The Savior. A brief book review. Drucker, Eugene. New York, New York. Simon & Schuster Paperbacks. 2007; 206 pages. ISBN: 9781416543305
The seed of this novel is from a real story. Its about a violinist who is ordered by the Nazi SS to play for prisoners in a camp. Unbeknown to him he is used in an experiment to prove that the ordinary, every day German is quite content to act as though they are not aware of what is happening to others. Its an adult novel that presents two perspectives; first that we often willingly ignore the evil that is happening around us, second, there is also a young German soldier who has rationalized how he can kill human beings one moment and the next moment wish that he were not there .... this comes about by mostly placing the blame for his own actions on those giving him orders. It truly is a novel that makes one think about how we today are reacting to the world around us .... sticking our heads in the sand or rationalizing away our responsibility to make a difference. Amazon.com has 17 reviews. I believe that the author has done a marvelous job in holding our attention through the whole novel, and the tension between music and human atrocities is great; but I think an opportunity to relate the depth of feelings that Bach displayed in his music, in the midst of his own adversities, to the present circumstances in which Gottfried was playing was missed by the author. In a small way it reminds me of the novel 'The Cellist of Sarajevo,' but definitely minus the willingness to sacrific self by the Cellist. ENJOY.
The seed of this novel is from a real story. Its about a violinist who is ordered by the Nazi SS to play for prisoners in a camp. Unbeknown to him he is used in an experiment to prove that the ordinary, every day German is quite content to act as though they are not aware of what is happening to others. Its an adult novel that presents two perspectives; first that we often willingly ignore the evil that is happening around us, second, there is also a young German soldier who has rationalized how he can kill human beings one moment and the next moment wish that he were not there .... this comes about by mostly placing the blame for his own actions on those giving him orders. It truly is a novel that makes one think about how we today are reacting to the world around us .... sticking our heads in the sand or rationalizing away our responsibility to make a difference. Amazon.com has 17 reviews. I believe that the author has done a marvelous job in holding our attention through the whole novel, and the tension between music and human atrocities is great; but I think an opportunity to relate the depth of feelings that Bach displayed in his music, in the midst of his own adversities, to the present circumstances in which Gottfried was playing was missed by the author. In a small way it reminds me of the novel 'The Cellist of Sarajevo,' but definitely minus the willingness to sacrific self by the Cellist. ENJOY.
I've not read the novel, but Drucker hits the topic that's been the focus, one way or another, for all postwar German fiction: How could we let this happen? Or for younger writers, "How could our parents/grandparents let this happen?"
ReplyDeleteSadly, I think the answer for most of humanity throughout most of human history is, "It's pretty darned easy."
Cheers.
Sherm...
ReplyDeleteI think you're right. One thing I noticed though was the 'extreme' reluctance of the French, which almost measured up to that of the Germans, to admit their part. I'm quite sure we've probably never owned up to ours, especially since it took so long to take responsibility for the internment of our own people in our own country. That was so 'pretty darned easy.'
Best wishes.