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sofiafij's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
3.75
ashleytalksbooks's review against another edition
Not rating out of respect but this was a heart wrenching tale of one of the few places that can truly be called Hell on earth.
I would however advise everyone to skip the foreward because it was the most victim blamey thing I have ever heard and made me angry.
I would however advise everyone to skip the foreward because it was the most victim blamey thing I have ever heard and made me angry.
stumpnugget's review
5.0
What is the point of dwelling on the subject? Why rake over cold ashes, stir up old animosities? Would it not be better to forgive and forget, turn toward the future rather than look back in anger on the fading past? Fair questions indeed. The answer comes from the victims themselves. “These victims of Nazi atrocities,” Meyer Levin once wrote, “hid fragmentary records of their experience, they scratched words on walls, they died hoping the world would some day know, not in statistics but in empathy. We are charged to listen.”
This is definitely one of my favorite holocaust memoirs, and maybe one of my favorite books, that I've read. It's so moving because it is written from such a profoundly unique perspective, that of a doctor forced to serve under the infamous Dr. Mengele. From that vantage point Nyiszli saw things that very few people have ever seen, and even fewer have lived to tell about.
beckyquick's review
4.0
4.5 Stars!!
As expected, this book was heart wrenching and disturbing. An insightful account into life at Auschwitz written by a doctor who unfortunately had first hand experience there.
Nyiszli's writing was great, which I didn't really expect as I thought this would be more of a documentary about his position as a doctor. Although the book did describe some of his work (which I'm sure would have been more greatly appreciated by someone who knows about the subject) was explained effectively, but the main storyline based on his life was riveting.
The characters who obviously are based on real people were described in such a way that, especially in the case of Dr. Mengele, you could feel like you had met him.
"He looked at me steadily, his expression hardening. "What's wrong?" he said coldly, "Getting sentimental?"
The only reason this book did not get 5 stars from me was the afterword. It did not seem to be in keeping with the rest of the book and I did not agree with the message it posed.
As expected, this book was heart wrenching and disturbing. An insightful account into life at Auschwitz written by a doctor who unfortunately had first hand experience there.
Nyiszli's writing was great, which I didn't really expect as I thought this would be more of a documentary about his position as a doctor. Although the book did describe some of his work (which I'm sure would have been more greatly appreciated by someone who knows about the subject) was explained effectively, but the main storyline based on his life was riveting.
The characters who obviously are based on real people were described in such a way that, especially in the case of Dr. Mengele, you could feel like you had met him.
"He looked at me steadily, his expression hardening. "What's wrong?" he said coldly, "Getting sentimental?"
The only reason this book did not get 5 stars from me was the afterword. It did not seem to be in keeping with the rest of the book and I did not agree with the message it posed.