Playing for Time

Playing for Time is a memoir by Fania Fénelon, a French Jewish musician who survived the Holocaust by performing in the women's orchestra at Auschwitz-Birkenau. The book recounts her experiences from her arrest in Paris through her time in the concentration camp. As a member of the orchestra, Fénelon played and sang for SS guards and prisoners, including those being marched to the gas chambers. The memoir details the complex relationships between orchestra members and their daily struggle to stay alive through music. Fénelon documents the reality of life in the camp, from the physical hardships to the psychological toll of being forced to perform while witnessing atrocities. Her narrative provides a perspective on survival, resistance, and the role of art in extreme circumstances. The memoir raises questions about moral choices under impossible conditions and examines how music can serve as both a tool of oppression and a means of preserving humanity. Through Fénelon's experiences, the book explores the intersection of art, survival, and human dignity.

Readers emphasize the raw emotional impact of Fénelon's Holocaust memoir documenting her time in Auschwitz's women's orchestra. Many note the book's unflinching portrayal of survival choices and moral compromises. Readers appreciated: - The unique perspective on music's role in the camps - Details of daily life and relationships between prisoners - Clear, straightforward writing style - Examination of how privilege affected behavior Common criticisms: - Questions about accuracy of some accounts - Treatment and portrayal of other survivors - Perceived self-justification by the author - Some found the tone bitter or defensive Ratings: Goodreads: 4.1/5 (2,300+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (90+ ratings) "A difficult but necessary read" appears frequently in reviews. Several readers noted being uncomfortable with Fénelon's harsh judgments of fellow prisoners while acknowledging the value of her candor about the moral ambiguities of survival.

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🎵 Fania Fénelon survived Auschwitz-Birkenau as part of the Women's Orchestra, where prisoners were forced to play music as other inmates marched to work or death. The orchestra also performed concerts for SS officers. 📝 The book was originally published in French under the title "Sursis pour l'orchestre" (Reprieve for the Orchestra) before being translated to English. 👥 Some fellow survivors, including Anita Lasker-Wallfisch, disputed parts of Fénelon's account, particularly her portrayal of orchestra conductor Alma Rosé, leading to controversy about the memoir's accuracy. 🎬 The book was adapted into an Emmy Award-winning TV film in 1980, starring Vanessa Redgrave as Fania Fénelon, though the casting choice faced criticism due to Redgrave's political stance on Israel. 🎭 Before the war, Fania Fénelon (born Fania Goldstein) was a celebrated cabaret singer in Paris, and her musical background ultimately helped save her life in Auschwitz.