, their pain.
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All of them are well defined and interesting characters who come to life on the page. It begins in Austria, during the early years of Hitler’s onslaught. The dangers facing the Jews are just beginning. Their plight and possible escape routes are explored and painted realistically so that the menacing situation is truly experienced. The Jewish question is dealt with as a theme, and it, along with the coming war, moves the story along.
The time is 1938 and Vienna is no longer a safe haven for Jews. Although they formerly thought of themselves as Viennese Jews, they soon discovered that they were simply Jews to the third Reich and nothing more. Humiliations and deprivations were heaped upon them, and those that could began to leave and go to other countries. Elise Landau's parents were waiting for their visa to America, her sister Margo had married and was leaving for California, but she, unable to secure a visa, was to become a servant in a manor home in England.
Afraid and alone, unsure of her next move, she departs by train for her new life. Instead of being served and waited upon, as she was used to, she would now be the servant in Tyneford House for the Rivers family, simply because she was a Jew, unable to remain safely in her own country. She was hoping that her parents would soon be able to secure a visa for her and bring her to America too, but for now, she was to work there for a year. She was 19 and ill prepared for the future that faced her. However, she was accepted into the Rivers household, and although life was hard, it was a bit better than she expected it to be. Mr. Rivers, the master of Tyneford treated her kindly, and she soon met his very charming, eligible bachelor son, Kit. They were from different worlds, of different religions and different stations in life, but still, an easy relationship developed. There were some times, when Elise’s behavior, and the way she interacted with the other characters, left the reader wondering if it was plausible. Overall, though, the story depicted the history of events, fairly accurately.
The class divisions, between the gentry and the servants, was very clearly defined. The upper classes were waited upon and the lower classes served. However, they looked upon their profession with respect and everyone had a place and knew and respected it. Elise must now learn hers.
The book really illuminated the deprivation caused by war, the degradation of the normal rhythm of life, until finally, false hopes mixed with the realization that there was no escape from the reality of the war with its hardships amd suffering. The false hopes that lingered were just that, false hopes; the war would not end quickly, lives would be lost. As one group complained of its suffering, another suffered far worse. Only at the end would the true measure of the destruction be calculated.
All of the characters were well drawn, from the highly professional Mrs. Ellsworth and proper Mr. Wrexham to the friendly and sweet Poppy and petty and haughty Diana, from Elise and her talented family, sister Margo, and parents Julian and Anna, to carefree, rambunctious Kit and his highly respected and gentlemanly father, Christopher Rivers, the squire of Tyneford; they all came alive with the authors apt descriptions.
I loved the book. It was historic fiction, a war story and a romance novel. Every sentence was crafted carefully to provide a beautiful visual image. I walked on the sandy beach at Tyneford with Elise, I felt her trepidation on the train to England, I felt her fear for her parents’ safety as she waited in her attic room for letters, and I felt her happiness as she fell in love. I listened to the book in an audio version and found the reader to be so expressive and able to change her voice to match each character so well, that I was never confused and I felt all of their emotions, their joy, their sadness, their pain.
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LibraryThing member lycomayflower
The story of Elise Landau, a young Jewish woman who escapes Nazi-occupied Austria by securing a job as a parlor maid at the manor house in the English village of Tyneford. This was a near-perfect read. I loved Elise as both a character and a narrator. The descriptions of life in both Vienna and at
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the manor house strike a lovely balance between realistic and elegiac. There's a romance, and it holds precisely as much sway over the narrative as it should. The setting (both place and time) is beautifully rendered. A touch predictable in spots, but in a way which suggests one has really gotten to know the characters rather than that the plot lacks something in originality. A good, satisfying story, very well told. Recommended. Show Less
LibraryThing member lahochstetler
Elise Landau, a young Viennese woman, is the daughter of a wealthy Jewish novelist. When Nazi persecution in Vienna increases, Elise escapes to England, to work as a servant at rural Tyneford House. The transition from wealth to servitude is decidedly difficult. Elise is terribly homesick, and she
War looms on the horizon. The Second World War will completely transform life at Tyneford House and all of its residents.
This is a book about transformation and loss. Elise Landau becomes an English woman, and part of the strict hierarchy of a country house. In the process she loses loved ones. World War II will take a great deal away from everyone in Tyneford. It takes people, and it also takes customs. The war marks the end of numerous customs that have defined the lives of Tyneford's servants. This book offers a haunting look at the effects of war on rural England.
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doesn't understand the conventions of an English country house. Life becomes more complicated as she develops a relationship with the heir to Tyneford House, Kit Rivers.War looms on the horizon. The Second World War will completely transform life at Tyneford House and all of its residents.
This is a book about transformation and loss. Elise Landau becomes an English woman, and part of the strict hierarchy of a country house. In the process she loses loved ones. World War II will take a great deal away from everyone in Tyneford. It takes people, and it also takes customs. The war marks the end of numerous customs that have defined the lives of Tyneford's servants. This book offers a haunting look at the effects of war on rural England.
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LibraryThing member themiraclesnook
This book was written by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan. This was a cute young adult book. It takes place during the holiday of Christmas. Dash finds a red mole skin diary at his favorite books store it is a book of dares. He quickly decodes the dares and writes one of his own. This is what the
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book is about their dares. Lily is a sweet girl that plays soccer. She is trying to become herself and quickly finds she did not know who she was but enjoys finding out just what she wants to be. She enjoys the book of dares but finds Dash to be Snarky and he is. I enjoyed this book. It is a book that only had 260 pages so you can easily read this one in a day. This is a great book to curl up with on a winter’s day maybe even with some warm tea. I give this book stars. I got this book at the library so you might want to look for it at yours. Show Less
LibraryThing member Carolee888
Evocative, engrossing, enchanting, sorrowful, intense, emotional, this book is all of those words.
'The House at Tyneford is wonderful historical fiction. You will find yourself in pre-World War Vienna in the home of author Julian Landau and Anna Landau, opera singer. Their daughters, Margot and
One of the daughters, Elise is different from the rest of the family; she has no musical or writing talent so her parents had her apply for a job as a domestic servant. Her English is not the best yet. Her ad reads"
"VIENNESE JEWESS, 19, seeks position as domestic servant. Speaks fluid English. I will cook your goose. Elise Landau. Vienna 4,Dorotheegasse, 30/5."
She is hired and we go with her as she relates her story in first person. We learn what the living conditions of the staff in English mansions are like. We feel the war nearing England. We fall in love with the sea and the area in Dorset.
This is also a romantic story that reminds me of 'Jane Eyre' so much. This romance is not limited to the people who are in love but also to the landscape of the area and House at Tyneford. The characters are richly drawn and the author bases some of the characters on those in her own family.
This romance is further complicated by social class differences and backgrounds. There is the clash of the working class and the priviledged and also the situation of not belonging in either one.
I fell in love with the area so much that I must see it myself. I have e-mailed my friends in Dorset already.
Although I received this book as a part of the Amazon Vine program that did not influence my review at all.
This is wonderfully written story that you will not forget. It is so sorrowful at times that you will probably cry or sob and so beautiful at times that you will want to hug the book. There is even humor in the times.
I recommend this book to all of my friends. You will not forget this one.
Although I received this book as a part of the Amazon Vine program that did not influence my review at all.
'The House at Tyneford is wonderful historical fiction. You will find yourself in pre-World War Vienna in the home of author Julian Landau and Anna Landau, opera singer. Their daughters, Margot and
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Elise are enjoying a wealthy and sheltered life, surrounded by creative parents, friends and family. Even though their father is an atheist and they have a Jewish ancestry and background. The world is changing. People are starting to disappear from their homes at night. The parents hold one last lavish party; the party goers will wear their sparkling jewels and fashionable dresses for one last time. Everyone knows what is coming. The details of the scenery, clothes, and houses in this book make you feel that you are indeed living in Vienna and later at Tyneford.One of the daughters, Elise is different from the rest of the family; she has no musical or writing talent so her parents had her apply for a job as a domestic servant. Her English is not the best yet. Her ad reads"
"VIENNESE JEWESS, 19, seeks position as domestic servant. Speaks fluid English. I will cook your goose. Elise Landau. Vienna 4,Dorotheegasse, 30/5."
She is hired and we go with her as she relates her story in first person. We learn what the living conditions of the staff in English mansions are like. We feel the war nearing England. We fall in love with the sea and the area in Dorset.
This is also a romantic story that reminds me of 'Jane Eyre' so much. This romance is not limited to the people who are in love but also to the landscape of the area and House at Tyneford. The characters are richly drawn and the author bases some of the characters on those in her own family.
This romance is further complicated by social class differences and backgrounds. There is the clash of the working class and the priviledged and also the situation of not belonging in either one.
I fell in love with the area so much that I must see it myself. I have e-mailed my friends in Dorset already.
Although I received this book as a part of the Amazon Vine program that did not influence my review at all.
This is wonderfully written story that you will not forget. It is so sorrowful at times that you will probably cry or sob and so beautiful at times that you will want to hug the book. There is even humor in the times.
I recommend this book to all of my friends. You will not forget this one.
Although I received this book as a part of the Amazon Vine program that did not influence my review at all.
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LibraryThing member flydodofly
I have thoroughly enjoyed this wonderfully written book with all its romantic elements and historical details, and all the other aspects too, of course. The life of Elise/Alice is in the middle of it all and she grows in the book, starting as a rather spoiled child of nineteen. It is an emotional
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journey full of ups and downs and full of - life. Do read it... Show Less
LibraryThing member bachaney
The House at Tyneford tells the story of Elise Landau, a young Jewish woman who grew up in Vienna in the years between the two wars. As the daughter of two succesfull artists, Elise lived a life of luxury in Vienna. But as World War II and the Nazis approach, her family sends her to England to work
I picked up the House at Tyneford because it was sold as a novel for people that love Downton Abbey. And although there is a war and a manor house, that's where the similarities with Downton end. A sense of melancholy pervades this novel, and overall I found it to be a pretty sorrowfull affair. Elise, our heroine, deals with a lot of loss throughout the entire novel. I have to commend the author for taking this approach, because considering the time, the circumstances, and the location, this depiction feels accurate. The novel is beautifully written and you can really visualize the English sea coast and the depths of the characters sorrow. But this a heavier novel to read, so if you are looking for something light, this probably isn't for you.
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as a maid in the remote manor house at Tyneford. Alone in a strange land, Elise must adapt to a new life and a totally new environment. She soon befriends the master of the house, Mr. Rivers, and his heir, Kit, but will the war that threw them together ultimately pull them apart?I picked up the House at Tyneford because it was sold as a novel for people that love Downton Abbey. And although there is a war and a manor house, that's where the similarities with Downton end. A sense of melancholy pervades this novel, and overall I found it to be a pretty sorrowfull affair. Elise, our heroine, deals with a lot of loss throughout the entire novel. I have to commend the author for taking this approach, because considering the time, the circumstances, and the location, this depiction feels accurate. The novel is beautifully written and you can really visualize the English sea coast and the depths of the characters sorrow. But this a heavier novel to read, so if you are looking for something light, this probably isn't for you.
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LibraryThing member pdebolt
After reading some reviews comparing this book to the fascinating Downton Abbey series, I expected to find it enthralling. It is the story of a Jewish Austrian girl who is sent to an English manor home to work as a maid at the outbreak of WWII. During the course of this employment, she develops a
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romantic relationship with the son and heir of Tyneford House and they eventually become engaged. I found this implausible, but most disappointing was that this was the focus rather than the events of WWII and the development of the "downstairs" characters, the butler and housekeeper. It is a book that is easily read, but lacks a depth and an exploration of "upstairs/downstairs" life during a turbulent period of English history that I had anticipated. Show Less
LibraryThing member momgee
I. Loved. This. Book. Loved it! ♥ The descriptions of the house and the surrounding area made me long to be there, wartime or not. The sounds of the booming sea with the waves crashing on the shore along with a large stone manor house almost had a gothic feel to it. I was hooked immediately and
Elise's memories are almost haunting in their poignancy. It's like an old friend telling you her life story as she remembered it with all her feelings still vividly at the forefront even after many years. This is not just Elise's story or a war story but also an intricate look at British life prior to and during WWII. I really enjoyed the "upstairs, downstairs" relationships. But, then, sometimes the line between masters and servants becomes blurred.
"I'm sorry, Elise. Really I am. Sometimes I forget. That . . . . you know... you're not one of us."
"A few months before in Vienna, I had been one of them. Now I wasn't sure what I was. The other servants barely spoke to me. They knew I wasn't one of them either. I belonged nowhere."
Solomons really brought all the characters to life; so much so that one character made me want to slap the supercilious, smug smirk from her face at the way she treated Elise. Others made my heart ache with their pain. Throughout the book, I was totally engaged emotionally.
The House at Tyneford is an absolutely magical story of love, wartime, loss and family memories as seen through the eyes of Elise. Written in beautifully descriptive, almost lyrical prose, this is one book that is hard to put down. With a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes, I turned the last page. This is only the 2nd 5 * book of the year! Do not miss this one!!
Be sure to read the authors note at end; it's fascinating that the setting for the book is based on a true village that was taken over by the government during the war.
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settled in to be mesmerized by Elise's story from her privileged life in Vienna, "where even the wind waltzes" to a servant's life in England.Elise's memories are almost haunting in their poignancy. It's like an old friend telling you her life story as she remembered it with all her feelings still vividly at the forefront even after many years. This is not just Elise's story or a war story but also an intricate look at British life prior to and during WWII. I really enjoyed the "upstairs, downstairs" relationships. But, then, sometimes the line between masters and servants becomes blurred.
"I'm sorry, Elise. Really I am. Sometimes I forget. That . . . . you know... you're not one of us."
"A few months before in Vienna, I had been one of them. Now I wasn't sure what I was. The other servants barely spoke to me. They knew I wasn't one of them either. I belonged nowhere."
Solomons really brought all the characters to life; so much so that one character made me want to slap the supercilious, smug smirk from her face at the way she treated Elise. Others made my heart ache with their pain. Throughout the book, I was totally engaged emotionally.
The House at Tyneford is an absolutely magical story of love, wartime, loss and family memories as seen through the eyes of Elise. Written in beautifully descriptive, almost lyrical prose, this is one book that is hard to put down. With a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes, I turned the last page. This is only the 2nd 5 * book of the year! Do not miss this one!!
Be sure to read the authors note at end; it's fascinating that the setting for the book is based on a true village that was taken over by the government during the war.
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LibraryThing member Bduke
A book that is billed for fans of Downton Abbey and The Forgotten Garden, and that is supposed to be like Rebecca should definitely appeal to me. I was very excited to read it. But I really didn't like it. I never warmed to the characters, the story wasn't gripping, and the descriptions were
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boring. I finished it because I kept hoping it would redeem itself, but it never did. I'm very glad I borrowed it from the library instead of buying it. Now I need to pull out my own copies of Rebecca and The Forgotten Garden and re-read those. Show Less
LibraryThing member GrannyNanny
Ordinarily I do not like reading literary works but my daughter is an English teacher and loves lit so she has recommended a few that I might like. This one was a winner! Loved it! The characters were believable and the story was heartwarming as well as heartbreaking. Couldn't wait to find out how
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it ended. Show Less
LibraryThing member ASmithey
While the plot line held my interest, I felt like the author of this book was more interested in trying to prove that she can write well. I found myself skimming once I got about halfway through the book because the descriptions of various places and things became monotonous and I felt myself
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searching for the story. Sometimes less is more when one is trying to convey a feeling. I did, however, enjoy the process of Elise leaving home and heading to Tyneford. I think I would enjoy a nonfiction book about this subject matter more, or maybe just one that was written a little better. But I'm glad I read it since it has turned me on to a possible new genre of non fiction! Show Less
LibraryThing member ASmithey
While the plot line held my interest, I felt like the author of this book was more interested in trying to prove that she can write well. I found myself skimming once I got about halfway through the book because the descriptions of various places and things became monotonous and I felt myself
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searching for the story. Sometimes less is more when one is trying to convey a feeling. I did, however, enjoy the process of Elise leaving home and heading to Tyneford. I think I would enjoy a nonfiction book about this subject matter more, or maybe just one that was written a little better. But I'm glad I read it since it has turned me on to a possible new genre of non fiction! Show Less
LibraryThing member NancyNo5
I thought this was an extremely well written novel. The author uses such wonderful and descriptive prose that you are easily transported to another world through her words.
Many reviewers bemoaned the comparison of this novel to Downton Abbey or Upstairs/Downstairs but since I have yet to see either
The story of Elise is poignant. Ms. Solomon deftly conveys the emotional roller coaster of Elise's life as she leaves Austria to be safe. One can only imagine the fear and trepidation Elise experiences in a foreign world with a limited vocabulary.
Characters are developed nicely and are well liked. The prose is enhanced by Ms. Solomon's use of music, particular opera, as a recurrent theme.
An enjoyable novel.
Many reviewers bemoaned the comparison of this novel to Downton Abbey or Upstairs/Downstairs but since I have yet to see either
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one, I write my review based on the story itself.The story of Elise is poignant. Ms. Solomon deftly conveys the emotional roller coaster of Elise's life as she leaves Austria to be safe. One can only imagine the fear and trepidation Elise experiences in a foreign world with a limited vocabulary.
Characters are developed nicely and are well liked. The prose is enhanced by Ms. Solomon's use of music, particular opera, as a recurrent theme.
An enjoyable novel.
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LibraryThing member Lajordan
Fans of PBS's Downton Abbey will enjoy this period novel. Starting before WWII, it is the story of a young, Jewish woman from Vienna from a well-to-do family. She is offered a position as a servant in an English household for one year. In exchange for her service, she is promised passage and the
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papers to get to the United States to reunite with her family. With the conditions for Jews in Austria deteriorating, she accepts the position. Her English adventure is full of surprises and a twist. Some happenings are rather predictable, but I enjoyed Solomons' novel all the same. Show Less
LibraryThing member rglossne
I listened to this. A very enjoyable historical novel, set in WWII Britain.
LibraryThing member elsyd
This book is somewhat of a take-off on several other books. Namely Downton Abby, Rebecca, Winter of the World, etc. etc etc. I felt that the first half of the book could have been written by one author and the second half, another.
With classes what they were in England at the time of this story it
I did find the story of Elise's fathers writing to be original and interesting.
With classes what they were in England at the time of this story it
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is totally improbable that either the "Staff" or the "Master" would make such an about-face about Elise.I did find the story of Elise's fathers writing to be original and interesting.
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LibraryThing member karynwhite
This is a love story.
There is family love, love for places, love for things and what they represent(ed), a love for the past, love within a small community and romantic love.
It's a good read - not at all a cheesey love story - with likeable and authetic central characters.
I do feel Mr Rosenblum's
There is family love, love for places, love for things and what they represent(ed), a love for the past, love within a small community and romantic love.
It's a good read - not at all a cheesey love story - with likeable and authetic central characters.
I do feel Mr Rosenblum's
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List is a more complex novel. I don't think Elise and her quest is as 'deep' as Mr Rosenblum. But they are both about connections, outsiders and community. Show Less
LibraryThing member nicx27
This book is about Elise Landau, a young Austrian Jewess, who leaves Vienna and her parents behind just prior to the outbreak of the Second World War to move to safety in England. She is reasonably well-to-do in Vienna, but takes up a position as a housemaid in a country house in Dorset.
I enjoyed
Elise tells the story herself, and I think a first person narrative can sometimes be a little cold and matter of fact. I did, however, find this a moving tale on many occasions. It's an unusual story, and very enjoyable. I found that I liked this book much more than Mr Rosenblum's List, which was a little too whimsical for my liking. The Novel in the Viola has a bittersweet air to it, quite melancholy at times, but is the story of how a strong young woman made the best of her life, and it is ultimately quite uplifting. A lovely story.
I enjoyed
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many different aspects of this book. I liked Elise's descriptions of her home city, her family and her life there. Of particular interest was her time as housemaid at Tyneford, and the twists and turns that life takes her on whilst she is there.Elise tells the story herself, and I think a first person narrative can sometimes be a little cold and matter of fact. I did, however, find this a moving tale on many occasions. It's an unusual story, and very enjoyable. I found that I liked this book much more than Mr Rosenblum's List, which was a little too whimsical for my liking. The Novel in the Viola has a bittersweet air to it, quite melancholy at times, but is the story of how a strong young woman made the best of her life, and it is ultimately quite uplifting. A lovely story.
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LibraryThing member silva_44
This novel left me breathless. The setting was absolutely stunning, and the characters fascinating. The author leaned a little heavily on the use of foreshadowing, but that was my only real complaint. Overall, a fabulous read!
LibraryThing member Smits
I enjoyed this novel very much. It reminds me of Downton Abbey with it's old fashion style of British countryside gentry. It's a vanishing world about a village and a manor that actually did vanish in WWII. Apparently before the war, many aristocatic Austrain families sent their children to England
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as servants. This is what happens to Elise from Vienna. Show Less
Original publication date
2010
Physical description
359 p.
ISBN
0452297648 / 9780452297647