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A review by lisavegan
One Hundred Saturdays: Stella Levi and the Search for a Lost World by Michael Frank
4.0
I read a hardcover edition and enjoyed reading a “real” book. I’ve been reading a lot of e-editions. I bring only paper books with me when I’m out and about and I like being able to always have a book with me.
This is a good addition to Holocaust literature. I particularly appreciated Stella’s description of how and why women often fared better than men throughout the ordeal.
My favorite parts though were learning about life on Rhodes before the deportation.
There were parts of the story that took place in NYC that I also found fascinating.
The part of the story that is about the camps was relatively brief but for me offered some details new to me, even though I’ve read many Holocaust books.
I applaud the inclusion of all sorts of memories during the various times and settings and how all sorts of emotions were felt, humor included.
Stella annoyed me when she was cryptic and in interviews instead of answering would say that is for another day, something that occurred a lot but I guess it’s the author I’m irked with because he could have just written what she did actually tell him vs. including what she said she wouldn’t tell him or wouldn’t tell him yet.
Stella has had an interesting life and in many ways was a remarkable girl and is a remarkable woman but I think I might have enjoyed this book more if its focus had not been on only/mostly Stella. If it had been written about the Jews of Rhodes and what had happened to all of them perhaps I’d have found the narrative more compelling. That said, hearing this story from one person’s point of view had its advantages.
“I do believe that as we travel through life we become a different person in every situation, or context, or phase.”
A useful selected bibliography is included in the back of the book.
3-1/2 stars
This is a good addition to Holocaust literature. I particularly appreciated Stella’s description of how and why women often fared better than men throughout the ordeal.
My favorite parts though were learning about life on Rhodes before the deportation.
There were parts of the story that took place in NYC that I also found fascinating.
The part of the story that is about the camps was relatively brief but for me offered some details new to me, even though I’ve read many Holocaust books.
I applaud the inclusion of all sorts of memories during the various times and settings and how all sorts of emotions were felt, humor included.
Stella annoyed me when she was cryptic and in interviews instead of answering would say that is for another day, something that occurred a lot but I guess it’s the author I’m irked with because he could have just written what she did actually tell him vs. including what she said she wouldn’t tell him or wouldn’t tell him yet.
Stella has had an interesting life and in many ways was a remarkable girl and is a remarkable woman but I think I might have enjoyed this book more if its focus had not been on only/mostly Stella. If it had been written about the Jews of Rhodes and what had happened to all of them perhaps I’d have found the narrative more compelling. That said, hearing this story from one person’s point of view had its advantages.
“I do believe that as we travel through life we become a different person in every situation, or context, or phase.”
A useful selected bibliography is included in the back of the book.
3-1/2 stars