Review of Discovering Twins
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Review of Discovering Twins
[Following is a volunteer review of "Discovering Twins" by Stella Claire ter Hart.]
Discovering Twins by Stella Claire ter Hart is a beautiful family memoir about the secrets in her family and the lives she discovers. The story opens with an offhand comment by the author’s mother: “Twins run in the family, you know,” and from there the mystery begins. The author, who had no idea what she was about to uncover, sets out on a journey to discover family members lost in time. Why was her mother so secretive about her youth? Why, as she grew older, did she become frantic, begging Stella (the author/narrator) to be careful, to watch what she said? Her mother’s lineage unravels through hours of digging, multiple interviews, and the help of the Internet. Stella discovers more heartache and family than she could even imagine, and yet through it all stands the test of family and loyalty.
This book captivated me. This family’s story about living through the Holocaust was both enthralling and heartbreaking. The author introduced us to many family members and how they took care of each other through the horrendous times of the Holocaust. One such story stuck out to me, as the author’s mother had to ride a bicycle without tires through the countryside to find someone to trade her some rope for other supplies. Some of their stories were heartbreaking, but in all of them, there was a measure of hope. The author wrote in such a personal way, and I really enjoyed being able to share her family with her!
It was hard to follow some of those story lines initially, and I had a hard time keeping track of all of the family members, especially when some of them had similar names. However, the author brought all of these family members together at the end, and provided us with clarification of family trees. She even included pictures of some family members, which I thought was a lovely personal touch!
This book was a pleasure to read. I thoroughly enjoyed the family history, and I did not want to put it down! I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. I also thought that this book was exceptionally well edited, as I did not see any glaring errors.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys learning about family ancestry, the Holocaust, or even the bond between people who share similar experiences. I took a class in college about the Holocaust, and this book would fit perfectly into that curriculum. This book was about twins and family, but it was also about the struggles of humanity within us all.
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Discovering Twins
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Discovering Twins by Stella Claire ter Hart is a beautiful family memoir about the secrets in her family and the lives she discovers. The story opens with an offhand comment by the author’s mother: “Twins run in the family, you know,” and from there the mystery begins. The author, who had no idea what she was about to uncover, sets out on a journey to discover family members lost in time. Why was her mother so secretive about her youth? Why, as she grew older, did she become frantic, begging Stella (the author/narrator) to be careful, to watch what she said? Her mother’s lineage unravels through hours of digging, multiple interviews, and the help of the Internet. Stella discovers more heartache and family than she could even imagine, and yet through it all stands the test of family and loyalty.
This book captivated me. This family’s story about living through the Holocaust was both enthralling and heartbreaking. The author introduced us to many family members and how they took care of each other through the horrendous times of the Holocaust. One such story stuck out to me, as the author’s mother had to ride a bicycle without tires through the countryside to find someone to trade her some rope for other supplies. Some of their stories were heartbreaking, but in all of them, there was a measure of hope. The author wrote in such a personal way, and I really enjoyed being able to share her family with her!
It was hard to follow some of those story lines initially, and I had a hard time keeping track of all of the family members, especially when some of them had similar names. However, the author brought all of these family members together at the end, and provided us with clarification of family trees. She even included pictures of some family members, which I thought was a lovely personal touch!
This book was a pleasure to read. I thoroughly enjoyed the family history, and I did not want to put it down! I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars. I also thought that this book was exceptionally well edited, as I did not see any glaring errors.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys learning about family ancestry, the Holocaust, or even the bond between people who share similar experiences. I took a class in college about the Holocaust, and this book would fit perfectly into that curriculum. This book was about twins and family, but it was also about the struggles of humanity within us all.
******
Discovering Twins
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: The Magician's Secret by Charles Townsend
