Thursday, March 21, 2024

The Hiding Place


 The Hiding Place By Corrie Ten Boom

When I first purchased this book I actually went off the cover and just assumed it was another memoir of a survivor of the Jewish faith from a concentration camp. However Corrie Ten Boom was a Christian woman who was involved in an underground effort in Holland to find safe places for persons of interest to the Nazi's. Not just jews but also young men who they take to put to work, people with a mental handicap, and more. She had a very specific and intricate system of coded communication with all the various people associated with the underground operations. Eventually her and her family was found out because of a mole associated with the gestapo. They were sent to a prison and then eventually ended up at a work camp. 

Her story was so impressive and inspirational to me because of the faith that her and her sister had, despite the horrible conditions they were subjected to. She is such a remarkable woman who always looked to Christ in every situation she faced. Her faith was so strong that she was able to witness and be apart of some amazing miracles. To go through what she went through and not only keep her faith intact but also have it strengthened because of her circumstances. After the war, she went on to tell her story and help spread the message of love and hope through Jesus Christ. As well as set up foundations to help anyone affected by the war.  I HIGHLY recommend reading this book.

Thursday, March 7, 2024

Eyewitness Auschwitz

 

Eyewitness Auschwitz By: Filip Muller

This was an interesting read right after reading the eyewitness account from Dr. Miklos Nyiszli. because of what i assumed was the close proximity of where the doctor was located in conjunction to the crematoriums of Auschwitz. I was curious to see if Filip Muller and the Dr had any contact or communication with each other. Filip never mentioned Dr. Nyiszli by name however there was a story that he told that could very well have been correspondence between the two. 

I also found the "voice" or tone of the two books to be so startling different that it made me realize how the individual trauma and how its handled is so vastly different and for the lack of a better word individualized. While both eyewitness accounts are gruesome and horrifying, It seems that one of the survivors experienced caused such different scarring trauma that its harder to overcome than say the other survivor. This concept is something that should have been an easy thing for me to see; a "no brainer" if you will. But I think with the history of events surrounding the holocaust is sometimes lumped together as the events of the Jewish people during WWII. That often times the survival stories get lumped together as well and makes it feel as one big cohesive story rather than Individual people and their individual experiences that created these stories. 

So a goal I'm setting for myself going forward reading these survivor stories. Is to look past the lumped up "generalized" story, to make sure I am hearing the voice of the individual person trying to express what they personally went through and witnessed. Not just the generalization of the slaughter that was the holocaust. 

Tuesday, February 6, 2024

Auschwitz: A Doctors Eyewitness Account


 Auschwitz: A Doctors Eyewitness Account  By Dr. Miklos Nyiszli

I have been studying the holocaust for many many years and have read a lot of books written by survivors telling their stories. But I have never read a story quite like this one. Dr Miklos was a Hungarian jew that was sent to Auschwitz with his wife and 15 year old daughter. But instead of being sent to the gas chamber or to the work side of the camp. He was hand picked by the nefarious Dr. Mengele to work along side him at the crematoriums dissection room. His story is one that brings even more fresh new horrors to the Nazi atrocities that occurred during World War II. But as horrible and hard to read as these survivors stories are. It is important to read them, know their stories and remember these people as well as know what really happened. So in the future ,we may be able to do our best to prevent history repeating itself in such a gruesome and atrocious way. 

Sunday, January 28, 2024

The Crown

 

The Crown By: Kiera Cass

This is the final book in the series and I have really enjoyed reading this whole series. This is one of the books that you feel as it gets closer and closer to the end. You are constantly wondering how in the world was everything going to be wrapped up with so little book left. Then the author does an amazing job at wrapping up everything in a pretty little bow.

This book had so many twits and turns and its funny because when something "came to light" it was like an oh yeah moment for me. Like a puzzle piece that's always been there but it was just hard to see the picture till you were finally able to set it in the right spot. then everything becomes clear. I know this review is a metaphor riddled catastrophe. But honestly this is the only way I feel I was able to express this book other than the simple, generic and boring, "It was great I really loved it". 

This is a series that sometime in the future I could see myself thinking about again then realizing I couldn't remember some details and would want/have to revisit. SO i guess in a way you can say that this series has become a good friend and I cant wait to revisit this old friend again in the future.

Monday, January 15, 2024

The Heir

 

The Heir By: Kiera Cass

I was excited to continue this series. But I wasn't expecting the huge jump in timeline. The story of Maxine and America continues, but now they have been King and Queen for a number of years and this is the story of their daughter and her struggles as she learns what it would take to be queen someday and having to go through her own selection as 35 eligible men move into the palace to try and win her heart and hand in marriage. 

Although I wasn't expecting the big leap on the timeline. I am still loving this series. Its actually been a lot of fun to see Maxine and America all grown up, and to see the addition of their children into the series and their varying personalities. I'm jumping right into the next book right away to see what happens next.

Saturday, January 6, 2024

Brunelleschi's Dome

 

Brunelleschi's Dome By: Ross King

This was a very love hate book for me. The topic and content was very interesting. But the narrator for the book was very dry and made it very difficult to listen to. I may have to re-visit this book in paper form.

Goodbye 2023 Hello 2024

I was able to not only make my reading goal for 2023 but I exceeded it immensely. I think this was due to the fact that I have been able to listen to more audiobooks while driving to and from work now. For the upcoming 2024 year I have set a goal to read 25 books. I am hoping to be able to accomplish this. Wish me luck.

Here is the list of my 2023 books that I was able to read..