Book Blurb:
When Nazi Germany troops enter Krakow, Poland on September 2, 1939, fourteen-year-old Simon Baron learns two truths that have been hidden from him. One, the people who have raised him are not his biological parents. Two, his birth mother was Jewish. In the eyes of the Germans, despite the fact he has been raised Catholic, this makes Simon Jewish.
Simon's dreams of becoming a concert violinist and composer are dashed when his school is forced to expel him, and he is no longer eligible to represent it at its annual Poland Independence Day Concert. There he had hoped to draw the attention of representatives of a prestigious contest who might have helped him fulfill his dreams.
Simon vows to never forgive his birth father for abandoning him, an act resulting in unspeakable tragedies for his family and in his being forced to live the indignities of the ghetto and the horrors of Auschwitz and Sachsenhausen concentration camps. Throughout his ordeals Simon waivers between his intense anger toward his birth father and his dreams of being reunited with him. Through his relationships with Rabbi Rosenschtein and the rabbi's daughter, Rachel, Simon comes to appreciate his Jewish heritage and find purpose in his life. Driven by devotion to family and friends and his passion for music, Simon holds on to hope. But can he survive the atrocities of the Nazi regime?
Book Buy Link: https://geni.us/Iq5w
Editorial Review:
“Simon was one of the first to notice the disturbance among the starlings roosting in the sycamore trees bordering the east and west sides of the square. He heard their pitched chorus and the flapping of their wings seconds before hundreds of them flocked to the sky, creating two formations before joining into one large configuration. They moved swiftly, twisting, turning, changing shapes, and creating an astonishing spectacle to those watching below. As the progression of movements among the birds increased, Lena and the other young girls with whom she was playing ran to the benches where those caring for them were sitting.
“What is it?” Lena whispered, pressing closely against Simon, her older brother.
Simon put an arm around Lena’s shoulder. “Don’t be scared,” he said. “I saw this in a movie. Watch, it will be spectacular. You’ll have something special to tell the others at lunch.”
Simon, 14 years old, is a musical prodigy, immersed in family life and in preparing to play the violin in a concert. But fate has other plans for Simon, for he is in Poland, and it is September 1939. The disclosure of a family secret sends him into a nightmare, with only his musical ability as a possible, and perilous, means of survival. “Concerto: Book One: Simon” by Fred Raymond Goldman is an immersive story of World War Two, on the horrors inflicted on the Polish people, and on Auschwitz, where Simon’s life hangs in the balance while there is death and destruction all around. Goldman is unflinching in portraying life – and death – in the camps; the horrific conditions for the living, the arbitrary and appalling deaths.
“On October 12, Simon delivered a container of his grandmother’s soup to his Aunt Ada and walked the twenty-two steps back home. As a child, he had skipped, hopped, and run this short distance many times. The sound of his feet hitting the sidewalk provided the beat, and the sounds around him provided the melody to form ideas for new compositions. Such travel was fun. Now any wandering just a few steps from the bakery might result in a confrontation with German soldiers, bringing a tightening in his chest and a desire to flee. Ten steps from his front door, Simon saw two German soldiers walking toward him. He lowered his eyes to avoid looking into theirs. He hoped to go unnoticed, to evade their engaging him in any form of mockery for their morning entertainment. Simon wished he could walk through them, separating them like a sharp knife splitting a heavily crusted loaf of bread. His hands clenched as he stepped down from the curb to let them pass. He made a misstep but caught himself from falling. The Germans, momentarily distracted by his near stumble, looked at him, laughed, and moved on.”
The teenage Simon is vividly depicted; a boy who just wants to belong while all around him he sees injustice and cruelty he cannot make sense of, despite the love and care of his parents and sisters. Then, at the camps, he must endure, hoping against hope for rescue and for an end to the suffering. As part of the orchestra, Simon is safe on some basic level – perhaps. Simon’s fears for his family and for those around him add to the trauma of coming to terms with the family secret he must contend with. There are graphic scenes and references, as are realistic for the setting.
There are also small glimmers of hope, as those from Simon’s “old life” rally to support him, and a love interest emerges. Simon’s character is a complex one, and his character arc follows the lives of so many of that generation, where the life they should have had was hopelessly disrupted and forever changed by World War Two. Readers may find that some of the dialogue, particularly between teenage Simon and his father is somewhat stilted, but perhaps that is a reflection of some father/son relationships in any era!
“At the infirmary, Dr. Fridman examined Simon. Upon learning Simon’s full name, the doctor recognized him as the boy who once stood up for his son, Nachum, against a schoolyard bully. Simon asked if the doctor’s son was also at Auschwitz. “Thank God, I was able to get him and my wife out of Poland before the final deportation. I waited too long to get myself out, trying to protect our property. I pray they’re safe in France.” Dr. Fridman gave Simon a complete physical. He told him his leg wasn’t hurt badly. He had no broken bones there, only contusions that would heal. The cut on the back of his head was deep and required stitching, and he did have two broken ribs. “I’ll keep you here for a while,” Dr. Fridman said. “I’ll report your leg is fractured, you have a concussion, and that you must rest for your ribs to heal. They won’t dispose of you. You’re too valuable to them. I’ve heard you play at Sunday concerts.” The doctor whispered into Simon’s ear, “I’ll look out for you, like you looked out for my son.”
The ending of “Concerto: Book One: Simon” is deeply emotional, but will satisfy the reader, as Simon finally finds some level of personal peace and a new beginning, of course, where music features!
“Concerto: Book One: Simon” by Fred Raymond Goldman is a heartrending story that will stay with the reader for some time after the final page is finished. The characterization throughout the novel is a highlight, and the author skilfully weaves historical background into the narrative. It is wonderful to see Simon achieve some measure of his dreams, despite his appalling personal losses. The great tragedy is that so many of the same generation were denied that same opportunity. Readers will certainly reflect on the extent to which so much which happens in life is outside of an individual’s control. An emotional read!
*****
“Concerto: Book One: Simon” by Fred Raymond Goldman receives 4 stars from The Historical Fiction Company
To enter the HFC Book of the Year contest and request an editorial review, please visit www.thehistoricalfictioncompany.com/book-awards/award-submission
Comments