I Have Lived a Thousand Years: Growing Up in the Holocaust

I have lived a thousand years growing up in the holocaust: By Livia Bitton-Jackson

As a young 11 year old girl; Livia was only dreaming about her schooling and how she longed to go to Budapest to study. WW2 was raging all over the world, but Livia only knew her small village, her family and her schooling. But rumors started to circulate and things started to change. Their village was sent to the ghetto and then 13 year old Livia was introduced to Auschwitz. Being separated from her father back in the ghetto, once again her and her mother were separated from family. Livia watched  as her brother was sent with other men to an opposite side as she followed her aunt and mother with hundreds of other women, as they we sorted and re-sorted into the concentration camp.

I don't know why; but I love learning about the holocaust and especially reading the survivors stories. Each new stories gives a behind the scenes account of what these people suffered through during this horrific time in our history. I am inspired by their courage, strength and above all their faith. Like any of these survival stories I always feel changed after I read their experiences and a sense of reverence always washes over me. I never feel like I do these books justice in my reviews. But then again, its hard to convey the experiences I  have while I read these historic accounts and its even harder to explain the impact it leaves on my heart and soul. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in learning the stories of these wonderfully strong people., who are the survivors of the Holocaust.

Meet Felicity

Meet Felicity By: Valerie Tripp

Ok so I know what your thinking. I have been reading all these historical non-fiction and pretty intense style books, why would I read this kids book?
These books were some of my favorite growing up. I couldn't get enough and then I found out there was dolls (which my parents would :( never buy) with accessories. Yup I was one of those little girls who LOVED the American Girl books. I couldn't get enough of the books. I have the set that looks like this...

Last night I decided to try and get my daughter interested in these books. It didn't work; I think I have to wait till she's a little older. But starting to read this book brought back a rush of memories and before I knew it I had read the whole book. :) It was a lot of fun and very nostalgic to re-read.

The Goose Girl

The Goose Girl By: Shannon Hale

This is a book that was suggested to me by a few people. I felt like I have been reading a lot of books with heavy topics lately and wanted something a little lighter. Something where I could just get sucked into the story and not have to think to much, just enjoy. This book definitely delivered! 
Anidori-Kiladra Talianna Isilee, Crown Princess of Kildenree was born with her eyes closed. It was 3 days before she opened them with the help of her Aunt. She spent most of her childhood with her aunt learning about and ancient language that most people didn't believe in. People Speech, Animal Speech and the very VERY rare Nature Speech.
Ani's juvenile years were spent learning how to become the queen of Kildenree until the sudden unexpected death of her father the king. The queen (Ani's mother) then announced to the kingdom that her brother would be taking the crown instead of her, she was to be married to the prince of their neighboring kingdom to secure peace between the two kingdoms. Crushed Ani packed her things to make the 4 month journey to her new home, but on the way was betrayed and left to fend for herself in a foreign land.

There is so much more I want to say about this book. Shannon Hale does a fantastic job taking the old Grimm brothers fairy-tale and breathing new life and detail into it. Giving the characters a deeper personality base and helping her reader to relate and connect with the characters on a more personal level. I am so happy that I read this book. I really enjoyed it and could see myself coming back to this story and group of characters.

Night

Night By: Elie Wiesel

I thought I had read this book when I was younger, but after watching a documentary with Elie Wiesel I realized that I didn't recognize some of the stories. So I decided to read it and see if any of it came back to me. I realized that a story like his I definitely would have remembered.  I don't know why but I love to learn about the holocaust and especially reading the stories from the survivors. Elie Wiesel gives a narrative after the story, he talks about the original story and a few of the things that were taken out of the English translation because they publisher thought it was to personal. It kinda made me wonder, out of his whole story that he is telling why they decided to take just a few simple passages out when he is clearly telling his own very personal story and account of what happened to him. The version I read also included his acceptance speech of the Nobel peace prize, where he stated that as he was accepting this prize he could feel the presence of the people who didn't survive the camps. He said that he could especially feel the presence of his father, mother and little sister. He talked about how he wanted to continue to tell his story so that the memory of what happened doesn't become like myth and that people wont forget what happened to the Jewish people.
I really loved reading this story and learning about what happened to Elie. For anyone interested in the holocaust and the stories of the survivors this is a MUST read.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn By: Mark Twain

This is another classic that I have been wanting to read for awhile. I own 4 different copies of this book but had never actually read it. A few years back I read Tom Sawyer and I felt like it was time to read this. I was very excited to find this version in audible. Elijah Wood does such a good job reading this books, I am biased yes, he is after all one of my favorite actors. :) But I was very impressed at all the voices he was able to do and how well he was able to speak the southern dialect. I am very happy that I am able to check this off my classics list. :)

After the adventure Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer had they found themselves with more money than they knew what to do with. Huck was adopted by the widow and she was trying to "civilize" him. He started to enjoy his life style till his drunkard abusive father came back to claim Huck as his. After awhile Huck got tired of being locked in the cabin when his father left and tired when his tired was back and drunk and beat him. So he devised a plan to make it look like he was murdered and he snuck down the Mississippi and hid on an island. There he found a runaway slave, but not any slave but Jim who use to work for the same widow that had adopted Huck. As Huck agreed to help Jim make it to the free states so he could be free, there adventures begin.

Lectures on Faith

Lectures on Faith

This is a book I have been wanting to read for awhile. It has been sitting on my shelf for over 4 years now. I really enjoyed extending my knowledge about faith and about the gospel of Christ and the origins of faith and power that faith contains. This was an in depth study of faith from the creation of the world till us now and how through faith we can come to know Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ on a personal level. I have enjoyed reading this and look forward to reading it again in the future but this time with a highlighter, notebook and my scriptures ready

The Last Apprentice: Curse of the Bane

The Last Apprentice-Curse of the Bane  By: Joseph Delaney

This is a book that I have been picking at for a few years now. I guess i just needed to be in the right mood for it or I have been craving holding a book in my hands again. Whatever the case may be, I picked it back up this weekend and couldn't put it down. It was a really interesting story that inspired a lot of wondrous emotions. Joseph Delaney does a good job helping you to not only relate to the characters but also to feel a connection to them.

Thomas Ward is the 7th son of a 7th son and 6 months into his apprenticeship with the county spook ( a dark fighter) Due to an illness the spook couldn't attend to the capturing of a dark creature known as a ripper. Tom must take of it on his own, he succeeds but to the loss of a priest who just happens to be the Spooks brother. The loss makes the spook realize that he needed to journey back to his home town of Priest town not just to pay last respects to his brother, but also to confront an old and horrible evil that he fears that if it grows stronger it will be hard to conquer. It is up to Tom and the Spook to confront the evil that lives in the catacombs below the church. The bane.