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BookInspector (124 KP) rated Hank Brodt Holocaust Memoirs: A Candle and a Promise in Books
Sep 24, 2020
For me, it is always incredibly sad to read holocaust memoirs or any memoirs related to concentration camps. The amount of suffering it has brought to the innocent people, it is hard to comprehend.
The description of this book is pretty accurate. This book is a story of a poor polish- Jewish boy called Hank, and how he survived the Holocaust. The story starts with Hank’s childhood to post survival activities. After being taken to the concentration camp, Hank did not stay for long in one place, he was transported many times to different camps, and he shared the events he had to endure and people he met.
The book is accompanied by plenty of photos of different events, different concentration camps which Hank was transported to, and also pictures of Hank’s family. I loved the short chapters, and I finished this memoir in one sitting. For me it was gripping and I really wanted to find out what happened next after each chapter. So, to conclude, I am very happy that Hank had a chance to survive and shared his experiences with all the readers. It was a horrible period in human history, and I believe that it should not be left forgotten. So, if you into WWII books, give this book a go, it is a chilling read, filled with pain and sorrow, but it shows, that even in the worst of times, some people can still keep their kindness.
The description of this book is pretty accurate. This book is a story of a poor polish- Jewish boy called Hank, and how he survived the Holocaust. The story starts with Hank’s childhood to post survival activities. After being taken to the concentration camp, Hank did not stay for long in one place, he was transported many times to different camps, and he shared the events he had to endure and people he met.
The book is accompanied by plenty of photos of different events, different concentration camps which Hank was transported to, and also pictures of Hank’s family. I loved the short chapters, and I finished this memoir in one sitting. For me it was gripping and I really wanted to find out what happened next after each chapter. So, to conclude, I am very happy that Hank had a chance to survive and shared his experiences with all the readers. It was a horrible period in human history, and I believe that it should not be left forgotten. So, if you into WWII books, give this book a go, it is a chilling read, filled with pain and sorrow, but it shows, that even in the worst of times, some people can still keep their kindness.
Merissa (12894 KP) rated Chozen Part Two (Headspace #2) in Books
Jan 28, 2022 (Updated Jul 5, 2023)
CHOZEN: PART TWO continues with the story, and it is just as dark and horrible as the first one, if not more so. My heart broke in the first chapter, and I don't think it ever recovered.
This was still told from different perspectives but, for some reason, it didn't feel as manic as before, so I was able to get a good grip on who was speaking and the experiences they had dealt with or were dealing with. You still have no idea who to trust though!
The story comes together slowly, giving you snippets of information as you go along. I will say that I was completely enthralled in this dark, horrific world, and couldn't put it down. The rescue was just the beginning, and even that wasn't without tragedy.
And that ending... perfect. That's all I'm saying.
This is a horrible, horrific book and I thank J. Paton for writing it. Stories such as these do not glamorise anything and unfortunately, the truth behind them can be darker still.
I would recommend this book but only if your mind, stomach, and heart can take it. It really is DARK so please be warned.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jan 28, 2022
This was still told from different perspectives but, for some reason, it didn't feel as manic as before, so I was able to get a good grip on who was speaking and the experiences they had dealt with or were dealing with. You still have no idea who to trust though!
The story comes together slowly, giving you snippets of information as you go along. I will say that I was completely enthralled in this dark, horrific world, and couldn't put it down. The rescue was just the beginning, and even that wasn't without tragedy.
And that ending... perfect. That's all I'm saying.
This is a horrible, horrific book and I thank J. Paton for writing it. Stories such as these do not glamorise anything and unfortunately, the truth behind them can be darker still.
I would recommend this book but only if your mind, stomach, and heart can take it. It really is DARK so please be warned.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Jan 28, 2022
Laura Doe (1350 KP) rated My Mess Is A Bit Of A Life in Books
Mar 21, 2022
I didn’t know what to expect of this book with it being a book about someone’s journey with anxiety, but I definitely didn’t think it would be as funny as it is.
Georgia Pritchett writes little anxious anecdotes from her life beginning in nursery. They are all written with Georgia’s humour prominent throughout the book, even the heartbreaking anecdotes still have some humour sprinkled into them. Reading through them, some are completely relatable and others not so much, but all completely believable.
The chapters are extremely short, some only a paragraph or two long. And while it might annoy some people, I loved this style as it showed that we were onto the next little anecdote and was quite easy to follow. But for me, with the chapters being short it just meant that I wanted to carry on reading… “just one more chapter” turned into the whole book!
I read this in an afternoon because it was such an easy and pleasant read (despite the subjects touched upon not being pleasant) and it was nice to read about the life that Georgia has had and the accomplishments despite her being a woman in a man’s world.
I will be recommending this to anyone that will listen, and will probably pick it up again at some point in the near future.
Thank you to Pigeonhole and Georgia Pritchett for the chance to read this page turner!
Georgia Pritchett writes little anxious anecdotes from her life beginning in nursery. They are all written with Georgia’s humour prominent throughout the book, even the heartbreaking anecdotes still have some humour sprinkled into them. Reading through them, some are completely relatable and others not so much, but all completely believable.
The chapters are extremely short, some only a paragraph or two long. And while it might annoy some people, I loved this style as it showed that we were onto the next little anecdote and was quite easy to follow. But for me, with the chapters being short it just meant that I wanted to carry on reading… “just one more chapter” turned into the whole book!
I read this in an afternoon because it was such an easy and pleasant read (despite the subjects touched upon not being pleasant) and it was nice to read about the life that Georgia has had and the accomplishments despite her being a woman in a man’s world.
I will be recommending this to anyone that will listen, and will probably pick it up again at some point in the near future.
Thank you to Pigeonhole and Georgia Pritchett for the chance to read this page turner!
Connor Sheffield (293 KP) rated Call of the Jersey Devil in Books
May 25, 2017
Brilliant humour (2 more)
Horror
Written by one of my favourite Gothic musicians, Aurelio Voltaire
Hilarious, Gruesome and a brilliantly written
Aurelio Voltaire has always been brilliantly funny and witty in his work. His music is something I'd recommend listening to if you haven't already, don't let the Goth genre allow your mine to judge before you listen to it, because I promise you, it's not what you expect.
This book of his, is as brilliantly written as his lyrics, and Voltaire knows how to write a gruesome, horrifying adventure that includes friendship, family curses, Himself (as the washed up Goth singer), the undead, and of course legendary beast known as The Jersey Devil. Voltaire was born and raised in New Jersey and he did not enjoy his years as a young Goth (though he didn't know he fit into a stereotype back then) as people ridiculed him, and the other kids bullied him. He has a son called 'Bomb New Jersey' and I believe he references these thoughts in other areas of his work as well.
Back to the book however, the tale begins by telling us how the Jersey Devil was banished from this realm on earth and then it jumps to present day. The first chapter is exciting and gripping, the next chapter is brilliant and hilarious, and includes a dildo lightsaber fight....yes you read that right. The mall rats are best friends, but they argue with one another a lot, and this is how the book gets your attention. You keep reading to see how their relationships evolve, and how they band together to help one another survive the hellish nightmare that unfolds in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey.
The detail in this book is written to give you gruesome images, of the grotesque undead, the large stature of the Jersey Devil, and the unearthly noise it makes.
I have met Aurelio Voltaire twice at Whitby Goth Weekend, and on the second time, I had the honour of being on stage with him, and a handful of other audience members, in order to be his Hellish choir that night, and it was incredible. I have my copy of the book signed and that makes it even more valuable to me. It's a great read, and I highly recommend to any fan of horror, and macabre.
This book of his, is as brilliantly written as his lyrics, and Voltaire knows how to write a gruesome, horrifying adventure that includes friendship, family curses, Himself (as the washed up Goth singer), the undead, and of course legendary beast known as The Jersey Devil. Voltaire was born and raised in New Jersey and he did not enjoy his years as a young Goth (though he didn't know he fit into a stereotype back then) as people ridiculed him, and the other kids bullied him. He has a son called 'Bomb New Jersey' and I believe he references these thoughts in other areas of his work as well.
Back to the book however, the tale begins by telling us how the Jersey Devil was banished from this realm on earth and then it jumps to present day. The first chapter is exciting and gripping, the next chapter is brilliant and hilarious, and includes a dildo lightsaber fight....yes you read that right. The mall rats are best friends, but they argue with one another a lot, and this is how the book gets your attention. You keep reading to see how their relationships evolve, and how they band together to help one another survive the hellish nightmare that unfolds in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey.
The detail in this book is written to give you gruesome images, of the grotesque undead, the large stature of the Jersey Devil, and the unearthly noise it makes.
I have met Aurelio Voltaire twice at Whitby Goth Weekend, and on the second time, I had the honour of being on stage with him, and a handful of other audience members, in order to be his Hellish choir that night, and it was incredible. I have my copy of the book signed and that makes it even more valuable to me. It's a great read, and I highly recommend to any fan of horror, and macabre.
BookwormMama14 (18 KP) rated An Untamed Land (Red River of the North, #1) in Books
Jan 2, 2019
Life is too short to read books I don't like. This is a book that I got for free from Barnes & Noble and didn't even make it half way through. I was going to try and push through, but every time I went to read it, I got a feeling of dread in my bones. So, I decided that I would put it down and read something else. There are too many good books out there to spend time on one that does not interest me, and causes me mental strife.
**Spoilers**
The Bjorklunds are a Norwegian family and have been dreaming of life in America for years now. And the time has come to make those dreams a reality. The prologue begins in 1877 with the family discussing plans to start saving and send two of their sons and their families to America. When Chapter One begins, it is a different year which is not mentioned, and I was extremely confused. In the prologue Roald's wife's name is Anna, and then all of a sudden it's Chapter One and Ingeborg is introduced. I had to flip back and forth a few times trying to make sense of everything. It turns out that Anna died and Roald remarried a few years later to Ingeborg. However, my main reason for disliking this book is Roald. He treats his wife with contempt and obviously withholds any affections he has towards her. I get a bad taste in my mouth every time I think about the way Roald treats Ingeborg. I understand a lot of it is cultural and the era. But I do not enjoy it. He rules his house with an iron fist. Ingeborg is afraid to even let a sigh out accidentally for fear of her husband.
I read a couple other reviews and found that the book does not have a happy ending. This was one of the determaning factors I used when I decided to set it down. I did not want to push through a book I did not enjoy to have it leaving me feeling miserable. I may pick this back up in the future, but it is being shelved for now. I have not given up on Lauraine Snelling either. This was the first book I have read by her and am interested to see what other books she writes.
Bethany House Publishers
**Spoilers**
The Bjorklunds are a Norwegian family and have been dreaming of life in America for years now. And the time has come to make those dreams a reality. The prologue begins in 1877 with the family discussing plans to start saving and send two of their sons and their families to America. When Chapter One begins, it is a different year which is not mentioned, and I was extremely confused. In the prologue Roald's wife's name is Anna, and then all of a sudden it's Chapter One and Ingeborg is introduced. I had to flip back and forth a few times trying to make sense of everything. It turns out that Anna died and Roald remarried a few years later to Ingeborg. However, my main reason for disliking this book is Roald. He treats his wife with contempt and obviously withholds any affections he has towards her. I get a bad taste in my mouth every time I think about the way Roald treats Ingeborg. I understand a lot of it is cultural and the era. But I do not enjoy it. He rules his house with an iron fist. Ingeborg is afraid to even let a sigh out accidentally for fear of her husband.
I read a couple other reviews and found that the book does not have a happy ending. This was one of the determaning factors I used when I decided to set it down. I did not want to push through a book I did not enjoy to have it leaving me feeling miserable. I may pick this back up in the future, but it is being shelved for now. I have not given up on Lauraine Snelling either. This was the first book I have read by her and am interested to see what other books she writes.
Bethany House Publishers
Alison Pink (7 KP) rated Home Front in Books
Jan 15, 2018
I have read several Kristin Hannah books and enjoyed every one that I've read to date. I must say that this one takes the cake however. I don't think there was a chapter in the entire book that didn't bring tears to my eyes or have me laughing or even cussing out one of the characters.
This book tells the story of Jolene & Michael. He is a successful criminal defense attorney, she is a Black Hawk helicopter pilot in the National Guard. Michael has always thought Jo's involvement in the service was strange to say the least. Like many couples, Jo & Michael were watching their marriage crumble to pieces. After Michael makes a particularly heart wrenching admission, Jo finds out that she is being deployed with her Raptor unit to Iraq, which of course includes Jo's best friend & next door neighbor Tami. The book centers around this deployment and the effects it has on Jo, Michael, & their 2 young daughters. It is both heart breaking and encouragining. You will find yourself rooting for Michael and Jo, but for very different reasons.
I will warn you however, it is not all happy endings. Of course how could it be when war is involved?
Bottom line....READ IT!
This book tells the story of Jolene & Michael. He is a successful criminal defense attorney, she is a Black Hawk helicopter pilot in the National Guard. Michael has always thought Jo's involvement in the service was strange to say the least. Like many couples, Jo & Michael were watching their marriage crumble to pieces. After Michael makes a particularly heart wrenching admission, Jo finds out that she is being deployed with her Raptor unit to Iraq, which of course includes Jo's best friend & next door neighbor Tami. The book centers around this deployment and the effects it has on Jo, Michael, & their 2 young daughters. It is both heart breaking and encouragining. You will find yourself rooting for Michael and Jo, but for very different reasons.
I will warn you however, it is not all happy endings. Of course how could it be when war is involved?
Bottom line....READ IT!
Nicole Hadley (380 KP) rated 10 Routes That Crossed the World in Books
Jun 18, 2018
10 Routs that Crossed the World by Gillian Richardson is a book that discusses the history behind 10 important routes in the world. Each chapter begins with a short story based on the specific route and then proceeds to facts about the place. Extremely interesting for kids who enjoy history.
Pretty much every important road and trail in history are described and discussed. From Route 66 back to the Bering Strait. The Camino de Santiago trail in Spain and its importance to pilgrims for centuries as well as the Appalachian Trail and why people hike it. I had never even heard of the war-torn Khyber Pass connecting Afghanistan and Pakistan. I'm already scheming how we can add this to our World History study next year. This one does not read like a textbook at all. We especially enjoyed reading about the Serengeti and the migration of millions of animals. There is an extended bibliography and a list of further reading if you'd like to explore any of these topics more in depth.
This book is written for middle grade students. They will enjoy the historical background to the trails and the stories.
I received this book from Annick press via NetGalley in response for an honest review.
Pretty much every important road and trail in history are described and discussed. From Route 66 back to the Bering Strait. The Camino de Santiago trail in Spain and its importance to pilgrims for centuries as well as the Appalachian Trail and why people hike it. I had never even heard of the war-torn Khyber Pass connecting Afghanistan and Pakistan. I'm already scheming how we can add this to our World History study next year. This one does not read like a textbook at all. We especially enjoyed reading about the Serengeti and the migration of millions of animals. There is an extended bibliography and a list of further reading if you'd like to explore any of these topics more in depth.
This book is written for middle grade students. They will enjoy the historical background to the trails and the stories.
I received this book from Annick press via NetGalley in response for an honest review.
Tallulah22 (211 KP) rated Then She Was Gone in Books
Jan 8, 2020
This is the first book that I have ever read by Lisa Jewell and I was NOT disappointed. The characters were so well written that I felt what they were feeling and I was going through all of the motions with them. The plot was one that hooked me in straight away and kept me there until the very last sentence.
It was recommended by my mum who wanted someone to talk about the book with after she finished it in a day and it was another day before I was able to join her in conversation.
We both drew the same speculations as we read about what we thought had happened to Ellie and who was involved and these changed with every chapter that we read. Some of mine were a bit more outlandish in my mind but it all came together with bits and pieces of all of our ideas in a perfect culmination.
I felt bad for characters in the end and there were a couple that I despaired over the ending of but it was what needed to happen to them for the book to be as good as it was.
Truly a great read and we are on the look out for more books by this author.
It was recommended by my mum who wanted someone to talk about the book with after she finished it in a day and it was another day before I was able to join her in conversation.
We both drew the same speculations as we read about what we thought had happened to Ellie and who was involved and these changed with every chapter that we read. Some of mine were a bit more outlandish in my mind but it all came together with bits and pieces of all of our ideas in a perfect culmination.
I felt bad for characters in the end and there were a couple that I despaired over the ending of but it was what needed to happen to them for the book to be as good as it was.
Truly a great read and we are on the look out for more books by this author.
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