elsaaqazi's review against another edition
I refuse to rate this, it is I feel unfair. Probably wont be rating other Holocaust related non fiction texts that i will be reading in the future.
To tell your story of something as horrific as the Holocaust is just too haunting and daunting a task in my mind, and i cant possibly in right conscience give it a rating.
Anyway coming to the book, often times when the events were too bizarre and just surrealistically, astoundingly evil, I had to stop and remind myself that this actually happened. This was emotionally jarring.
(1/13 of the books for the holocaust course)
To tell your story of something as horrific as the Holocaust is just too haunting and daunting a task in my mind, and i cant possibly in right conscience give it a rating.
Anyway coming to the book, often times when the events were too bizarre and just surrealistically, astoundingly evil, I had to stop and remind myself that this actually happened. This was emotionally jarring.
(1/13 of the books for the holocaust course)
pottedplnt's review against another edition
3.0
I am currently at the half way point and am wondering if I should bother to continue. The story itself, it beautiful. The hardships and trials of all the horrific things is awful. But it's presentation is badly done.
The story had potential, However I cant get past it's exterior.The main character talks about sacrifice and how she is less conspicuous because of her blond hair(she is jewish)and so she is more safe. There is nothing impacting about the writing. that's where all my beef is.
simple as that. the writing.
Nothing captures me in the story. The story is about a courageous life, someones account of how they got by and it's shaming to look down on it because of it's lack of description.
If you've been reading for a while you know that there are a glut more bad books than good. This book by Mechama Tec is a gorgeous story and that is overlooked at some points. I WANT to know about characters. I hear from the main characters point of view her encounters with them but I WANT and NEED to see them further developed. When one reads they want to feel like they know the characters. I don't know the characters. I know their characteristics and a few traits but I don't know them.
She changes names so many times, forgetting her past identity and resuming another. I can wish and hope all I want but it's not going to do much. Her life changes like the current. Disheveled and uprooted she's constantly on the move. But in the mist of it all, the horrible terrible things there are laughs. Intelligent conversations and moments that are only described and brushed off. I NEED to read and take a break and even if the moment lasts only a few seconds. A casual exchange or a second that she smiles. Something like that.
At and during the time period it was hard to smile but there's evidence that the main character does. She does have those seconds and moments that should be treasured. I read them, the gossip, the singing, the new friends, both tentative and quickly made.
Was the purpose to make it so detached? I don't think so. The reason that we read is to see the world from the eyes of others. step into their shoes and go on a journey with them. To be informed and enlightened, on a bad way or good, that is why we read.I did not achieve that knowledge of beating able to call the characters my friends of enemies. I'm not in a position to say that I feel their individual pain other than the pain of millions.
In these sort of time of detachment I loose interest. With all the beating, murder and the severity of the Holocaust there is only the facts. The notifications in the book that a close friend has dissapeared but it doesn't hit the reader like it should. Every dead close friend should bring the reader to tears. Because they over the course of the book grew to love the character. Whether during the span of six pages or a hundred it all goes back to the moments.
Thats what decides a good and bad book. (Or a portion of how we decide.) We sympathize, laugh, cry, get angry with them. Experiencing the tale with them and that happens through moments.
I've already mentioned this because it's so important. It's those moments that catch your attention. They draw your glaze and if it's done right you can see it in your mind. I have so far, not encountered any moments of momentum. So many stressful situations but the emotion was not conveyed. There were the adjectives and enough to grant a twinge of pity but not enough to really bring me to my knees.
It's not even just the happy moments it's also the sad ones. I know that these are highly sensitive topics but When she's hiding in a cramped cellar I want to KNOW what she entertains her self by doing. does she imagine she's some where else? We don't know we only know she hides. Does she worry for her mother who could not hide with because of the fact that there was no room? We don't know. There's so much uncharted territory.
The best description that I can give is that you have a back yard. You have never bothered to go outside or look out the window. You just know it is there. Your Mom tells you that she ate an apple from a tree in the yard and offers you one but you don't want it. Your sister likes to play on a swing set in the yard but you never play with her so you are only vaguely aware that the swing set exists. Your Dad sits on while reading.
good got a picture in your mind?
Probably of lush green grass(or dead grass) a tall apple tree and a sunny swing set next to it and in front a bright red foldable chair.
Here's what I was talking about: Tall grass unevenly cut. Your mothers apple tree branches out and there's a swing handing from the lowest branch. Your Father sits on the branch. Then suddenly there's a storm and the apple tree falls down. Your family is heartbroken but you can only pity and sympathize. You didn't have any notable experience with the tree and there fore are unaffected when it is cut down.
Two very different ideas and you, the reader, is blind to your surroundings. That is how I feel reading the book.
Overall, my opinion of the book was that it is a accurate story of prevalence and bravery that is only held back by it's lack of discription.
Warning about sensitive themes, I'd recommend for mature children.
The story had potential, However I cant get past it's exterior.The main character talks about sacrifice and how she is less conspicuous because of her blond hair(she is jewish)and so she is more safe. There is nothing impacting about the writing. that's where all my beef is.
simple as that. the writing.
Nothing captures me in the story. The story is about a courageous life, someones account of how they got by and it's shaming to look down on it because of it's lack of description.
If you've been reading for a while you know that there are a glut more bad books than good. This book by Mechama Tec is a gorgeous story and that is overlooked at some points. I WANT to know about characters. I hear from the main characters point of view her encounters with them but I WANT and NEED to see them further developed. When one reads they want to feel like they know the characters. I don't know the characters. I know their characteristics and a few traits but I don't know them.
She changes names so many times, forgetting her past identity and resuming another. I can wish and hope all I want but it's not going to do much. Her life changes like the current. Disheveled and uprooted she's constantly on the move. But in the mist of it all, the horrible terrible things there are laughs. Intelligent conversations and moments that are only described and brushed off. I NEED to read and take a break and even if the moment lasts only a few seconds. A casual exchange or a second that she smiles. Something like that.
At and during the time period it was hard to smile but there's evidence that the main character does. She does have those seconds and moments that should be treasured. I read them, the gossip, the singing, the new friends, both tentative and quickly made.
Was the purpose to make it so detached? I don't think so. The reason that we read is to see the world from the eyes of others. step into their shoes and go on a journey with them. To be informed and enlightened, on a bad way or good, that is why we read.I did not achieve that knowledge of beating able to call the characters my friends of enemies. I'm not in a position to say that I feel their individual pain other than the pain of millions.
In these sort of time of detachment I loose interest. With all the beating, murder and the severity of the Holocaust there is only the facts. The notifications in the book that a close friend has dissapeared but it doesn't hit the reader like it should. Every dead close friend should bring the reader to tears. Because they over the course of the book grew to love the character. Whether during the span of six pages or a hundred it all goes back to the moments.
Thats what decides a good and bad book. (Or a portion of how we decide.) We sympathize, laugh, cry, get angry with them. Experiencing the tale with them and that happens through moments.
I've already mentioned this because it's so important. It's those moments that catch your attention. They draw your glaze and if it's done right you can see it in your mind. I have so far, not encountered any moments of momentum. So many stressful situations but the emotion was not conveyed. There were the adjectives and enough to grant a twinge of pity but not enough to really bring me to my knees.
It's not even just the happy moments it's also the sad ones. I know that these are highly sensitive topics but When she's hiding in a cramped cellar I want to KNOW what she entertains her self by doing. does she imagine she's some where else? We don't know we only know she hides. Does she worry for her mother who could not hide with because of the fact that there was no room? We don't know. There's so much uncharted territory.
The best description that I can give is that you have a back yard. You have never bothered to go outside or look out the window. You just know it is there. Your Mom tells you that she ate an apple from a tree in the yard and offers you one but you don't want it. Your sister likes to play on a swing set in the yard but you never play with her so you are only vaguely aware that the swing set exists. Your Dad sits on while reading.
good got a picture in your mind?
Probably of lush green grass(or dead grass) a tall apple tree and a sunny swing set next to it and in front a bright red foldable chair.
Here's what I was talking about: Tall grass unevenly cut. Your mothers apple tree branches out and there's a swing handing from the lowest branch. Your Father sits on the branch. Then suddenly there's a storm and the apple tree falls down. Your family is heartbroken but you can only pity and sympathize. You didn't have any notable experience with the tree and there fore are unaffected when it is cut down.
Two very different ideas and you, the reader, is blind to your surroundings. That is how I feel reading the book.
Overall, my opinion of the book was that it is a accurate story of prevalence and bravery that is only held back by it's lack of discription.
Warning about sensitive themes, I'd recommend for mature children.
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