October reads.. What I'm planning to read!

 

THREE SISTERS by Heather Morris

 

From Heather Morris, the New York Times bestselling author of the multi-million copy bestseller The Tattooist of Auschwitz and Cilka's Journey: a story of family, courage, and resilience, inspired by a true story.

Against all odds, three Slovakian sisters have survived years of imprisonment in the most notorious death camp in Nazi Germany: Auschwitz. Livia, Magda, and Cibi have clung together, nearly died from starvation and overwork, and the brutal whims of the guards in this place of horror. But now, the allies are closing in and the sisters have one last hurdle to face: the death march from Auschwitz, as the Nazis try to erase any evidence of the prisoners held there. Due to a last minute stroke of luck, the three of them are able to escape formation and hide in the woods for days before being rescued.

And this is where the story begins. From there, the three sisters travel to Israel, to their new home, but the battle for freedom takes on new forms. Livia, Magda, and Cibi must face the ghosts of their past--and some secrets that they have kept from each other--to find true peace and happiness.

Inspired by a true story, and with events that overlap with those of Lale, Gita, and Cilka, The Three Sisters will hold a place in readers' hearts and minds as they experience what true courage really is.

MY THOUGHTS

By the author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz and Cilka's Journey this author has written another heartfelt, painful, soul touching story of how the Jews were treated. What they endured and how some survived. Another book based on hundred percent on facts. Make sure you read everything at the end. All the things, posts, Afterwards from each person. The one from Livia Ravek really touched me. This author did a great job capturing the essence of these three sister's journey through hell and back.

Three sisters who made a promise to their father to always be there for each other. No matter what. To always look out for each other. That is exactly what they did too. Even though only the youngest girl, Livi, was made to report to the Germans to be sent away her older sister, Cibi, went with her. They both ended up in Auschwitz and together. Together they did what they had to to survive. They worked hard. Had very little to eat and the clothes they wore were the very basics. Their other sister, Magda, was in the hospital being taken care of and protected from this very thing by a kind caring doctor. But eventually she along with her mother and grandfather were sent away also. The odds of the sisters being at the same camp had to be very high. At least I think. But they were reunited. 

This book goes into some detail about what these girls, the Jewish people, endured at Auschwitz. What horrors they saw. From seeing people shot for just being human. From losing their own relatives, mother and grandfather, to the gas chamber. But they held their heads high and marched on. They worked hard. They helped each other and many other girls/women in the camp. It's beyond belief what happened in these camps. It's heartbreaking. It's the most horrible things I have ever read. It will rip your heart out. Make you wonder how anyone can be so cruel. How can any human being harbor so much hate for someone. How someone you know and who has known you for years can turn against you so easy. How one race can think they are so superior. How they can think one is less than human. The horrors are so real. We never need to forget this happened. We need to make sure it never happens again. No matter what. 

I find when I read a book about this, the Nazis and how they treated the Jews, that I question how a god could have allowed it to happen. How can this ever be ok with anyone. Or with any race. Any group. Anyone. There is a lot of racism in the world today but I have to believe that no one could be this cruel again. Of course there are people who have that much hate. Who think they are so much better and deserve so much more but still... Could they really do things like this? I'm afraid I think they probably could. Hate is a powerful feeling. But so is love. I think there are enough good people to outdo the evil. I certainly hope so. 

This is a very sad book but it's about three girls, sisters, who survived. It's about what all they did and how they survived afterwards. Even after when there was still so much prejudice against the Jewish people. But there were also some very good and decent people who helped them. You will shed a lot of tears reading this book. No doubt about it. It's sad and real. It happened. 

The research put into this book is so good. The parts at the end where the children of these women tell a story, each of them, is proof the author knew what she was writing about. She did an excellent job. I know it had to be so heartbreaking for her to hear the stories of these women. I'm sure she wept quite a bit. Thank you for keeping these stories alive. Never ever forget!

Thank you #NetGalley, #HeatherMorris, #StMartinsPress for this ARC. This is my own true feelings about this book.

5/5 huge stars for a heartfelt book. Well done. 

Read & Reviewed in September!

 

Read & Reviewed in September..

Julia Dahl

Joy Fielding

Wanda Morris

Miranda Smith Author

Carl Nixon

Barbara Davis-author

A. J. Banner

Kerry Anne King

Bette Lee Crosby

Nicole Trope

THE TALLY STICK by Carl Nixon

 

Lost in the wilderness: subjugation, survival, and the meaning of family

Up on the highway, the only evidence that the Chamberlains had ever been there was two smeared tire tracks in the mud leading into an almost undamaged screen of bushes and trees. No other cars passed that way until after dawn. By that time the tracks had been washed away by the heavy rain. After being in New Zealand for only five days, the English Chamberlain family had vanished into thin air. The date was 4 April 1978. In 2010 the remains of the eldest child are discovered in a remote part of the West Coast, showing he lived for four years after the family disappeared. Found alongside him are his father’s watch and what turns out to be a tally stick, a piece of scored wood marking items of debt. How had he survived and then died in such a way? Where is the rest of the family? And what is the meaning of the tally stick?

MY THOUGHTS

On April 4th 1978 the Chamberlain  family disappeared. Vanished into thin air. They were headed to a new home in New Zealand where their father was to start a new job. 

Told from two time periods, 1978 and 1910. From the children's prospective and from their Aunts. Very well written. The descriptions leave you picturing it all. You will feel yourself falling into the waters as this family did. You will feel all the emotions that are going on. It's a very well developed story. 

This is a very deep book. Filled with a lot of beautiful descriptions. A lot of sadness also. It explains in detail what happened to this family. It explains what happened to the three remaining children. What became of them. You won't be left hanging. Any question you may have will be answered. To me it is a very sad story but also filled with hope. It has a few, very few, funny parts. Overall it's absolutely a wonderful, yet sensitive, story of three children just surviving. One who wants desperately to get back home. He only wants to see him house again. 

When the Chamberlain family started out it was pouring rain. Of course the father would not listen to his wife about getting a room for the night and possibly doing a bit of sightseeing the next day. He was in a hurry. If only... What happens next will leave you turning the pages to find out exactly what happened to this family. What happened to the children. Where the boy's body came into play all those years later. Julia's sister, Suzanne, did not give up easy. She searched for a while for clues to what happened to her sister and her family. After many dead ends though she had to admit that all was lost. They were gone. Forever. She had to move on and live her life. But she never forgot. It was her sister after all. 

Many years later when Suzanne gets the phone call about bones being found she at least gets a little positive closure. The oldest boy, Maurice, was found at the bottom of a cliff. I found that quite ironic considering how they ended up in the first place. Also quite sad. While reading of his plight to freedom I have to admit to shedding a lot of tears. What this young man went through was truly horrible. What him and his siblings went through was horrible. But they did have a roof over their heads and food to eat. That much was good. The rest was just sad. 

When you reach the end of this very compelling story you will be in awe of Katherine. At least I was. I felt for her too. She was the sister of Maurice. They also had a smaller brother, Tommy. These three children will pull at your heartstrings. Many times. I felt for Maurice so so much. He knew they were being lied too. He knew. But what could he do? And what eventually became of these children? You read early on what happened to Maurice but what of Kathrine and Tommy? What became of them? Did they survive and if so how. Three children left after a horrendous wreck that took away their parents and baby sister. What became of them?

Thank you to #NetGalley, #CarlNixon, #WorldEditions for this ARC. This is my own true feelings about this book.

5/5 HUGE stars. I highly recommend this one. Just be prepared. It's quite the ride and quite sad. A bit dark in places and a whole lot going on. 

Mailbox Monday!

 

Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came into their house last week.

Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles, and humongous wish lists!!

Mailbox Monday, created by Marcia @ A Girl and Her Books, has a permanent home now at Mailbox Monday.

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Here’s a shout out to the administrators:
Leslie @ Under My Apple Tree 
Serena @ Savvy Verse And Wit
Martha @ Reviews By Martha's Bookshelf 

Velvet @ vvb32reads

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                THANKS to everyone for keeping Mailbox Monday alive. 

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I hope you had a good mailbox.

I had a great mailbox!

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Received this week

1: AND THERE HE KEPT HER by Joshua Moehling

courtesy of Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley

2:THE NIGHT SHIFT by Alex Finlay

courtesy of St Martin's Press via NetGalley

It's Monday! What are you reading?

 

I hope you had a great reading week.

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This is a weekly meme hosted by Kathryn at BOOKDATE! 

Post the books completed, the books you are currently reading, and the books you hope to finish at some point.

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Read/reviewed

1:CUL DE SAC by Joy Fielding

reviewed 9/20

2: ALL HER LITTLE SECRETS by Wanda M. Morris

reviewed  9/22

3: HIS LOVING WIFE by Miranda Smith

reviewed 9/26

Reading Next

THE TALLY STICK by Carl Nixon

review will be 9/28

Will be reading