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A review by jakobitz
One Hundred Saturdays: Stella Levi and the Search for a Lost World by Michael Frank
4.0
One Hundred Saturdays opens a window on a time, place, and culture largely foreign to our 21st century. Over the course of one hundred Saturdays, author Michael Frank sat down with holocaust survivor Stella Levi and recorded her life story, in a series of interviews spanning six years. Yet, this is more than another holocaust survivor’s tale, but rather a glimpse into the way of life in the Juderia, a Sephardic Jewish neighborhood that existed on the Mediterranean island of Rhodes.
Through these interviews, Stella leads the reader along her journey from adolescence to adulthood, highlighting the island's cultural and religious diversity, and recounting the horrors of a world tumbling into war. Stella’s stories draw the reader in with joy and humor, hooking the reader’s interest in this unique community, and ultimately evoking deep pathos as the island’s way of life implodes. Frank crafts a timeless memorial to the past in such a way that it resonates with our human experience today; we are left to morn for what was lost, but still find hope and joy in what was lived.
One Hundred Saturdays is a great reminder of our shared humanity and how important it is for us to stand up against the horrors that humans perpetuate upon one another. Michael Frank’s book should appeal to readers that enjoy historical memoirs, cultural studies, and the transformative power of storytelling.
Through these interviews, Stella leads the reader along her journey from adolescence to adulthood, highlighting the island's cultural and religious diversity, and recounting the horrors of a world tumbling into war. Stella’s stories draw the reader in with joy and humor, hooking the reader’s interest in this unique community, and ultimately evoking deep pathos as the island’s way of life implodes. Frank crafts a timeless memorial to the past in such a way that it resonates with our human experience today; we are left to morn for what was lost, but still find hope and joy in what was lived.
One Hundred Saturdays is a great reminder of our shared humanity and how important it is for us to stand up against the horrors that humans perpetuate upon one another. Michael Frank’s book should appeal to readers that enjoy historical memoirs, cultural studies, and the transformative power of storytelling.