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Books I just can't get rid of

Books I just can’t get rid of

Someone in my book club Facebook group recently posed the question “What is a book (or 2, or 3) that sits on your shelf that you will never give away or get rid of because of how much you love it or reread it, etc.?”

My answer? This whole shelf.

Everyone has a few (or in my case nearly 30) books that they’re unwilling to part with under any circumstances.

You know what I’m talking about. You may…

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Review: The Black Key by Amy Ewing

Review: The Black Key by Amy Ewing

Title: The Black Key Author: Amy Ewing Published:  October 4, 2016 Series: The Lone City #3 Genre:  Dystopian/High Fantasy Format:  Kindle Source:  Purchased

For too long, Violet and the people of the outer circles of the Lone City have lived a life of servitude, controlled and manipulated by the royalty of the Jewel. But now, the secret society known as the Black Key is preparing to seize power and…

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Review: Thunderhead by Neal Shusterman

Review: Thunderhead by Neal Shusterman

Title: Thunderhead Author: Neal Shusterman Published:  January 9, 2018 Series: The Arc of a Scythe #2 Genre:  Dystopian Format:  Hardcover Source:  Purchased Rowan and Citra take opposite stances on the morality of the Scythedom, putting them at odds, in the second novel of the chilling New York Times bestselling series from Neal Shusterman, author of the Unwind dystology. Rowan has gone rogue,…

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Review: Scythe by Neal Shusterman

Review: Scythe by Neal Shusterman

Title: Scythe Author: Neal Shusterman Published:  November 22, 2016 Series: The Arc of a Scythe #1 Genre:  Dystopian Format:  Hardcover Source:  Purchased Thou shalt kill. A world with no hunger, no disease, no war, no misery. Humanity has conquered all those things, and has even conquered death. Now scythes are the only ones who can end life—and they are commanded to do so, in order to keep the…

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Review: The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

I wouldn't say this was an enjoyable read; it was incredibly dark and was actually quite challenging to wade through. But I can promise you that it's worth reading.

Title: The Handmaid’s Tale Author: Margaret Atwood Published:  February 17, 1986 Genre:  Dystopian Format:  Kindle Source:  Purchased The Handmaid’s Tale is not only a radical and brilliant departure for Margaret Atwood, it is a novel of such power that the reader will be unable to forget its images and its forecast. Set in the near future, it describes life in what was once the United States,…

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Title: The Librarian of Auschwitz Author: Antonio Iturbe (Translated by Lilit Thwaites Published:  October 10, 2017 Genre:  Historical Fiction Format:  Hardcover Source:  Purchased

This is the incredible story of a girl who risked her life to keep the magic of books alive during the Holocaust. Fourteen-year-old Dita is one of the many imprisoned by the Nazis at Auschwitz. Taken, along with her mother and father, from the Terezín ghetto in Prague, Dita is adjusting to the constant terror that is life in the camp. When Jewish leader Fredy Hirsch asks Dita to take charge of the eight precious volumes the prisoners have managed to sneak past the guards, she agrees. And so Dita becomes the librarian of Auschwitz.

Out of one of the darkest chapters of human history comes this extraordinary story of courage and hope.

This book caught my eye on a display table at Barnes & Noble in part because it reminded me of The Book Thief, which was one of my favorite reads of 2017. I knew immediately that I had to read it.

The Librarian of Auschwitz tells the true story of Edita (Dita) Kraus (née Poláchová), known in the book as Dita Adler.

Dita is just 9 years old when the Germans invade and occupy Czechoslovakia. She and her parents are forced to move out of their lovely apartment in Prague and into less desireable areas. When she is 12, Dita’s family is sent to the Jewish ghetto/concentration camp in Terezín (Theresienstadt in German), which is about an hour away from Prague.

In Terezín, she meets Fredy Hirsch, an athletic and charismatic young man who has been tasked with organizing activities for the youth in the Jewish ghetto.

I actually visited Terezín last June (pictures below). Prior to my visit, when I thought of concentration camps, I really only pictured extermination camps, such as Auschwitz II. The interesting thing about Terezín was that the Nazis essentially set it up as a model internment camp, using it as propaganda to show the Red Cross (and the world) how well they were treating the Jews.

They staged sham institutions like a school, bank and various shops. They had a library and a theatre, as well as various recreational sites like areas to play sports, a swimming pool, etc. They even shot a propaganda film, directed by Jewish prisoner Kurt Gerron, in September 1944. But after the film was completed, Gerron and most of the cast were transferred to Auschwitz. Gerron was executed by gas chamber on October 28, 1944.

In September 1943, Fredy is transferred to the BIIb sector of Auschwitz-Birkenau, which has been designated as the Terezín family camp.

BIIb is designed so that anyone from the Red Cross or another neutral country who wants to verify that the Jews being deported from Terezín are alive can visit Auschwitz and see that they are indeed alive. All prisoners in BIIb are marked for “special treatment” in six months.

– Fredy Hirsch, The Librarian of Auschwitz

Fredy becomes the director of Block 31, where he helps establish a clandestine school for the children of the family camp. They have several (hidden) books, and adults give lessons on various subjects to maintain some sense of normalcy for the children.

Dita’s family is transferred to BIIb in December 1943. When she runs into Fredy again, he remembers her for her work in the Terezín library, and he asks her to work as an assistant in Block 31.

The first thing that characterizes Dita is her boldness. She is constantly asking herself and her parents why these atrocities are happening. It’s not fair to her that her childhood ended at the age of 9.

Dita also spends a lot of time pondering other people’s actions and the choices they make.

Can you really choose, or do the blows dealt to you by fate change you no matter what, in the same way that the blow of an ax converts a living tree into firewood?

The most amazing thing about this book is how its bricks and mortar are made up of facts. This book is based on the experiences of REAL Holocaust survivors (and victims) like Ota and Dita Kraus, Rudy Vrba (formerly Rosenberg).

The only thing I would caution readers about is that it sometimes jumps around from one 3rd-person POV to another. The first few times it happened were a tad confusing, but once you get used to the writing style, it wasn’t a difficult read from a technicality standpoint.

The Librarian of Auschwitz is a story of staying hopeful and surviving — all while overcoming unimaginable adversity. I laughed at Dita’s sense of humor and ability to keep her chin up. I cried when her friends and loved ones were taken away to die. It was such a compelling read. I really can’t recommend it enough.

Review: The Librarian of Auschwitz Title: The Librarian of Auschwitz Author: Antonio Iturbe (Translated by Lilit Thwaites Published:  October 10, 2017…

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Review: the princess saves herself in this one

Title: the princess saves herself in this one Author: Amanda Lovelace Published:  April 23, 2016 Series: Women are some kind of magic Genre:  Poetry Format:  Hardcover Source:  Purchased “Ah, life- the thing that happens to us while we’re off somewhere else blowing on dandelions & wishing ourselves into the pages of our favorite fairy tales.” A poetry collection divided into four different parts:…

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The City of Brass by S.A. Chakraborty

Title: The City of Brass Author:  S.A. Chakraborty Published:  Nov. 14, 2017 Series: The Daevabad Trilogy Genre:  Historical Fantasy Format:  Kindle Source:  Purchased Nahri has never believed in magic. Certainly, she has power; on the streets of 18th century Cairo, she’s a con woman of unsurpassed talent. But she knows better than anyone that the trade she uses to get by—palm readings, zars,…

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Top Ten Tuesday: Bookish Resolutions/Goals

What are your reading goals/resolutions this year?

As of this week, the Top Ten Tuesday meme has moved to a new host blog — That Artsy Reader Girl! Same great concept started by The Broke and the Bookish, just a new host! Top Ten Tuesday focuses on a different top 10 theme each week — check out the host blog for a list of upcoming TTT topics. This week’s topic is… Bookish Resolutions/Goals (more…)

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Nick and I went to Barnes & Noble in Leominster today to buy our niece a birthday present, but one does not simply walk into Barnes & Noble and leave without buying a new book.

I mean, LOOK AT THIS COVER! How could I not buy it?

And besides, I got this GORGEOUS new bookcase yesterday, so I obviously have a lot of space to fill! But I digress…

The Librarian of Auschwitz was on a table display for new releases (it looks like it was originally published in Spanish in 2012, but the English version appears to have just come out in October). The cover art is what snagged my attention, but I actually picked it up because the title reminded me so much of The Book Thief, which I read (and loved) last March.

Based on the experience of real-life Auschwitz prisoner Dita Kraus, this is the incredible story of a girl who risked her life to keep the magic of books alive during the Holocaust. Fourteen-year-old Dita is one of the many imprisoned by the Nazis at Auschwitz. Taken, along with her mother and father, from the Terezín ghetto in Prague, Dita is adjusting to the constant terror that is life in the camp. When Jewish leader Freddy Hirsch asks Dita to take charge of the eight precious volumes the prisoners have managed to sneak past the guards, she agrees. And so Dita becomes the librarian of Auschwitz. 

Out of one of the darkest chapters of human history comes this extraordinary story of courage and hope.

Even though historical fiction isn’t exactly my wheelhouse, I’m particularly excited to slot this into my TBR pile because I recently visited the exact setting of part of the book.

In June 2017, I had the opportunity to travel to the Czech Republic to play for the Team USA in the World Ball Hockey Federation‘s 5v5 World Ball Hockey Championship, where we won bronze.

It was an amazing experience, and it was my first trip to Europe, so I definitely checked off a lot on my bucket list.

Anyway, my team actually stayed right in Terezín, and after our bronze medal match, I walked all around the town over to the Terezín Memorial (also known as the Terezín ghetto.

If you ever have an opportunity to visit a concentration camp memorial site, do it.

Is it depressing? Yes. But it’s so humbling and such an emotional experience. I don’t think I would have been able to live with myself if I didn’t go while I was there.\

Don’t get me wrong, Prague was cool when we went for the day. But I knew I would probably never be in Terezín again.

All that said, I’m really looking forward to reading The Librarian of Auschwitz because — aside from the fact that it looks amazing — I’ve never been able to read historical fiction and really feel like I’m IN the story.

I obviously don’t mind using my imagination, but there’s something about being familiar with a book’s setting that makes it extra special to read.

What’s the latest book you purchased? What made it catch your eye?

One does not simply walk into Barnes & Noble and leave without a new book. Nick and I went to Barnes & Noble in Leominster today to buy our niece a birthday present, but one does not simply walk into Barnes & Noble and leave without buying a new book.

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What's your reading goal in 2018?

What's your 2018 #readinggoal?

How many books are you planning to read this year? I’ll be honest, I crashed and burned on my reading goal last year. I aimed for 50, but fell short at four. Yes. I said four. Here’s my breakdown over the last few years: 2011: 100+ (no goal set) 2012: 72/100 2013: 50/50 2014: 26/50 2015: 8 (no goal set) 2016: 22/25 2017: 4/50 Oops. Don’t get me wrong, I did a lot of things last year. Work was…

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Tell me about your favorite reading spot!

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Would you rather...

Would you rather…

If you could only choose one for the rest of your life, would you rather… A. Only read new books B. Only re-read your favorite books (as of this moment) Comment with your answer, or vote on my LIVE poll on Facebook!

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Vote: E-reader vs. Real books? Check out my poll on Facebook to cast your vote!

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Review: The Winner's Kiss by Marie Rutkoski

Review: The Winner’s Kiss by Marie Rutkoski

Title: The Winner’s Kiss Author: Marie Rutkoski Published: March 29, 2016 Series: The Winner’s Trilogy Genre: High Fantasy Format: Kindle Source: Purchased War has begun. Arin is in the thick of it with untrustworthy new allies and the empire as his enemy. Though he has convinced himself that he no longer loves Kestrel, Arin hasn’t forgotten her, or how she became exactly the kind of person he…

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Review: The Circle by Dave Eggers

Review: The Circle by Dave Eggers

Title: The Circle Author: Dave Eggers Published: October 8, 2013 Genre: Sci-fi/Fantasy Format: Kindle Source: Purchased When Mae Holland is hired to work for the Circle, the world’s most powerful internet company, she feels she’s been given the opportunity of a lifetime. The Circle, run out of a sprawling California campus, links users’ personal emails, social media, banking, and purchasing with…

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Garnet's Story by Amy Ewing

Garnet’s Story by Amy Ewing

Title: Garnet’s Story Author: Amy Ewing Series: The Lone City 1.25 Published: September 13, 2016 Genre: YA High Fantasy Format: Kindle Source: Purchased Garnet, the son of the Duchess of the Lake, has always been a spoiled playboy. But now, for the first time, Garnet is beginning to realize the horrors that his family, and the ruling community, have perpetrated. And he just may be ready to do…