Review of Anna's Story

[Christell Lindeque]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Anna's Story" by Steven G Kautner.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Anna's Story is a book written by Steven G. Kautner that tells the story of Anna, a little girl who, as a German of ethnic German descent, was sent to a number of concentration camps following World War II. The book also details her quest to become a free woman once more.

After the events of World War II, this book sheds light on what happened to Europeans, particularly the ethnic Germans who lived in Eastern Europe. The author, Anna's son, based his fictional work on actual events as told from her perspective. Concentration camps and the events that took place within them, starvation, rape, divorce, depression, death, and a great deal more are some of the topics that are covered in this book. It is quite simple to read and comprehend the content, with the exception of the chapter problem that I will discuss further down. I applaud the author for the flawless way in which the subject is written and for the fact that it never becomes overpowering.

I thought the history that the author provided in the book was something that is uncommon to see in novels. I appreciated the history given before the author started Anna's story and found it very interesting. I am glad that I read this book since I am not familiar with this history. I also found the author to have done an excellent job of capturing the core of the story, and I truly adored practically everything about it. The amount of detail that the author included about Anna's experiences was one of my favourite aspects of the book. It was just the right amount to keep me interested and prevent my mind from wandering. In addition to that, it kept me on the edge of my seat, so I was always curious about what would happen next.

There was only one thing about the book that bothered me, and that was the fact that the chapters did not begin on a new page, even if they were not numbered. This makes it tough to take a break or maintain track of the chapter that you are currently reading in the book.

Because the one element that bothered me was not enough to remove a star from the overall rating, I give this book a rating of five out of five stars. I am very happy to have been made aware of this period of history, and I found the content to be written beautifully. In particular, it made me appreciate the amount of effort that the author put into getting the book published. There were only a few mistakes that I discovered, and I feel that this book has been edited professionally.

This book is one that I would recommend to anyone who has a passion for reading about history, particularly in relation to the aftermath of World War II.

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Anna's Story
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[Christabel nmeso]

Your review of "Anna's Story" by Steven G. Kautner offers a compelling glimpse into a lesser-known aspect of post-World War II history, focusing on the experiences of ethnic Germans in Eastern Europe. The author's portrayal of Anna's journey through concentration camps and her quest for freedom is both harrowing and compelling. While you found the book beautifully written and professionally edited, the lack of new pages at the beginning of chapters was a minor inconvenience. Overall, you awarded it a perfect rating of five out of five stars, recommending it to readers interested in post-World War II history.

[Vinayak karekar]

I have so many good things to say about this heart-wrenching book. First, I’d like to acknowledge the author’s attention to detail and research. Through the use of his mother’s written records of her memories and his extensive studies of the history and politics of Eastern Europe, Kautner successfully brought Anna’s Story to life. I loved getting to know Anna through the regular everyday adventures of her young life in the early chapters. I felt like I got to know her and her family, which made it even more devastating to watch her family ripped apart by the events that followed the war. Yet, among all the terrible things that happened to Anne, I loved how this young lady found ways to survive. From sneaking goat’s milk when the soldiers weren’t looking to catching sparrows so she and the other girls in the concentration camp could have something to eat. Anne’s bravery was to be admired and I appreciated this eye-opening story.

My favorite part of this book was how personal it was. I found myself in tears more than once as I witnessed the pain and suffering endured in this amazing woman’s life. Each event in the story was something Anne remembered while sharing her life with her son, later in his adult life. She remembered many heart-warming and humorous memories from her early years, shocking memories from her days in the Molidorf concentration camp, and inspiring memories from her journey to freedom. I had not been aware of the plight of the innocent Germans who suffered this fate, but I am glad to have read the retelling of Anna’s life. This story is as emotional as any World War II memoir of the Jewish Holocaust, but is still widely unknown.

I’d recommend this book to readers who enjoy World War II memoirs. The story reminded me of Corrie ten Boom’s autobiography The Hiding Place or the fictional novel The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris. While the author did not get too graphic with his descriptions, there were disturbing scenes that may be hard for sensitive readers to stomach. Still, there were no profanities or erotic content, although it is stated and implied that women were raped by soldiers and guards.

[Shinshinshin]

Based on the review, "Share Anna's Story" seems to be a highly recommended book that provides a unique perspective on the post-World War II era. The author's ability to blend fictional storytelling with historical events is appreciated, offering an engaging read without overwhelming the reader. The level of detail about Anna's experiences is praised as it keeps the reader captivated and curious about what will happen next. However, the reviewer mentions a minor inconvenience of chapters not beginning on a new page. Overall, the book appears to be a well-written and insightful portrayal of a lesser-known history, making it a highly recommended read for history enthusiasts, especially those interested in the aftermath of World War II.

[Clauson Justin]

Reading this book is like killing two birds with a stone. You get to learn history while reading an entertaining book. I truly commend the author's work. Your review is well-written.