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Surviving the Angel of Death: The True Story of a Mengele Twin in Auschwitz by Eva Mozes Kor
raven_morgan's review
5.0
Eva and Miriam, identical twins, were ten years old when they were transported to Auschwitz, along with their parents and two older siblings. While the rest of their family were taken to the gas chambers, Eva and Miriam survived, selected by Dr Mengele, the "Angel of Death" for use in his experiments.
This version of Eva's biography is specifically aimed towards a young adult market.
What can you say about any biography of someone who lived through the Holocaust? It is difficult to come to terms with the pure evil that led to the construction of the death camps and concentration camps, and the evil perpetrated by people such as Mengele in the name of "science".
This book is written in a very relatable style, making the reader really feel the horror of her life in Auschwitz. Even such a simple thing as the description of the burning smell in the air when she is taken off the trains is conveyed with such feeling (and horror for the reader, who knows what they smell is, even as Eva doesn't).
Eva Mozes Kor was an extraordinary child. When confronted with her first sight of dead children in the camp, she doesn't crumble, but simply makes up her mind that she, and her twin Miriam, must survive. And survive she did, "organising" (stealing) food for Miriam when she needs it, pushing herself to live through a Mengele-administered disease that should have killed her when she realises that her death would also mean Miriam's (as Mengele would kill the surviving twin after a diseased one died, so he could compare their organs). She kept Miriam and herself alive through the dissolution of the camps, through the journey to return home, all in the hope that somehow, the rest of their family survived.
The biography goes on further, into Eva's life under communist rule, and to her eventual migration to Israel, where she could finally practice her religion freely.
So much of Eva Mozes Kor's life was lived through nightmare, but her true strength is shown through compassion and forgiveness. She and her twin established CANDLES (Children of Auschwitz Nazi Deadly Lab Experiments Survivors), and in the epilogue to the book, she also forgives Dr Mengele, knowing that forgiveness takes the power from his hands to hers. That she can do this, even after Mengele's experiments stunted her twin Miriam's kidneys, and eventually took her life, leaving Eva alone, is a tribute to Eva Mozes Kor's strength.
This version of Eva's biography is specifically aimed towards a young adult market.
What can you say about any biography of someone who lived through the Holocaust? It is difficult to come to terms with the pure evil that led to the construction of the death camps and concentration camps, and the evil perpetrated by people such as Mengele in the name of "science".
This book is written in a very relatable style, making the reader really feel the horror of her life in Auschwitz. Even such a simple thing as the description of the burning smell in the air when she is taken off the trains is conveyed with such feeling (and horror for the reader, who knows what they smell is, even as Eva doesn't).
Eva Mozes Kor was an extraordinary child. When confronted with her first sight of dead children in the camp, she doesn't crumble, but simply makes up her mind that she, and her twin Miriam, must survive. And survive she did, "organising" (stealing) food for Miriam when she needs it, pushing herself to live through a Mengele-administered disease that should have killed her when she realises that her death would also mean Miriam's (as Mengele would kill the surviving twin after a diseased one died, so he could compare their organs). She kept Miriam and herself alive through the dissolution of the camps, through the journey to return home, all in the hope that somehow, the rest of their family survived.
The biography goes on further, into Eva's life under communist rule, and to her eventual migration to Israel, where she could finally practice her religion freely.
So much of Eva Mozes Kor's life was lived through nightmare, but her true strength is shown through compassion and forgiveness. She and her twin established CANDLES (Children of Auschwitz Nazi Deadly Lab Experiments Survivors), and in the epilogue to the book, she also forgives Dr Mengele, knowing that forgiveness takes the power from his hands to hers. That she can do this, even after Mengele's experiments stunted her twin Miriam's kidneys, and eventually took her life, leaving Eva alone, is a tribute to Eva Mozes Kor's strength.
sleepfortheweak's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
4.25
joanagoncalves's review against another edition
5.0
Sinto-me mal por dar uma nota à história de vida de alguém. Há de muita gente na verdade. Então dei cinco estrelas. Sei que talvez muita gente não consiga ler este livro mas acreditei que está escrito de uma forma bem leve. Se puderem, ou conseguires, leiam. É simplesmente necessário.
jaswroller's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
tense
fast-paced
4.75
celtic67's review
4.0
A very short book detailing Eva's time in Auschwitz. The biggest lesson I took from this book was the power of forgiveness
blairfrank's review
3.0
Whenever I read about people being mistreated and abused, I am always astounded at their ability to persevere through such tragic circumstances. This is no exception. It wasn't as detailed as some other Holocaust survivors' memoirs I've read, but it's always eye opening and heartbreaking to know that anyone, no matter the age, was signaled out for mass extinction because of a personal vendetta. I think Elie Wiesel said it best, "We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented." This is something I try to instill in my students and help them understand they can make a difference in the smallest of ways.