A book that will stay with me for a long time.
Otto B Kraus is an Auschwitz survivor who wrote a novel to tell the story of those from the Czech Family Camp. It has taken his own memories and others to put together into a smaller group of characters but is all based on true life events.
All the characters bring a tale of different goings on around the camp and there different ways of thinking. It shows that they think and cope differently even though there situations are the same. It makes me as a reader really think of the horrifying situations they are facing and ask questions of morality and survival, which aren't always the same thing.
The author created Alex as the main character of the book. He is a teacher of the children even though this was illegal in the camp. Therefor lessons had to be hidden or disguised as something else such as a game. A dangerous situation for someone to do. Alex is also a survivor his thoughts always seem to be on the future and how they can fight against the guards. I love that Otto makes it so that the women he falls for, Lisa, is in nearly every way his opposite. She thinks they should live for the moment and not think of plans for the future they don't know they will have.
I would recommend to any readers who read historical and true event stories but as with all Auschwitz novels it may also be disturbing and cause upset. I know it was hard read for me but worth it and a well written book that I wont forget in a hurry.
By Claire
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