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The Girl Who Survived Auschwitz by Sara Leibovits & Eti Elboim

Aug4

Powerful, Inspiring & Horrifying

The Girl Who Survived Auschwitz by Sara Leibovits & Eti Elboim is a powerful, inspiring and horrifying account of a sixteen year olds year spent in Auschwitz. Sara Leibovits was her name. This is her story, interspersed with memories by her daughter Eti Elboim. This is a journey to hell and back.

Sara Leibovits spent three days with eighty four people crammed into a cattle car, destination Auschwitz in May 1944. Already so much had been lost living in the ghetto, but far worse was to come.

Sara Leibovits is an amazing lady. She showed strength of character, resilience and maintained a kind heart, as she shared what little she had with those around her in Auschwitz. Her experiences make difficult reading but the reality would have been far worse – something we cannot even imagine, it’s so awful.

A loss of dignity and identity for all in Auschwitz as they were no longer known by name but by a tattooed number. Eti Elboim as her daughter affirms, “You are no longer a number.” The strong mother-daughter bond is clear for all to see.

In later years Sara Leibovits has visited Auschwitz and also spoken of her experiences to others. She has survived.

The reader hears from Eti Elboim what it is like as the second generation of an Auschwitz survivor. It was a perspective I had not read about before. I had not realized it could mean no grandparents, aunts, uncles… whole generations wiped out. Just your parents. Eti Elboim’s words are powerful and heartfelt.

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The German Mother by Debbie Rix

Aug2

Powerful

The German Mother by Debbie Rix is a powerful historical novel that completely took over my life for a few hours.

The action is set from 1920 -1945 mainly in Germany but also in London. It is based on factual details. We follow the rise of Hitler and the Nazi party from its inception to the height of power and then witness its demise. Within the tale, Hitler has a cameo role whereas Joseph Goebbels is more of a main character.

The story is set around the friendship of two German girls – one Aryan and one Jewish. Both enter the business of journalism as we see the power of the press to influence minds. Both witness the same events but with differing reactions. One fears what is to come, the other dismisses it. “They were only words, after all, and words couldn’t really hurt people.” Despite their differences, their friendship remains.

We see the action alternating between the two lead characters, and we get to know them really well.

It is horrifying to witness the rise to power of Hitler and the Nazis. The silence, the indifference and dismissive attitude of the German people enabled the obnoxious little corporal to come to power – and once in, he was impossible to unseat as he ruled through terror.

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The Nurse by Valerie Keogh

Aug1

Totally Immersive

The Nurse by Valerie Keogh is an absolutely marvellous contemporary psychological thriller that I just could not put down.

Valerie Keogh is a fantastic author who draws you into the world of The Nurse with her words. Whilst of questionable motives, the lead character is likable, realistic and elicits feelings of sympathy from the reader. I could recognize myself in her as a child, suffering at the hands of the school bully. We feel shock and horror at the event that left her alone at aged just sixteen.

The leading lady is a blend of vulnerable yet strong; empathetic and downright evil. She seems to have second sight into the character of people but at the crucial moment, it lets her down.

We see the devastation that loss leaves – a character is frozen in time; another sees his daughter everywhere he looks.

Our responses to characters are guided by Valerie Keogh’s marvellous pen. I found it surprising when I did a complete u-turn in my response to a character!

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Maidens Of The Cave by Lloyd Devereux Richards

Aug1

The Thinking Man’s Crime

Maidens Of The Cave by Lloyd Devereux Richards is an absolutely marvellous contemporary crime suspense that had me glued and guessing from the start.

The plotline is intricate, well thought out and executed. It is definitely a thinking man’s novel. There is no time to sit back and relax as the reader is immediately plunged into the action. We know the nickname of the perpetrator from the start but we do not know who it is.

We see that our upbringing shapes the adults we become – for good or evil.

The leading lady is well drawn, likable and realistic. She is tenacious in her search for the truth, preferring to go against her boss rather than have a death on her conscience.

This is a book with heightened tension throughout as the reader fears for the safety of the characters. I read with baited breath and rapidly rising heartbeat!

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