Vienna Prelude by Bodie Thoene  
 
 
 

Talk about exciting, on the edge of your chair type of reading. This is it. Bodie Thoene is an excellent writer who captures the attention of the reader almost immediately. Although it is fiction. The time, and historical background are actual events.
 
 

This setting is at the time of the reign of Hitler and his invasion into Austria. He was able to do this freely by simply as one person quoted, "Good men did nothing." Man's inhumanity to man is seen happening before our eyes as the author's descriptions and narratives make every event unfold and seem real.
 
 

Amid the dangers and trials, she brings out the faith and bravery of the characters that risk their own lives to save others. Romance is woven throughout the book even though it is not the main issue. We see people who show love and kindness in the midst of those who show cruelty.
 
 

I personally think this book would be excellent reading for high school age and up. It is a story that brings out awareness of how a wicked deceiver can lead multitudes into "hate". The ones hated were hated for no reason than just being born. It shows how easily hate can cause normal men to become agents of extreme cruelty.
 
 

Bigotry, however, is not the only reason for the holocaust. The greed of wanting the possessions of well-to-do Jewish families was also brought out clearly. I began to see the dangers of promoting "class envy". Hitler wanted to make room for the elite pure German race, improving the economy but by taking from the wealth of someone else to do it.
 
 

Hitler was able to promote hate by making the Jewish (and other races whom he thought inferior) seem less human, unworthy to live, or have a right to make a living. He even began ordering the extermination of the mentally retarded, disabled, feeble babies, and the elderly.
 
 

Vienna Prelude is the first in a series by Bodie Thoene. She also write sequels to Vienna Prelude. I'm reading the second one now called, Prague "Counterpoint." I believe there is a third and a fourth. She has written other series and other novels which I intend to read when possible.
 
  -Dorna Chambers

Other Opinions

 Awesome the way the Wattenbarger's took in the kids (Diane).

I appreciated the way that the history came alive for me.  I had no idea about the personality of Winston Churchill and the way  he figured in and the dynamics created because of Chamberlain during the war.  I wish that people had awakened and realized what was happening.  It gave me the desire to look around at the world today and not be one of those 'good men' that did nothing. (Daunell)

I wish they had followed up on the prologue.  (Susan W.).

I liked the fact that it showed that it wasn't just the Jews that were affected by this.  Everybody that lived in the area (and beyond) was affected. (Heidi)

The violinist in our group thought she should have taken the cheap violin and left the guarnerius somewhere safe.

 We felt that we could tell when Bodie was writing and when her husband was writing,

Some of us were enjoying the history and finding it easy to read the history.  Some of us just read the history stuff just to add to the story.  We felt that we are somewhat the same way whenever it pertains to something bad is coming our way, thinking that it won't apply to us, and not doing anything about it until it is  too late.

The Sound of Music came rushing back, as far as the Austrian aspect goes.