paigepea
Drama Llama
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Posts: 5,609
Location: BC, Canada
Jun 26, 2014 4:28:55 GMT
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Post by paigepea on Oct 20, 2020 12:56:30 GMT
Thanks! I just bought Hiding in Plain Sight. My dear Polish Catholic Dad would have been 103 next week. He was 21 and already drafted into Poland's army when HItler invaded. 2.5 years in POW camps doing slave labor, then 3 years in 3 concentration camps. I used to read a lot about the Holocaust as an old teenager, young twenty-something. Not much lately. I appreciate this rec. And thanks, @ brandy327, for the thread. What makes you so interested in the Holocaust, do you think? I'm not sure, to be honest. I think the fascination lies with how they survived such awful circumstances. Many of the stories you read are of kids... and while I've always known children's are resilient, these situations are extreme. And by all rights, they shouldn't have survived. Yes! Survival and the glimmer of hope for some is amazing to read about. It’s incredible that amid terrible conditions there was still hope and love. We attended a zoom bris in July and it was at first sad. Then my cousin gave a speech about how through this experience she was reminded that Jewish people have had bris’s in far worse conditions - alluding to having them in hiding during the Holocaust - and suddenly the zoom celebration made us feel so lucky. When I complain to my mom about the pandemic and the lack of social connection she reminds me that our ancestors lived in attics, basements, barns and under steps for years. Dh’s grandparents survived the Holocaust so my kids are great grandchildren of survivors. We travelled 3 years ago (without kids) to see their ghettos and secret synagogues and cemeteries, and to visit the memorial of the righteous gentile who provided them with false papers. We also visited aushewitz.
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janeinbama
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,180
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Jan 29, 2015 16:24:49 GMT
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Post by janeinbama on Oct 20, 2020 13:16:26 GMT
I enjoy WWII historical fiction, as well. I highly recommend Beneath a Scarlet Sky by Mark T. Sullivan. It's from a different perspective than a lot of the books. The main character is a young man from Milan, Italy. We read this with book club and the it is based on Pino Lella's life. Such a different perspective. He immigrated to the US.
We also read The Huntress by Kate Quinn which based on actual female aviators in Russia - fascinating book.
I don't normally read war anything, but couldn't put those 2 books down.
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J u l e e
Drama Llama
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Jun 28, 2014 2:50:47 GMT
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Post by J u l e e on Oct 20, 2020 13:24:14 GMT
I've not read either of the ones you mentioned so I don't know if it's similar, but The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah is excellent. I also liked The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult. Hahahaha this book is the absolute worst, and is so far from non-fiction it defies the mind. Ravensbruck by Sara Helm is an excellent study. Is this your natural personality - to state a difference of opinion so rudely? No need to laugh or be so extreme, unless you’re trying to be unpleasant. It’s a book discussion. Shouldn’t be hard to demonstrate civility while disagreeing.
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psiluvu
Pearl Clutcher
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Jun 25, 2014 22:52:26 GMT
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Post by psiluvu on Oct 20, 2020 13:44:32 GMT
Hiding in Plain Sight - Betty Lauer - The Incredible True Story of a German-Jewish Teenager's Struggle to Survive in Nazi-Occupied Poland. This is on my top 5 all time favourite books Also Ravensbruck: Life and Death in Hitler's Concentration Camp for Women - by Sarah Helm . This is a long read but well worth it. Thanks! I just bought Hiding in Plain Sight. My dear Polish Catholic Dad would have been 103 next week. He was 21 and already drafted into Poland's army when HItler invaded. 2.5 years in POW camps doing slave labor, then 3 years in 3 concentration camps. I used to read a lot about the Holocaust as an old teenager, young twenty-something. Not much lately. I appreciate this rec. And thanks, @ brandy327, for the thread. What makes you so interested in the Holocaust, do you think? That's great. I would be interested to hear what you think. As I mentioned I absolutely loved this book but it never seems to make any lists like this.
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Deleted
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Jun 24, 2024 11:55:51 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 20, 2020 14:00:05 GMT
I'm not sure, to be honest. I think the fascination lies with how they survived such awful circumstances. Many of the stories you read are of kids... and while I've always known children's are resilient, these situations are extreme. And by all rights, they shouldn't have survived. Yes! Survival and the glimmer of hope for some is amazing to read about. It’s incredible that amid terrible conditions there was still hope and love. We attended a zoom bris in July and it was at first sad. Then my cousin gave a speech about how through this experience she was reminded that Jewish people have had bris’s in far worse conditions - alluding to having them in hiding during the Holocaust - and suddenly the zoom celebration made us feel so lucky. When I complain to my mom about the pandemic and the lack of social connection she reminds me that our ancestors lived in attics, basements, barns and under steps for years. Dh’s grandparents survived the Holocaust so my kids are great grandchildren of survivors. We travelled 3 years ago (without kids) to see their ghettos and secret synagogues and cemeteries, and to visit the memorial of the righteous gentile who provided them with false papers. We also visited aushewitz. Thank you for your interesting and insightful post. I appreciate reading about your family’s perspective on this pandemic world.
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lesley
Drama Llama
My best friend Turriff, desperately missed.
Posts: 7,205
Location: Scotland, Scotland, Scotland
Jul 6, 2014 21:50:44 GMT
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Post by lesley on Oct 20, 2020 14:17:21 GMT
Probably the most comprehensive history of the Holocaust is by Martin Gilbert. He is a well respected historian who has written extensively about the twentieth century. "The Holocaust: The Jewish Tragedy” comes in around 900 pages. I remember buying it when it was first published in 1989, and it took me many months to read because it was so harrowing. It’s very well written and compelling, but the subject obviously means it is not an easy read. That being said, I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in learning more about the Holocaust.
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lesley
Drama Llama
My best friend Turriff, desperately missed.
Posts: 7,205
Location: Scotland, Scotland, Scotland
Jul 6, 2014 21:50:44 GMT
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Post by lesley on Oct 20, 2020 14:19:56 GMT
Oh, and I agree with kibblesandbits about The Nightingale. It’s a terrible book with grating inaccuracies and an improbable storyline.
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Post by scraphollie27 on Oct 20, 2020 14:57:14 GMT
Kristallnacht by Martin Gilbert is one that still haunts me.
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kibblesandbits
Pearl Clutcher
At the corner of Awesome and Bombdiggity
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Aug 13, 2016 13:47:39 GMT
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Post by kibblesandbits on Oct 20, 2020 15:57:41 GMT
Hahahaha this book is the absolute worst, and is so far from non-fiction it defies the mind. Ravensbruck by Sara Helm is an excellent study. Is this your natural personality - to state a difference of opinion so rudely? No need to laugh or be so extreme, unless you’re trying to be unpleasant. It’s a book discussion. Shouldn’t be hard to demonstrate civility while disagreeing. I was making a joke. Lordy. Unclench.
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Post by birukitty on Oct 20, 2020 16:31:17 GMT
I love history and have been reading about the Holocaust for decades. My interest stems from my heritage. I'm half German, half American.
Here are my recommendations. I like reading both non-fiction and historical fiction. While non-fiction gives me the important facts, historical fiction takes those facts and builds a story around them. That story immerses me in the timeline of the era. I feel the feels, and to me that is very important. In this way I get a better picture. Reading fiction they say builds empathy.
Daughter of the Reich by Louise Fein (F) The Boy who Followed His Father into Auschwitz by Jeremy Dronfield (NF) The German House by Annette Hess (F) About the 1963 Auschwitz trials. By Chance Alone-Max Eisen (NF) The German Midwife by Mandy Robotham (F) The Last Train to London by Meg Waite Clayton (F) About the Kindertransports. Children of the Nazis: The Sons and Daughters of Himmler, Goring, Hoss, Mengele, and Others-Living with a Father's Monstrous Legacy by Tania Crasnianski (NF) The Last Year of the War by Susan Meissner (F) Auschwitz Lullaby by Mario Escobar Holocaust by Gerald Green (F) if any of you remember the 1978 miniseries that came out at that time by the same name, this is the book. A Lucky Child by Thomas Buergenthal (NF) The Room on Rue Amelie by Kristin Harmel (F) The Taster by V.S. Alexander (F) White Rose, Black Forest by Eoin Dempsey (F) The Librarian of Auschwitz by Antonio G. Iturbe (F) Survivors Club by Michael Bornstein (NF) Born Survivors by Wendy Holden (NF) I first saw this book in a Poland bookstore. It is the amazing story of 3 pregnant women in a concentration camp fighting to stay alive. Ravensbruck by Sarah Helm (NF) Although this is a long book it is well worth reading. Ravensbruck was a concentration camp in Germany designed for only women. It is very well written. The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom (NF) If you have Prime you can see the movie from 1975. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne (F) The book is good although I thought the movie was better. The One Man by Andrew Gross (F) Once We Were Brothers by Ronald H. Balson (F) Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys (F) Beautifully written novel. Highly recommend. The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman (F) My Enemy's Cradle by Sara Young (F) Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay (F) There is a movie of this book too, but I'd read the book too. I liked the movie. Night by Eli Wiesel (NF)
That's all I can think of for now. If I think of anymore I'll add them to this post. I know I've read a lot more. Happy reading.
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Post by ~summer~ on Oct 20, 2020 16:32:36 GMT
Is this your natural personality - to state a difference of opinion so rudely? No need to laugh or be so extreme, unless you’re trying to be unpleasant. It’s a book discussion. Shouldn’t be hard to demonstrate civility while disagreeing. I was making a joke. Lordy. Unclench. I’m not following what joke you were making... I bought and started the book but could only read a few pages - I thought it would be more like All The Light We Cannot See - but it wasn’t and it grated on me from the first page.
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brandy327
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,353
Jun 26, 2014 16:09:34 GMT
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Post by brandy327 on Oct 20, 2020 17:09:34 GMT
I'm not sure, to be honest. I think the fascination lies with how they survived such awful circumstances. Many of the stories you read are of kids... and while I've always known children's are resilient, these situations are extreme. And by all rights, they shouldn't have survived. Yes! Survival and the glimmer of hope for some is amazing to read about. It’s incredible that amid terrible conditions there was still hope and love. We attended a zoom bris in July and it was at first sad. Then my cousin gave a speech about how through this experience she was reminded that Jewish people have had bris’s in far worse conditions - alluding to having them in hiding during the Holocaust - and suddenly the zoom celebration made us feel so lucky. When I complain to my mom about the pandemic and the lack of social connection she reminds me that our ancestors lived in attics, basements, barns and under steps for years. Dh’s grandparents survived the Holocaust so my kids are great grandchildren of survivors. We travelled 3 years ago (without kids) to see their ghettos and secret synagogues and cemeteries, and to visit the memorial of the righteous gentile who provided them with false papers. We also visited aushewitz. Yes!!! That glimmer of hope when it seemed like all hope should be lost. I think that's definitely a part of it. It's hard for me to articulate how reading these stories of survival affect me. As someone of white privilege, I try to imagine what these people had to endure... and ask myself, could I have survived the same conditions? A teacher friend of mine is lending me The Nightingale so I'm going to start with that one.
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brandy327
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,353
Jun 26, 2014 16:09:34 GMT
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Post by brandy327 on Oct 20, 2020 17:13:13 GMT
Probably the most comprehensive history of the Holocaust is by Martin Gilbert. He is a well respected historian who has written extensively about the twentieth century. "The Holocaust: The Jewish Tragedy” comes in around 900 pages. I remember buying it when it was first published in 1989, and it took me many months to read because it was so harrowing. It’s very well written and compelling, but the subject obviously means it is not an easy read. That being said, I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in learning more about the Holocaust. Thank you!! I'll definitely look for this one!!
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brandy327
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,353
Jun 26, 2014 16:09:34 GMT
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Post by brandy327 on Oct 20, 2020 17:15:46 GMT
I love history and have been reading about the Holocaust for decades. My interest stems from my heritage. I'm half German, half American. Here are my recommendations. I like reading both non-fiction and historical fiction. While non-fiction gives me the important facts, historical fiction takes those facts and builds a story around them. That story immerses me in the timeline of the era. I feel the feels, and to me that is very important. In this way I get a better picture. Reading fiction they say builds empathy. Daughter of the Reich by Louise Fein (F) The Boy who Followed His Father into Auschwitz by Jeremy Dronfield (NF) The German House by Annette Hess (F) About the 1963 Auschwitz trials. By Chance Alone-Max Eisen (NF) The German Midwife by Mandy Robotham (F) The Last Train to London by Meg Waite Clayton (F) About the Kindertransports. Children of the Nazis: The Sons and Daughters of Himmler, Goring, Hoss, Mengele, and Others-Living with a Father's Monstrous Legacy by Tania Crasnianski (NF) The Last Year of the War by Susan Meissner (F) Auschwitz Lullaby by Mario Escobar Holocaust by Gerald Green (F) if any of you remember the 1978 miniseries that came out at that time by the same name, this is the book. A Lucky Child by Thomas Buergenthal (NF) The Room on Rue Amelie by Kristin Harmel (F) The Taster by V.S. Alexander (F) White Rose, Black Forest by Eoin Dempsey (F) The Librarian of Auschwitz by Antonio G. Iturbe (F) Survivors Club by Michael Bornstein (NF) Born Survivors by Wendy Holden (NF) I first saw this book in a Poland bookstore. It is the amazing story of 3 pregnant women in a concentration camp fighting to stay alive. Ravensbruck by Sarah Helm (NF) Although this is a long book it is well worth reading. Ravensbruck was a concentration camp in Germany designed for only women. It is very well written. The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom (NF) If you have Prime you can see the movie from 1975. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne (F) The book is good although I thought the movie was better. The One Man by Andrew Gross (F) Once We Were Brothers by Ronald H. Balson (F) Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys (F) Beautifully written novel. Highly recommend. The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman (F) My Enemy's Cradle by Sara Young (F) Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay (F) There is a movie of this book too, but I'd read the book too. I liked the movie. Night by Eli Wiesel (NF) That's all I can think of for now. If I think of anymore I'll add them to this post. I know I've read a lot more. Happy reading. Oooh thank you so much for taking the time to share this list! I've copied it and will hopefully work my way through it!@
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paigepea
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Posts: 5,609
Location: BC, Canada
Jun 26, 2014 4:28:55 GMT
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Post by paigepea on Oct 20, 2020 17:27:48 GMT
Yes! Survival and the glimmer of hope for some is amazing to read about. It’s incredible that amid terrible conditions there was still hope and love. We attended a zoom bris in July and it was at first sad. Then my cousin gave a speech about how through this experience she was reminded that Jewish people have had bris’s in far worse conditions - alluding to having them in hiding during the Holocaust - and suddenly the zoom celebration made us feel so lucky. When I complain to my mom about the pandemic and the lack of social connection she reminds me that our ancestors lived in attics, basements, barns and under steps for years. Dh’s grandparents survived the Holocaust so my kids are great grandchildren of survivors. We travelled 3 years ago (without kids) to see their ghettos and secret synagogues and cemeteries, and to visit the memorial of the righteous gentile who provided them with false papers. We also visited aushewitz. Yes!!! That glimmer of hope when it seemed like all hope should be lost. I think that's definitely a part of it. It's hard for me to articulate how reading these stories of survival affect me. As someone of white privilege, I try to imagine what these people had to endure... and ask myself, could I have survived the same conditions? A teacher friend of mine is lending me The Nightingale so I'm going to start with that one. The one I recommended - we were the lucky ones - is based on a real family. I didn’t know that until the end and then I was even more impressed. The lost wife is based on fact but is fiction. The nightingale was an amazing story about nazi occupies France and what people went through to survive.
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Post by scraphollie27 on Oct 20, 2020 17:49:33 GMT
Is this your natural personality - to state a difference of opinion so rudely? No need to laugh or be so extreme, unless you’re trying to be unpleasant. It’s a book discussion. Shouldn’t be hard to demonstrate civility while disagreeing. I was making a joke. Lordy. Unclench. Your “joke” was cruel and likely unnecessarily hurt the feelings of the poster that posted her enjoyment of that book.
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Post by flanz on Oct 20, 2020 18:06:39 GMT
I'm not sure, to be honest. I think the fascination lies with how they survived such awful circumstances. Many of the stories you read are of kids... and while I've always known children's are resilient, these situations are extreme. And by all rights, they shouldn't have survived. Yes! Survival and the glimmer of hope for some is amazing to read about. It’s incredible that amid terrible conditions there was still hope and love. We attended a zoom bris in July and it was at first sad. Then my cousin gave a speech about how through this experience she was reminded that Jewish people have had bris’s in far worse conditions - alluding to having them in hiding during the Holocaust - and suddenly the zoom celebration made us feel so lucky. When I complain to my mom about the pandemic and the lack of social connection she reminds me that our ancestors lived in attics, basements, barns and under steps for years. Dh’s grandparents survived the Holocaust so my kids are great grandchildren of survivors. We travelled 3 years ago (without kids) to see their ghettos and secret synagogues and cemeteries, and to visit the memorial of the righteous gentile who provided them with false papers. We also visited aushewitz. ((((( HUGS))))
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Post by birukitty on Oct 21, 2020 13:17:10 GMT
Probably the most comprehensive history of the Holocaust is by Martin Gilbert. He is a well respected historian who has written extensively about the twentieth century. "The Holocaust: The Jewish Tragedy” comes in around 900 pages. I remember buying it when it was first published in 1989, and it took me many months to read because it was so harrowing. It’s very well written and compelling, but the subject obviously means it is not an easy read. That being said, I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in learning more about the Holocaust. Thank you for this recommendation. I hadn't come across this book before and it sounds like it is something that is very important to read. I will add it to my "to read" list.
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Post by birukitty on Oct 21, 2020 13:59:07 GMT
I love history and have been reading about the Holocaust for decades. My interest stems from my heritage. I'm half German, half American. Here are my recommendations. I like reading both non-fiction and historical fiction. While non-fiction gives me the important facts, historical fiction takes those facts and builds a story around them. That story immerses me in the timeline of the era. I feel the feels, and to me that is very important. In this way I get a better picture. Reading fiction they say builds empathy. Daughter of the Reich by Louise Fein (F) The Boy who Followed His Father into Auschwitz by Jeremy Dronfield (NF) The German House by Annette Hess (F) About the 1963 Auschwitz trials. By Chance Alone-Max Eisen (NF) The German Midwife by Mandy Robotham (F) The Last Train to London by Meg Waite Clayton (F) About the Kindertransports. Children of the Nazis: The Sons and Daughters of Himmler, Goring, Hoss, Mengele, and Others-Living with a Father's Monstrous Legacy by Tania Crasnianski (NF) The Last Year of the War by Susan Meissner (F) Auschwitz Lullaby by Mario Escobar Holocaust by Gerald Green (F) if any of you remember the 1978 miniseries that came out at that time by the same name, this is the book. A Lucky Child by Thomas Buergenthal (NF) The Room on Rue Amelie by Kristin Harmel (F) The Taster by V.S. Alexander (F) White Rose, Black Forest by Eoin Dempsey (F) The Librarian of Auschwitz by Antonio G. Iturbe (F) Survivors Club by Michael Bornstein (NF) Born Survivors by Wendy Holden (NF) I first saw this book in a Poland bookstore. It is the amazing story of 3 pregnant women in a concentration camp fighting to stay alive. Ravensbruck by Sarah Helm (NF) Although this is a long book it is well worth reading. Ravensbruck was a concentration camp in Germany designed for only women. It is very well written. The Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom (NF) If you have Prime you can see the movie from 1975. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne (F) The book is good although I thought the movie was better. The One Man by Andrew Gross (F) Once We Were Brothers by Ronald H. Balson (F) Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys (F) Beautifully written novel. Highly recommend. The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman (F) My Enemy's Cradle by Sara Young (F) Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay (F) There is a movie of this book too, but I'd read the book too. I liked the movie. Night by Eli Wiesel (NF) That's all I can think of for now. If I think of anymore I'll add them to this post. I know I've read a lot more. Happy reading. Oooh thank you so much for taking the time to share this list! I've copied it and will hopefully work my way through it!@ Awh, thank you Brandy327. That's so sweet. I've shared this before but some of you might not remember. I've been to Holland several times (we have family friends there) and they live in the same town Haarlem that the family Ten Boom lived. I've been to the Carrie Ten Boom museum twice and the second time it was raining and in November. I was the only person on the tour. I was able to stand in the "hiding place" both times but the second time was very memorable to me because I was able to speak to the tour guide at length. It was a very emotional day for me. I've also been to the Anne Frank House, but for some reason the Carrie Ten Boom house resonates more strongly for me. I don't know why. I've also been to Krakow, Poland and have spent an entire day touring the old Jewish district with a private tour guide (it was very reasonable in cost because of the sloty (spelling?) vs. dollar exchange. The guide was a history student studying for his Master's degree at the local University so I really lucked out. Anyway, we went to see all of the historical places in the old Jewish district including a few places where "Schindler's List" had been filmed. We saw so many sites and it was so moving. He left me at the Schindler factory Museum which only a small part is dedicated to Schindler. It houses his desk and shows other parts of his life, and is very well done. The other parts of the museum show the Holocaust and WWII but I must say it is one of the best museums I have ever been through and I grew up going to the Smithsonian museums frequently. This museum is very hands on. There is a part where there are Nazi flags (huge) that come down from the ceiling to the floor. You physically have to walk through them to get to the next part and they touch you as you go through-there is no other way through. I couldn't help but shudder as they touched my shoulders and body. This is of course done on purpose. It is very hands on and I thought very clever to get you in the mind set of what it was like. Another day was my day to go to the Auschwitz Memorial Museum. I had planned this ahead of time and bought my ticket online. (The best way to do this). I also bought an early admission ticket and a later English tour ticket. I wanted the early admission ticket so that I could take photos (I'm a former pro photographer) of the famous gate without a ton of modern people walking through. Instead of taking a booked tour that picks you up at your hotel (which would cramp my photo taking abilities) I followed Rick Steve's step by step instructions in his Tour book of Poland and went by myself on a bus. I ended up staying 8 hours at the Auschwitz museum! After reading about it for decades I really wanted to spend my time there I guess. I spent a lot of the day there in contemplation and prayer. I'm glad I went alone because it lent itself to that. I can't describe the feeling of actually seeing Auschwitz. Nothing prepares you for actually seeing how large it was. For seeing for yourself all of it's hideousness in person. And this is just the ruins! There is a book in the Auschwitz bookstore that I bought called Auschwitz-Birkenau The Place Where You Are Standing. It's an amazing book. On the left side of the page you see a historical photo and an explanation is printed. On the right side of the page you see the modern photo. BTW, above when I've written Auschwitz I mean Auschwitz-Birkenau. I encourage everyone if you get a chance to see some of these historical places if you ever get a chance. It is so important that we never forget! Okay, I've jabbered on long enough.
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Post by mandolyn9909 on Oct 21, 2020 15:41:23 GMT
I have read a lot of books about WW2.
Some of my favourites which I think have all been listed above.
The Things We Cannot Say - Kelly Rimmer
The nightingale - Kristin Hannah
Beneath a Scarlet Sky - Mark T Sullivan
Night by Elie Wiesel
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brandy327
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,353
Jun 26, 2014 16:09:34 GMT
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Post by brandy327 on Oct 21, 2020 22:37:18 GMT
Oooh thank you so much for taking the time to share this list! I've copied it and will hopefully work my way through it!@ Awh, thank you Brandy327. That's so sweet. I've shared this before but some of you might not remember. I've been to Holland several times (we have family friends there) and they live in the same town Haarlem that the family Ten Boom lived. I've been to the Carrie Ten Boom museum twice and the second time it was raining and in November. I was the only person on the tour. I was able to stand in the "hiding place" both times but the second time was very memorable to me because I was able to speak to the tour guide at length. It was a very emotional day for me. I've also been to the Anne Frank House, but for some reason the Carrie Ten Boom house resonates more strongly for me. I don't know why. I've also been to Krakow, Poland and have spent an entire day touring the old Jewish district with a private tour guide (it was very reasonable in cost because of the sloty (spelling?) vs. dollar exchange. The guide was a history student studying for his Master's degree at the local University so I really lucked out. Anyway, we went to see all of the historical places in the old Jewish district including a few places where "Schindler's List" had been filmed. We saw so many sites and it was so moving. He left me at the Schindler factory Museum which only a small part is dedicated to Schindler. It houses his desk and shows other parts of his life, and is very well done. The other parts of the museum show the Holocaust and WWII but I must say it is one of the best museums I have ever been through and I grew up going to the Smithsonian museums frequently. This museum is very hands on. There is a part where there are Nazi flags (huge) that come down from the ceiling to the floor. You physically have to walk through them to get to the next part and they touch you as you go through-there is no other way through. I couldn't help but shudder as they touched my shoulders and body. This is of course done on purpose. It is very hands on and I thought very clever to get you in the mind set of what it was like. Another day was my day to go to the Auschwitz Memorial Museum. I had planned this ahead of time and bought my ticket online. (The best way to do this). I also bought an early admission ticket and a later English tour ticket. I wanted the early admission ticket so that I could take photos (I'm a former pro photographer) of the famous gate without a ton of modern people walking through. Instead of taking a booked tour that picks you up at your hotel (which would cramp my photo taking abilities) I followed Rick Steve's step by step instructions in his Tour book of Poland and went by myself on a bus. I ended up staying 8 hours at the Auschwitz museum! After reading about it for decades I really wanted to spend my time there I guess. I spent a lot of the day there in contemplation and prayer. I'm glad I went alone because it lent itself to that. I can't describe the feeling of actually seeing Auschwitz. Nothing prepares you for actually seeing how large it was. For seeing for yourself all of it's hideousness in person. And this is just the ruins! There is a book in the Auschwitz bookstore that I bought called Auschwitz-Birkenau The Place Where You Are Standing. It's an amazing book. On the left side of the page you see a historical photo and an explanation is printed. On the right side of the page you see the modern photo. BTW, above when I've written Auschwitz I mean Auschwitz-Birkenau. I encourage everyone if you get a chance to see some of these historical places if you ever get a chance. It is so important that we never forget! Okay, I've jabbered on long enough. Thank you so, so much for sharing!! I loved reading about your experiences and hope to be able to visit some day.
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Deleted
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Jun 24, 2024 11:55:51 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 22, 2020 1:10:56 GMT
I love this one...
"Man's Search for Meaning is a 1946 book by Viktor Frankl chronicling his experiences as a prisoner in Nazi concentration camps during World War II, and describing his psychotherapeutic method, which involved identifying a purpose in life to feel positive about, and then immersively imagining that outcome"
It's quite inspiring.
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brandy327
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,353
Jun 26, 2014 16:09:34 GMT
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Post by brandy327 on Oct 23, 2020 15:08:41 GMT
A friend lent me The Nightingale. I finished it in a day and a half. Whether it's historically factual or not, phenomenal book. Thanks again for all the recommendations!!
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