Alicia: My Story

It took Alicia 3 years to write this book; about her life, and what seemed an endless struggle to just survive another day, during the Nazi occupation of Poland and surrounding countries.

A well written book, which I assure you, you will not put down until you turn the last page.

I just wish I had read this book sooner, it was first published in '89. And it begs the question why was I never taught about this at school in history. (i am 35).


courageous   May 25, 2006
Sonianorman
10 out of 10 found this review helpful

Once I started reading this book I could not put it down, it is well written and also a real page turner. Alicias' story has stayed with me, and whilst reading this book I often was overcome with emotion - incredulous at how cruel people could be to one another. Some scenes of how SS men treated the families and young children were horrific, and worse was how they derived pleasure at doing truly inhumane things to innocent people. It was interesting to read about the general weakness and greed of many of the Polish and Ukraine collaberaters who even after the war, went on to murder some of the jewish survivors who returned to reclaim their old homes or businesses. Many times I found myself in tears for Alicias' plight andfor the millions of jews wiped out- she is a heroine and so brave. What struck me most that despite living through a hellish existence was how her heart did not turn black with hate, but the book overall has an incredible feeling of how love and courage can conquer, even as a child struggling to survive day by day she does not let the evil around her destroy her. An inspirational book and a reminder to us all and future generations -we should not forget-

Sonia


Remarkable story from a remarkable woman   April 5, 2007
Dr. D. Fraser (Scotland)
8 out of 8 found this review helpful

I am a huge reader of holocaust literature. There's something really inspiring in the way that people such as Alica survive the very worst of deprevations, and somehow manage to emerge out the other side not just as survivors but as trully remarkable human beings.

Alicia's story really is heart rending. How she didn't herself go under when she saw one member of her family after another lose their life we can only wonder at.

Although this work is biographical, it really has the feel of a novel to it, and so is a very fluent read. The only criticism I would make was that the end of the book was a little abrupt. I really felt I could have done with one final chapter on how Alica rebuilt her life in Israel and America.