5 comments about The Man in the White Sharkskin Suit: My Family's Exodus from Old Cairo to the New World.

1. This is one of the best books I have ever read! There are too few stories about Sephardic Jews from the Middle East. I had no idea about Cairo being so cosmopolitan in the 1920s to 1940s. As an Ashkenazi Jew the Jewish stories I'm familiar with are mostly of Jews from Europe and Russia. This is extremely well-written and compelling. The characters are intimately portrayed, and the story moves along quickly. I couldn't put it down. This is a book that I'm recommending to all my friends and family.



2. This is a wonderful and tragic story of a Jewish family who lived in Egypt until the early 1960's when conditions made it very difficult for them to stay. The author tells the story of her grandparents and her parents in wonderful detail, and takes the reader with her on their exodus from Egypt to become refugees in France and then new immigrants to the United States. This book is a must for anyone who wants to learn about the story of Jewish life in Egypt in the 20th century, which came to a sad end as a result of the hostility of Egyptian government towards Israel. The author focuses on the personal story and avoids politics, and shows a graceful attitude without any bitterness towards the country which made her family leave.



3. I'd been meaning to read Lucette Lagnado's family memoir for awhile. Learning that the book had won the 2008 Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature motivated me to actually pick it up. This past weekend, I finished reading the book. And it's an excellent read.
   
   Given what often seems an unending stream of memoir-related scandals, not to mention the primacy of what I'll charitably call the dysfunction narrative (and of course the interrelationship between the two), reading THE MAN IN THE WHITE SHARKSKIN SUIT is a gift. Not only does the author focus on a story that's truly fresh (in this case, the story of a Jewish family's history in Syria and Egypt and the massive dislocation it experienced in 1962 when emigrating from Egypt, first to France and then to the United States). Not only does she include authentic "evidence," including photographs, documents, and file citations from the social service agencies that worked with her immigrant family in Paris and New York. But she also presents rounded portraits of multiple "characters," especially her parents (her father, Leon, is the eponymous man in the white sharkskin suit) and grandparents (especially her two grandmothers). An exercise in navel-gazing, this is surely not. It's not until late in the book that the author's own life-threatening medical problems--which another writer, especially in this Age of the Misery Memoir, might have chosen to make the subject of an entire book, and which are artfully presaged in earlier chapters--take center stage. Even then, it's the effect of her illness on those around her rather than her own suffering that seems to matter more.
   
   What will you get from reading this book? You'll get a sense of the culture of a Levantine Jewish community, one that I, for one, previously knew only superficially (mostly through stories about the in-laws of one of my mother's close friends). You'll get some history, of World War II and the Suez crisis. You'll get stories of Jewish immigrants in France and Israel and the United States. You'll get the texture of Brooklyn in the 1960s and 1970s. You'll get the almost unimaginably shocking story of what happened to one of Lagnado's maternal uncles at the hands of Lagnado's own grandfather. You'll get the triumphs and the tragedies of her family, and you'll get, in particular, a sense of the deep bond between Lagnado and that extraordinary man in the white sharkskin suit. Don't miss it.



4. 
   Lucette Lagnado's moving memoir is subtitled My Family's Exodus from Old Cairo to the New World. It is a story of a remarkable father and his family movingly told with the feel of a novel as you share the experiences of this family who traveled half way around the world to settle in America. Lucette Lagnado, who is a senior special writer and investigative reporter for The Wall Street Journal, demonstrates both her skill as a writer and an investigator.
   
   The story begins with the marriage of her parents, Leon and Edith, in wartime Cairo. As the family establishes itself after the war, the position of the Jewish community gradually deteriorates until, in the early sixties they flee to Paris en route to their eventual destination. The strength of both parents and the details of the family's difficult journey is a story that this reader found intensely moving. The thought of being "stateless", as they were once they left Egypt, is hard to imagine. That they overcame this and survived is a tribute to their courage. This is a memoir that I will not soon forget.



5. A very interesting book about a middle class family of six in Egypt who is forced to leave Egypt because they are Jewish and find a new home in a foreign country with $212 allotted to all six of them. It shows the stark contrast between Egypt pre-Nasser and post and the contrast between Egypt and the United States. It also shows the pschological impact of a change in cultures for one of the members at an advanced age with significant health problems.

5 comments about Brotherhood of Warriors: Behind Enemy Lines with a Commando in One of the World's Most Elite Counterterrorism Units.

1. Decently written, filled with the author's interesting opinions on various topics. Excellent descriptions of the physical training elements the author endured, particularly the IDF self defense system Krav Maga. The book impressed me so much I started taking lessons at a Krav school nearby.



2. This is probably one of the best books I have read in a long time. It's a fast read, and hard to put down. Although a large section of it covers the author's background and training rather than actual missions, it is quite fascinating to read about the Israeli special forces training. One of the more interesting aspects of their training is what they call "aggressiveness training" which is basically one man against the rest of his squad in hand to hand combat. Pretty cool. The descriptions of actual missions was quite interesting as well. At the end the author makes some good recommendations about how the US should rethink it's methods of fighting terrorists. Overall an excellent book.



3. Aaron Cohen goes from being a pampered Beverly Hills slacker youth to a hardened, kick-ass Israeli Special Ops warrior in this engaging book. Goodbye 90210, hello Black Ops.Cohen traces the path of his personal transformation and his iron will desire to survive the rigors of the brutal training program that one must endure in order to become a counter-terrorism operative in the Israeli special forces.
   
   The experience is so intense, however, that after about three years Cohen gets burned out and opts not to extend his service. Instead, he returns to Beverly Hills and starts up his own security service. Here, he closes his book with observations and criticisms of the American approach to security and lessons that the US should have learned after 9/11/
   
   Cohen - who on the cover bears an uncanny resemblance to Michael Imperioli (Christopher) on "The Sopranos" - offers further reflections on some of the moral dilemmas in risking the lives of children and non-combatants in the fight against terrorism. It also raises questions as to how long even the most motivated can sustain an operational tempo at the pace expected by Israel's Duvdevan.
   
   If you are a fan of military books or special operations, you will enjoy "Brotherhood of Warriors."



4. Unable to put it down. From personal experience, this author tells it like it is. Recommend reading for all having similar experience.



5. Two thirds of this book was disappointing as it was a boring disertation of Aaron Cohen's trip through Israeli Army's basic training regime. The last third was about actual missions of the Irael elite force and became what I thought the whole book would be about. The subject was interesting but time would be better spent with a different accounting of life in the Israeli military.

5 comments about Man's Search for Meaning.

1. I bought this book because I was searching for yet another book on workplace bullying and another book came up in my search based on Frankl's book. I read the customer reviews on that book and one reviewer said something to the effect of, "If you want to read a book based on Viktor Frankl's opinion of how to get along at a bad work environment (like a Nazi death camp), why don't you just read Frankl's book?" So, that's where I started. I read it. Twice. Then I got out my computer and typed in passages that had meaning to me so I could re-read them during difficult times. I compressed the entire book down to about 10 pages, single spaced. I must admit that I consider myself a negative, often depressed sort of person, mostly because my work situation is so demoralizing. I was amazed by Frankl's coping mechanisms on how to get along in a difficult situation; every day meant multiple incidents of having to choose the correct path to avoid death or worse, making the choice to give up on your own life (suicide). He went through 5 years of that and lived to tell about it. It is a must read for everyone, particularly when you are having the hardest time of your life. I could tell that if I had read it as a college student, it wouldn't have the same meaning as now, when I am 50 and have had many ups and downs. I see everything at such a deeper level and appreciated this book so much more than I would have if I were younger. Briefly, the lessons in the book written 50 years ago still apply today. Here they are: Let luck be your guide. It's not what you know, it's who you know. Network with the equivalent of a one-step-up lateral (not your own) middle manager and they will help you when they can. Schmooze. Be kind to others. Don't complain, it doesn't help. You can't fix, deal with or appeal to a sadist, so don't try. Avoid sadists at all costs. Keep your mouth shut unless asked for your opinion and then be short and to the point. Praise, even when praise isn't deserved. Keep criticisms to yourself. Be inconspicuous. Work hard for the sake of doing a good job. Fantasize for escape. Everything can be taken away from you except for your past, so relish in it. When something good happens to you, write it down (keep a gratitude journal). Don't do anything that compromises your own values so you won't have regrets. Be careful who you abuse today because tomorrow they may be your master. You are not your job, your title or your position. You are a unique person loved by others. The only thing in life that really matters is the people you love and the people who love and need you. Love shared is eternal. Treat everyone with respect. The meaning of life is not what life can do for you, but what life expects of you; how you make the world a better place with your presence. The purpose of life is not happiness. The purpose of life is discovering what you can contribute to it. Save a slice of bread (or whatever is the only material thing that matters to you when there is nothing left) for later when you are really depressed and it's the only thing left that can get you through that difficult moment. (For me it's chocolate and a dark beer at the same time.) Apathy is the signaling of the beginning of the end of one's life. Everyone that you respect and look up to has human failings. Even tough guys cry. Suffering without purpose is meaningless. The larger the suffering, the bigger the lesson. There's lots more in the book for you to discover and it's an easy read.



2. This book is incredibly inspiring, both from a theoretical and practical perspective. I highly recommend it for anyone who is in an "existential vacuum" as Frankl says, or for anyone who just wants to get more ideas about what the "meaning of life" might be.
   
   The book is not only very well laid out and well written, but the content is rich. I highly recommend perusing it with a pen at hand to mark a response to a lot of his statements, then re-reading your own comments with his text... I think you'll learn a lot about yourself that way.



3. "Ultimately, man should not ask what the meaning of his life is, but rather must recognize that it is he who is asked. In a word, each man is questioned by life; and he can only answer to life by answering for his own life; to life he can only respond by being responsible." ~ Viktor Frankl from "Man's Search for Meaning"
   
   Viktor Frankl. He's unquestionably one of my heroes and this book is a must read (or re-read as the case may be). If you don't have it yet, it's time to get it. It's impossible to be a serious student of life and not soak up as much Frankl as you can.
   
   The man survived the horrors of Nazi concentration camps and, from that pain, brought the world his "Logotherapy"--a philosophy based on the fundamental precept that we have ultimate responsibility for choosing our responses to any given challenge AND equally powerful responsibility to determine how we will give ourselves to the world and create a truly meaningful life.



4. Frankl wrote a brilliant book. The way of his writing is very clear and to the point. There are a lot of psychology terms, but not so many that it makes the book confusing. Frankl looks at the story from an unattached view, and thus he is able to give good, unbiased theories about why things happened. This book made many of the reasons of what happened during the holocaust clearer. It is an enjoyable and informative read.



5. If you've read the book - which I suggest you read the book so you can really digest its meaning - the audio provides a great avenue to hear it again. I spend 2 hours in the car everyday and having the audio text of Frankl's work is a nice distraction from the 'speed' of the day. I would add though, if you haven't read the text, listen to it. There is much meaning to draw from it and apply to your own life. Very insightful generally speaking, the audio doesn't detract. I'm a book guy to begin with and that is why I would suggest the book before the audio. Either way, one of the most influential works I've ever read.

5 comments about Survival In Auschwitz.

1. I like the author. Many years ago he wrote "Christus kam nur bis Eboli"
   and that made me travel to that place in southern Italy.
   This book is even better. It informes me and at the same time it
   is interesting and I can not put it aside while reading.
   He writes about what he thinks and feels and how they react.
   This book is worth its money.



2. This book from bnpublishing contains serious multiple errors, sometimes five per page, that disrespect the author and the Holocaust and force the reader to stop and try to figure out the author's real meaning. Book is full of incorrect or missing punctuation (such as periods), words and names spelled different ways from one sentence to the next, random capitalization, run-on sentences, grammatical and spelling errors in English, French, and German. "Figfit" is not a word. Neither are "infaticable," "aroupd," or "mochery." The phrase is "flash of intuition," not "flask." The sign over every concentration camp was "Arbeit Macht Frei," not "Fret." You say, "avec moi," which means "with me," not "avec mot" which means "with word." Phrases like "there were no dark cold air had the smell" (p. 107) stop the reader dead. Very disrespectful of the author and the subject. Levi was a brilliant man with astounding powers of observation and recall for his hellish experiences. His words deserve to be preserved better than this.



3. Excellant book, I felt like I was living Mr Levi's life in the camp with him. What a wonderful story of survival.



4. A monotone, sort of scientific voice. His story is sad...but is told with very little emotion. It was hard to get into - a little harder to read due to the "scientist' type voice that I'm not used to. I found Elie Weisel's "Night" to be a much more candid look inside a survivor's haunted soul. Primo Levi is good for someone who prefers reading something about the Holocaust that is a bit more textbook vs. memoir.



5. A touching, but not mawkish or dramatic, memoir. One realizes the randomness and happenstance by which he survived, and easily accepts the moral dualism of the life of thievery and connivance, within bounds of common decency and collective group self-interest, that kept any survivor alive. Some reviews seemed to fault the book for being unemotional, but one sees how Levi's essentially scientific and objective personality became a key to his survival, and necessarily informs his voice.

5 comments about The Invisible Wall: A Love Story That Broke Barriers.

1. This book was a book club pick that came in second only after the first book selected was not in print, how unbelievably lucky do I feel? This book is absolutely amazing. The story and all the details make you feel like you were a part of this family sharing in all the good times and bad. As a previous reviewer mentioned, this book has a truly heart breaking story but it is absolutely uplifting and hopeful. I read it in a week and could not put it down. As soon as I finished reading The Invisible Wall I ran right out to the store and picked up The Dream, Harry Bernsteins follow up, I've had the book for one day and already and am half way through it. This is a must read, wonderful, wonderful book.



2. I read 5 plus books a month and almost all from the library.
   And when I read this one, I bought it from Amazon before I even finished it. You will want to read this, reread this, and pass it on to everyone you know! What an author! Why did he have to wait til 96 to start? :)



3. This was a really good read. It was a book club read. Very interesting story! Harry Bernstein did an incredible job at this memoir. Would recommend!



4. Hearing the book described to me as "a similar story along the lines of Angela's Ashes" made me NOT want to read it. While I enjoyed that book it left me so very very depressed and sad. I reluctantly picked up this story and began to read it and was immediatly drawn to it's lovely writing.
   Set on a poor street in England, one side Jewish one side Catholic, you are told the story through the eyes of a young jewish boy. The days of torment at the hands of his cruel drunk father. The hardships his mother faced. But mostly a story of how love- a romeo/juliet kind of story.
   
   Oh it is sad. But uplifitng at the same time if that makes sense. I want to find Harry and give him a hug. Thank you for sharing your life with us.



5. Once I began reading The Invisible Wall, I was instantly hooked. Usually I prefer fiction to nonfiction, but this memoir is as exciting and readable as any fiction. The author's story of growing up Jewish in England amidst such poverty and prejudice was a real eye-opener to me. I had no idea such conditions existed prior to World War I in what I considered an "enlightened" country. Relating his tale with an uncomplaining and unbiased voice, Bernstein calmly portrays the injustice and heartbreak of his childhood home. I laughed, I cried, and I will remember this book long after I have read it. I am looking forward to the sequel.

5 comments about Shut Up, I'm Talking: And Other Diplomacy Lessons I Learned in the Israeli Government--A Memoir.

1. I liked the concept of this book. Take the state of Israel and turn it into a Seinfeld episode. The writing style is rather basic and so flat, that it detracts from the revelations of the narrative. Also, too many lapses in the time line make for a heavily disjointed narrative. You often want to know more about his side trips to South Africa, than his glossed over, day-to-day grind in Tel Aviv.
   Mildly amusing, but would have been a better New Yorker story than an actual book.



2. Levey, Gregory. "Shut Up, I'm Talking and Other Diplomacy Lessons I Learned in the Israeli Government", Free Press, 2008.
   
   A Laugh Riot
   
   Amos Lassen
   
   I do not think that many of us laugh when we think of the inner workings of government agencies but Gregory Levey knows differently. In fact, reading "Shut Up, I'm Talking" explains, in its own way, why the Middle East is so hard to understand.
   Levey was once a speechwriter for the Israeli delegation to the United Nations when he was only 25 years old. He was thrust into a world of foreign ministers, heads of state and American senators and before he knew it he was attending sessions at the U.N. as well as being responsible for the drafting of major statements of the Israeli government. Then he was transferred to Jerusalem to be the speech writer for then prime minister Ariel Sharon,
   I found myself laughing aloud while reading the book and then running to the phone to call a friend and tell it to him. Levey was in Israel for three years during which Arafat died, the intifada continued, Hamas rose to power and Sharon had the stroke that has left him in a coma. He takes us inside the government of Israel and we see how casual the workings are and as well as how the government works behind the scenes.
   As a non-citizen of Israel he sat in the Israeli seat at the United Nations General Assembly and when an important vote came up, he not only had no idea of how to vote but he had virtually no idea of what was being voted on.
   Levey mixes satire and reality to give us the poetical picture and we learn that he became interested in Israel when he came to law school in New York and decided to volunteer for the Israel Defense Forces. He is a Jewish Canadian and since he had time before he was due to report for military service, he applied for an internship at the Israel Mission to the U.N. and it is from that point that the comedy begins.
   If you want to learn about Israeli politics this is not the book for you but if you want to laugh then you are at the right place.



3. ** AUTHOR'S NOTE **
   "As I write this note, things don't look good in the Middle East. I'm not sure when you're reading this, but I assume that things still don't look good in the Middle East, because they never really do."
   -----------------------------------------------------------
   
   The author Gregory Levey at the age of twenty-five-years-old and not even an Israeli citizen found himself sitting alone at the State of Israel's seat at the United Nations General Assembly. An important vote was about to take place, and he not only didn't know which way to vote on the resolution... he didn't even know what the resolution was!
   
   This humorous and almost satirical yet somber situation was all set in motion innocently enough when Greg became bored in his second year of law school. The author being Jewish and a Canadian citizen going to school in New York decided to volunteer to serve in the Israeli army. After he signed up on-line for the army he still had a number of months ahead of him until he had to report to Israel. Unwilling to accept the monotonous months of waiting ahead he decided to apply for an internship at the Israeli Mission to the United Nations. What follows could provide enough fodder for a full season of hilarious sitcom material. As Greg followed up on his application, over and over again, without any positive results, he showed dogged determination and made yet another phone call to yet another person who told him to fax his resume directly to her. After still no response Greg gave up on the whole idea and left for Christmas break.
   
   After he returned to New York in January he got a strange call from a man named Yaron from Israeli security. This led to many, many, phone calls with varying degrees of time between each clandestine call, with questions that ranged from "what side of the street did he live on?" to questions about the Jewish summer camp he attended as a child. Finally an interview was set up with Israeli Ambassador Mekel. The first thing the Ambassador said was: "You look perfect on paper, so there must be something wrong with you." During the interview the Ambassador told Greg there is no internship program but offered him a deputy speechwriter job on a part-time basis, because the regular speechwriter was going to be leaving and if everything went well he could take over fulltime. "Greg accepted the offer, but told him that as a Canadian, he was not eligible to work in the United States. The Ambassador shook his head before he even finished the sentence and said, "I can hire anyone I want. We'll just change your status from student to DIPLOMAT!" "So that was it. From the U.S. State Department's point of view, Greg was going to be an Israeli Diplomat, even though he wasn't an Israeli citizen." Greg had come in the hope of getting an internship and walked out as an Israeli Diplomat.
   
   From there Greg starts writing speeches for Ambassador's in New York and gets noticed by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's staff in Israel, and as a favor writes a speech for the Prime Minister. While working in the Mission in New York he takes a vacation in Israel and takes a course in "combat firearms". He subsequently takes another vacation and goes to Israel and takes an "intelligence and counterintelligence" course, and as part of an assignment has to go undercover as "Joey Shmeltz". He then gets invited to come to Israel and work on Prime Minister Sharon's staff. From there on out the author provides a never before seen "outsider's" view of the "inside" of the tumultuous stress that Israeli's face daily as a people and as a nation with a smattering of rye humor along the way.



4. Levey is one of the funniest writer's I've read in a while. The best pieces in here are funny to the point that I laughed out loud in public. In fact, the best pieces are so good that you seek to retell it to your friends, yet sadly realize that you don't have the 1/10th the storytelling chops of Levey.
   
   Beyond the humor, Levey is endearing and honest. Indeed, his stories are as funny as they are because they are wrapped in the context of Levey's empathy and thoughtfulness. I've purchased this book already for three friends, and look forward to further giving it away to people who haven't had the pleasure of reading it. If you haven't read this book, it is a must. I am very much anticipating his next work!



5. Shut Up, I'm talking is very, very funny. I tried reading it before bed, but found it didn't help me fall asleep -- I kept reading on to the next chapter, laughing aloud along the way. The book reads like David Sedaris, but without the camp. This isn't for someone looking for a serious study of Israeli politics (obviously) -- but for something fun, this is it.

4 comments about The Dream: A Memoir.

1. As soon as I heard that Harry Bernstein had written a second memoir dealing with his early life America, I ordered it at once and devoured it. God bless this writer! He is 98 years old and hopes to give us a third memoir of his life with his beloved wife Ruby. I will buy it the day it is printed.
   
   Young Harry and his brothers and sisters, devoted mother and rather despicable, drunken and despotic father, leave their Liverpool poverty and travel to America in the early twentieth century. As Harry grows, the first of his family to complete high school (his mother cannot read or write), he takes on the role of the man in the house, eventually managing to work even during the Depression (though nearly killed by a band of thugs), trying to get his mother away from his father who has always made their life miserable. The strength, charm and humor of young Harry is wonderful and when he at last falls in love with a girl he meets in a dance hall, he begins a romance and marriage which will last him almost three quarters of a century.
   
   So many people are lovingly and fascinatingly portrayed, none less than his grandfather who in a strange, lonely, almost unbelievable profession, supports them all.
   
   Please write the next book quickly, Mr. Bernstein!
   
   Stephanie Cowell (author of the novel MARRYING MOZART)



2. After reading his moving and evocative first memoir, The Invisible Wall, about his life till age 12 living in Manchester as a child of Polish Jewish immigrants, I had eagerly awaited the possible sequel. This new book is as good as the first. Mr. Bernstein, now 98 years old, continues his story, covering the time of the family move to the USA, their experiences in Chicago and New York, their life during good times and then the depression. This book fits into several genera: 1. It is an autobiography, 2. It is a case study in parental abuse and general dysfunctional family members, and 3. It is a pesonal memoir of how this boy, and then man, responded to the various situations. To be honest, while I loved the writing and the story, something I cannot forget is the beautiful picture of Mr. Bernstein's wife, in her later years, looking up at him. The love is just so clear in her face.
   
   Read this book, after reading the Invisible Wall, and be swept into this remarkable family history.



3. This tender memoir showcases Mr. Bernstein's gifted ability to thoroughly connect with his readers. In The Invisible Wall - an equally fabulous book - we begin to follow Harry (the author), his parents, brothers, and sisters through the ups and downs of their hardscrabble existence in England. Now in The Dream, we connect all the more with them as they cope with incredibly difficult situations during the 1920's and 1930's in Chicago and New York. It's not a pretty existence, but it's one that exemplifies perseverance, resilience, love, forgiveness, and hope - some of which are undoubtedly scarce in this 21st century.
   
   Keep in mind that this is a two-volume treasure. Read The Invisible Wall first to become acquainted with Harry's family, including his amazing mother and her dream. Then treat yourself to The Dream to find out the incredible things that happen in America, including Harry's romance with Ruby, who becomes Harry's wife. And, if by book's end, you experience a very special closeness to Mr. Bernstein and his life story, you won't be the only one.



4. I could not wait until this book arrived and it was even better than Bernstein's first book. He really describes his family members so that the reader can understand who and why they are. His devotion to both his mother who was the inspiration for his dreams and his wife who was the love of his life is very touching. I cried when I finished the book. My only solace is the note at the end which indicates that he is planning a third book. What a feat for a man of 98!

5 comments about Survivors: True Stories of Children in the Holocaust.

1. an excellent collection of true stories of children of the holocaust. each story captivates your heart and keeps you reading to end. It will inspire you to do more to keep horrific things like the Holocaust from ever happening again.



2. I purchased a class set for my 6th grade class. I feel this book was very appropriately written for this age. Of course there are parts to the stories that are "unbelievable" and sad to read, espcially for me as an adult. However, children these days are exposed to much more by media and often with less sensorship and thought. These are wonderful stories that teach history, empathy, and human strength.



3. This book should be read by everyone that is emtionally mature enough to handle it. I am writing this review as a warning to parents that might purchase this book for a younger child based on the "Reading Level: 9 - 12" rating and the fact that it is a Scholastic book. My 4th grader's teacher recommended this book but I am glad I took a look at it first. Here's an excerpt from the book taking place as one of the children is being smuggled out of a ghetto by her father hiding her under his coat. The following exchange takes place between the guard and the man ahead of them at the gate:
   "Hurry up!" shouted the impatient German guard.
   "It's here somewhere. I know it is."
   "You don't have a pass, do you?" snarled the guard. "You're trying to sneak out of the ghetto, trying to fool me."
   "No really, I have - " The man never finished his sentence. The guard shot him.
   Hearing the loud bang, Luncia jerked. Her father wrapped his arms tight around his coat to keep her still, but her whole body trembled uncontrollably. He's going to shoot us all, I know it.
   
   I know that my 4th grader is not ready to read this kind of material but this is an excellent book to be read by everyone that is ready for this type of material. Very well written information that we all should know and never forget.



4. I didn't realize this was a children's book until it arrived. I'm glad I didn't or I might have missed out on this fine collection of experiences. Because it is a children's book, it gently glosses over some of the horrors these holocaust survivors saw. Those scenes are not removed from the story, but, the specifics are left to your own mind.
   
   Each chapter tells the story of a different child's experience.
   Two children were part of the kindertransport, but didn't go all the way to England. Another was on the ill-fated ship the St. Louis. A shocking reminder of how some survived and some didn't by the smallest of decisions.
   
   I have already read it many times. I intend to share it with my nieces when they next visit. The next generation must know that the Holocaust did exist. That over six million people died not for 'who' they were but for 'what' they were (Jewish, Gypsy, Gay, etc.). Unfortunately, nothing seems to unite people like having 'someone' to blame all your problems on. The Nazis and countless others both before and since have made that very clear.



5. Throughout the duration of World War II, the lives of Jews across Europe took a turn for the worse. As the Nazi's reign of terror extended, Hitler and his followers grasped every aspect of Jewish life and turned it upside-down. . Survivors True Stories of Children in the Holocaust, by Allan Zucco and Mara Bosuvn, is a gripping book entailing the true life stories of eight children living during the time period and their amazing determination to survive through the Holocaust. Each story uniquely depicts the riveting events each child endured in their struggle to survive. All eight stories demonstrate the childrens' bravery, valor, courage, and wisdom beyond years in heart wrenching experiences. Each child remained strong as their world and everything they once knew fell down around them.
   
   I found this book interesting, informing, and tremendously motivating. This book holds the attention of the reader exceptionally well. When you thought the character had no alternatives but to give up, you were immediately surprised by the courage they found within to outlast the struggle. For example, when Mathei Jackel, age ten, was placed in a boxcar all alone headed for a death camp, he somehow managed to escape out the door and remain free from the terror of the Nazis. You were left with the impression that he had no way out of the boxcar, which was headed towards his demise, and surprised when he escaped with his life. While keeping the reader involved with the stories, the book also enlightens the reader with many important facts pertaining to World War II and the Holocaust. Facts such as dates, historic locations, and vocabulary terms can be referenced to from the book and its glossary located at the back. Through reading the novel, I was able to learn many of the conditions the Jews faced. I was able to learn about the rations of food they were expected to live on and the daily routines they anticipated such as digging trenches, constructing war materials, and making long strenuous walks to various concentration camps. Above all, the stories included in this book were motivating and ultimately inspiring. Lines such as,"I don't know how, but I am going to survive...I can't think any other way," let the reader realize to never giving up is an important value to have in reaching your dreams. Hearing what each character endured made you realize anything is possible when you set your mind to it. The will and courage each child had made you want to strand up and make a difference. Many morals and life lesson ran through the simple yet captivating stories of each child's experiences. Life lessons everyone can find valuable such as going for your dreams and believing in yourself were key in each story. Although this book was an amazing read it, it's not suitable for all ages.
   
   Even though the book was well written and exceptional, it provides some vivid descriptions that an immature audience could not handle. Due to its graphic nature, this book is well suitable for a mature middle school or older audience. Mature audiences can benefit from its lessons and values such as courage represented in each story.
   
   The book could have been improved if it had included more about life of Jews before the Holocaust and the invasion of the Nazis. Readers could have understood how the lives of the Jews were completely turned upside-down by the Nazis' evasion. Readers also could have gotten to know the characters better by knowing more about their everyday life prior to the struggles they faced.
   
   Being a high school freshman, this book relates to many pieces of literature included in the high school curriculum. Books such as To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee, are related to this book in the sense that they both value courage in the activities the characters peruse. In both books the characters demonstrate both moral and physical courage. The Book also relates to the novel To Kill a Mockingbird because in both the characters are treated differently because of others ignorance. In both characters are faced with racism. In both books the characters face a loss of innocence due to dealing with adult conflicts and things children should have to face such as death and the slaughter of people due to racism.
   
   
   
   
   I would give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

5 comments about All But My Life.

1. This is one of the first Holocaust survival stories that I read. It is by far one that has stayed with me in the most detail.
   
   I'm not going to give the story away I'm just going to say you will cry and rejoyce in this story. It will touch you to core of your very being.
   
   I must read for EVERYONE!



2. I have read many of the holocaust books out there but this is the one I pass on to friends to read. Especially moving is the liberation of the prisoners at the end of the book. I wish all schools made this mandatory reading. What a way to learn history! This author is quite an incredible woman.



3. This book was gripping and I could not put it down until I finished it. It's so hard to believe the hardships so many endured for being Jewish. A must read. Beautifully written with rich detail.



4. I read this book a long time ago and just got done listening to the book on tape for the second time. It is the most powerful representation of the Holocaust I have found. Please read this book if you want to learn about the Holocaust from a gifted author and survivor.



5. Despite the horrors around her, and fellow prisoners dying and becoming mentally unbalanced every day, young Gerda Weissman managed to survive several Nazi camps from the late 1930s through the grisly end of World War II.
   
   Imagine being a teenager, wrenched away from your beloved parents, older brother and home -- and never seeing any of them ever again. It would be enough to make anyone unstable, not to mention bitter. Yet somehow, Gerda emerges from her horrifying ordeal stronger than she began. As her body heals in a hospital run by the Allies during the spring of 1945, Gerda begins a relationship with Kurt Klein -- a young soldier who urges her to tell her story.
   
   Now an elderly woman living in Arizona, Gerda Weissman Klein is able to see just how far she's come from the young Jewish girl living a priviledged life in Poland. Yet at the same time, her writing style allows readers to see clearly just how that same persona has managed to live such a rich, eventful life to the fullest all of these years.
   
   I've read many Holocaust memoirs, though I must say that Gerda's story is beautifully and distinctly told.

5 comments about Night.

1. I received this item in a timely matter in great condition! Would do business with again!



2. As an English teacher, I have my ninth graders read this memoir every year. And every year, I am moved to tears. Not only does Mr. Wiesel tell of his devastating experience of dehumanization in the Holocaust, but he tells it with such eloquence and mastery of the English language, that one would wonder if he was always a writer. This is his first book and it reads like a story written by some of the greatest writers of the literary canon. Be forewarned that his story will change your perspective on life and will most likely you move you to tears as well. If it doesn't, than as my Pastor would say, "your wood is wet."
   
   You may be asking yourself, "why would I want to read something that will just get me upset?" My answer to that is that if we don't get upset, how can we facilitate change? Ignorance leads to bliss? No way--it leads to destruction. Furthermore, antisemitism hasn't gone away. And in the midst of the violence and hatred exploding in the middle east 63 years after Hitler was defeated, there are millions of people who once again want to annihilate the Jews and are devising plans to do just that. So this memoir must be read. Mr. Wiesels' story must be heard.



3. From the moment we had began on this book in our classes it was truly an eye opener. Words cannot describe the misery that was felt in each and every word this book had within. The book itself had casted night over all of us, especially me as we listened intently on what could be known as the most heart striking tale. From the start of the camp to the death marchings in the snow, the story gives a full eye account of the horror that was seen in the Nazi war. No story ever has been written so amazingly nor dramaticly as this. Yes, it touched me darkly and it burned deeply but this story, this story is something everyone should read because no one should forget what happened so long ago. You cant go your whole life without reading this book, its something that you should not miss.
   
   I give it a rating of five stars and I hope you, the reader, can also find that too.



4. Night by Elie Wiesel is an excellent first hand account into the atrocities the Jew endured at the German prisoner and slave labor camps of World War II. This volume gives students additional connections into understanding the situations. Excellent version!!!



5. This is the true story of Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel. A religious Jew, Wiesel was a young boy during the German invasion. He and his family were taken captive by the Nazis and put into the concentration camps where he witnessed atrocities that destroyed his family and shattered his faith.
   
   Told simply and succintly, this first person account is haunting. Wiesel speaks with a numb detachment, sensationalizing nothing. He asks for no pity. He simply describes what he saw.
   
   It is only one person's point-of-view of perhaps the most important event in modern history, but his testimony feels as big as the Holocaust itself. That this is one of millions of stories that could be told is shocking again, even if you've seen movies or read other books on the topic. You come away from this book with a better understanding of what happened, and many unanswerable questions as to why it happened.
   
   As other reviewers have suggested, this book should be required reading for all high school students.