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Anyone Read Any Holocaust Books?

Posted: 15 Sep 2014, 20:31
by michystar12
If you guys didn't already know, the holocaust is the time period when an anti-Semitic leader, Adolf Hitler blamed Jews for al the political and social problems in Germany. He discriminated them and execute them. This is really sad but I've been interested lately about the holocaust and I've read many books about this era. Anyone with the same interests?

Re: Anyone Read Any Holocaust Books?

Posted: 15 Sep 2014, 21:18
by kaleykutie123
Yeah I too find books on the Holocaust interesting in the sense that it blows my mind that humans don't have a limit on hurting each other. My favorite Holocaust book that I have read would have to be "Night" by Elie Wiesel. It was one of the first books that I ever read that made me cry while reading it. Such a beautiful, but tragic story.

Re: Anyone Read Any Holocaust Books?

Posted: 15 Sep 2014, 21:54
by H0LD0Nthere
Night is excellent.

Also good: Number the Stars. And of course, The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom. There is also Maus by Artie Speigelman, which is a dark comic strip that goes back and forth between Artie's parents' experience in occupied Poland, and Artie's experience growing up as the son of survivors. The Reader deals with the aftereffects of the Holocaust in the next generation of Germany.

There is an author whose name I can't remember, but he has written quite a few dark novels set in Europe in the 1930s and 40s. The Polish Officer is the only title I remember. If you find that one, you can find all the others. They are amazingly well researched, and they are not just about the Holocaust. There is one that is mostly about Hungary, for example, and about Hungarian expats living in Paris. They just give you a wonderfully rich sense of the place and time.

For films, I think Swing Kids is great because some of the main characters are convinced by the Nazi mindset, and when you listen to them argue, you get confused. It doesn't portray their experience as consisting of easily identifiable good guys and bad guys.

Thank you for bringing up this topic. It is still very relevant. I hear that anti-Semitism is on the rise across Europe as we speak, demonizing the Israelis for how they are handling Hamas, and taking it out on Jews living in Europe. When I was a kid, I believed that no one living since the Holocaust could ever be anti-Semitic again. Now,I am shocked at how quickly it is coming back ... or maybe never left.

Re: Anyone Read Any Holocaust Books?

Posted: 15 Sep 2014, 22:03
by michystar12
Thanks for sharing. You can bet I'll try to read them. Thanks again :)

Re: Anyone Read Any Holocaust Books?

Posted: 16 Sep 2014, 06:27
by Fran
You should read If this is a Man by Primo Levi

Re: Anyone Read Any Holocaust Books?

Posted: 17 Sep 2014, 18:07
by michystar12
I am finished reading Anne Frank and the children of the holocaust by Carol Ann Lee. It was really amazing. It showed in detail a lot of the writing in Anne Frank's diary and her perceptions about it.
Right now I'm starting to read Shadow Life by Barry Denenberg. So far it is a pretty good book. Again, full description. This is another book about Anne Frank but this time it is a portrait of Anne Frank and her family. I am really interested in Anne Frank and the Holocaust lately so I'm reading a lot of Holocaust Books.

Re: Anyone Read Any Holocaust Books?

Posted: 11 Oct 2014, 07:58
by Carla Hurst-Chandler
A Train in Winter by Caroline Moorehead is particularly good.

Re: Anyone Read Any Holocaust Books?

Posted: 11 Oct 2014, 08:12
by rssllue
I am currently, slowly making my way through Bonhoeffer by Eric Metaxas. It is really good so far in writing style and content. I think that I might need to focus on getting it done a little bit quicker than I have been. Still, it gives a great insight into the time leading up to and through the terrible reign of Hitler and the men who gave their lives trying to stop him.

Re: Anyone Read Any Holocaust Books?

Posted: 17 Oct 2014, 19:23
by WinterCandyMints
I love reading Holocaust books. I really enjoy The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. It's one of my favorites.

Re: Anyone Read Any Holocaust Books?

Posted: 17 Oct 2014, 19:33
by Ryan
michystar12 wrote:I am finished reading Anne Frank and the children of the holocaust by Carol Ann Lee. It was really amazing. It showed in detail a lot of the writing in Anne Frank's diary and her perceptions about it.
Right now I'm starting to read Shadow Life by Barry Denenberg. So far it is a pretty good book. Again, full description. This is another book about Anne Frank but this time it is a portrait of Anne Frank and her family. I am really interested in Anne Frank and the Holocaust lately so I'm reading a lot of Holocaust Books.
Did you actually read the diary itself? It's great.

I would also recommend The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne. It's so much better than the film :)

Re: Anyone Read Any Holocaust Books?

Posted: 17 Oct 2014, 21:57
by hannah_Z
The Devil's Arithmetic by Jane Yolen was very good. If I Should Die Before I Wake by Han Nolan. Prisoner of Night and Fog by Anne Blankman was actually incredible and written in a very unique view, I highly recommend this. I Will Plant You a Lilac Tree by Laura Hillman.

Re: Anyone Read Any Holocaust Books?

Posted: 04 Nov 2014, 10:31
by bookowlie
I read Anne Frank many years ago and Night by Elie Weisel last year. Night was so heartbreaking that it was difficult to read. I have written down some of the books mentioned in this thread. Thanks everyone for the recommendations.

Re: Anyone Read Any Holocaust Books?

Posted: 04 Nov 2014, 17:06
by bookcrazy
I have read Anne Frank and Schindler's List. Loved them both. Schindler's list is a little slow in the beginning but its a great book.

Re: Anyone Read Any Holocaust Books?

Posted: 06 Nov 2014, 15:56
by puget sounder
I've read several books on the Holocaust, but there are two titles in my library that really stand out: (1) A Place to Hide - True Stories of Holocaust Rescues and (2) Hitler's Willing Executioners: Ordinary Germans and the Holocaust.

-- 06 Nov 2014, 14:07 --
bookowlie wrote:I read Anne Frank many years ago and Night by Elie Weisel last year. Night was so heartbreaking that it was difficult to read. I have written down some of the books mentioned in this thread. Thanks everyone for the recommendations.
Have the read the other two books in Wiesel's trilogy, Dawn and Day? I purchased all three at a used bookstore maybe a year ago. I've read Night and Dawn, but haven't gotten around to Day.

Re: Anyone Read Any Holocaust Books?

Posted: 13 Nov 2014, 05:52
by designerrosa
You should try Exodus by Leon Uris. Read it quite young but even at that age it was vivid and terrifying.

-- 13 Nov 2014, 05:56 --
bookcrazy wrote:I have read Anne Frank and Schindler's List. Loved them both. Schindler's list is a little slow in the beginning but its a great book.
I haven't read Schindler's List but i watched the movie. It was great.