The Novel In The Viola - Natasha Soloman

The Novel In The Viola

Natasha Soloman

When you have loved a book like Mr Blumenthal's List, had invested time praising its merits and had pressed it with assurance onto reluctant buyers hands, you can't then turn around and ignore the next book by that same author. Still, I wish I had since The Novel In The Viola met none of my expectations.

Elise, a Viennese girl from a family of famous Jewish artists, leaves her home and immigrates to England. The year is 1937 and Austria is under the spell of Hitler's antisemitism. Moving to a small sea-side town, she is hired as a maid at Tynford estate. Culture clashes, home sickness and worries for her family add to her unhappy introduction to her new life. The situation changes for the better when Kit, the son of her employer, arrives home from university and a budding romance ensues.

Elise's character starts out interestingly but any spark she possesses at the beginning seems to fizzle out by the second half of the book. Her friendship and love affair with Kit is too convenient and in my opinion, rather unrealistic. The supporting characters are colourful, with the exception of Mr Tynford, who reminded me of a limp handshake.

Despite her assured sense of storytelling, Solomon has produced a tempered tale. The Novel In The Viola is pleasant enough and has a few interesting moments but as a whole, failed to reach the heights of the author's debut novel. 2.5 Stars