Wow! Powerful stuff!
Alex, a man who has lost more than just his given name is now in his senior years and is ready to speak out about his imprisonment in the Auschwitz concentration camp in Birkenau. He seeks the help of his good friend Yael and a judge rabbi to assist him in this endeavor. I am battling with this book. Part of me thinks that if the book was shorter it would be much easier to read. But another part of me knows that, due to the content of the book, it would not be easy to read in any format. In this book Alex and his fellow prisoner Masha describe in great detail the horrors that they witnessed in two different parts of Auschwitz and the horrible things they were made to do. This is not an easy read for anyone. Although written beautifully and simply in a play by play style that tells a definite story, the content is by far one of the most disturbing books I've ever read. And coming from a horror fanatic like me that is saying something. Alex does not hold anything back. His story is told in raw genuine form. Masha's story as well is told in a similar fashion through letters that she had written to Alex. This is a story that depicts humanity at its rock bottom, lowest point. WARNING: this book is not for the faint of heart or the week of stomach. With all these factors aside, this book is very well written and follows a definite storyline through Alex's horrific tale. From the very beginning Alex takes you along his journey into the past to seek redemption for his eternal soul as he seeks out the help of a judge rabbi and corresponds with him through email and tells his story. The book is a mixture of both Alex telling from the first person point of view and from the emails written back and forth. Yael also writes portions in first person point of view but her story, in my opinion, only ads a little bit of character to the underlining story itself. Her story is not really necessary to convey what the book is about. This book was a twisted relationship for me. I would set down the book crying and pick it back up again only to have my heart broken once more. I found myself forcing myself to read through this book and finish to the end. Even though I knew the ending, it didn't make the journey any easier. Please don't get me wrong, this is a wonderful piece of literature and a great book! This is one that I think everybody should read. But I know in my heart there are a lot of people who will not read it and know even more so that there are some who cannot read it. And while that is very sad, I know it to be true. Please read this book if you have not already. It is a piece of human history captured perfectly in one volume.
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