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natekka's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Genocide, War, Suicide, and Antisemitism
Moderate: Cancer, Child death, Death, Abortion, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Self harm, Dysphoria, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Sexual violence
inlesnuages's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Death, Murder, War, and Antisemitism
Moderate: Xenophobia
Minor: Suicide and Eating disorder
aimless's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Antisemitism
fyre_flies's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Antisemitism, Death, Violence, War, and Genocide
Moderate: Rape, Alcoholism, Death of parent, and Suicide
Minor: Eating disorder and Sexual assault
monloesco's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Suicide, Violence, Slavery, Police brutality, Hate crime, Death, Genocide, Torture, Deportation, War, Racism, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, and Antisemitism
skysbooknook's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Antisemitism, Genocide, War, Death, Death of parent, and Grief
Minor: Pedophilia and Eating disorder
team_mosaic's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Antisemitism, Death, and Mental illness
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Racial slurs, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Rape, and Pedophilia
bookreadingelf's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Genocide, Antisemitism, and War
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Eating disorder, Suicide, and Alcoholism
eesti23's review against another edition
3.5
"How can I be useful to you?"
"How can I support you as you take responsibility for yourself?"
I had expected The Choice: Embrace the Possible to really move and inspire me. Instead I was left feeling lukewarm. This is a difficult subject and Edith Ever is clearly a brave, strong, and amazing woman. Her story is split into two parts: the war and her work. There wasn't much new when it came to the war portion. We've heard most of these stories before. The difference here is that these are Edith's stories and Edith's experience of them.
Overall, an important story and an okay book. Just not as motivational as I was expecting.
Graphic: Antisemitism, Genocide, and War
Moderate: Torture and Death of parent
bookedbyelizabeth's review against another edition
4.75
CW: genocide, death, trauma, loss of loved ones, violence, PTSD, antisemitism, racism, depression, panic attacks; mentions of rape, addiction, infidelity, eating disorder (recommend looking up on Storygraph for more CW).
The Choice is an inspiring, powerful, challenging memoir of a Holocaust survivor and a testament to resilience, inner strength, and healing from trauma. Dr. Eger experienced unspeakable horrors and darkness, and she not only survived Auschwitz but then embarked on an incredible healing journey. She immigrated to the United States where she became a psychiatrist in order to help others with their trauma.
Her path wasn’t easy as she coped with her grief, guilt, and PTSD while trying to move forward and build a new life for herself and her family. But she learns to make the choice to face the trauma, to accept what happened, to forgive herself, and to heal. The past can neither be changed nor forgotten, but the present is in our control.
This book was difficult to read and made me emotional several times. It was a lot to take in, and I made sure to read slowly and took my time reflecting after finishing the book. It made me think about how her lessons could apply to my own life. I was in complete awe of Dr. Eger’s journey, her strength, her wisdom, and her compassion.
Also, International Holocaust Rememberence Day is coming up on January 27, the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Berkenau. I remember learning about the Holocaust in history class, reading Night by Elie Wiesel, and taking a field trip to the US Holocaust Memorial Museum in DC. I think memoirs and exhibits help us remember the humanity in historical events and remind us that it really wasn’t all that long ago. Antisemitism existed before the Holocaust and has continued after, and it shouldn’t be minimized or ignored.
Graphic: Torture, Suicidal thoughts, Physical abuse, Genocide, Death, Antisemitism, War, Violence, Grief, Emotional abuse, Confinement, Panic attacks/disorders, Hate crime, Death of parent, Forced institutionalization, and Religious bigotry