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goldie_reads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
emcbee's review against another edition
5.0
This book was disturbing, but a memoir we should all read. Raichman is well known in Holocaust studies circles. This book transported me to the middle of Treblinka. A worthy addition to Holocaust memoir.
xxstefaniereadsxx's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
4.0
This book is absolutely horrifying. As a history major who has a specialization in World War II, I have read a lot of books similar to this. There were so many survivors of these horrible acts that came forward in the post war years to tell their experiences. This man went through so many horrible things, I can hardly even wrap my mind around it. The brutality of the human race should not shock me at this point, but it does. These events happened many years ago, way before my parents were even born, yet these wounds still seem so fresh. In the news today, Jewish people are facing racial attacks. Russia is bombing Holocaust memorial site of Babi Yar. It's truly disgusting. This book took about three hours to listen to and is included with the Audible Plus membership. I would recommend giving it a read/listen.
travis_read's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
fast-paced
5.0
Treblinka was the second deadliest place to be sent during the Holocaust, so it feels like we don’t see as many books about it as we do Auschwitz. As a Jewish person, I find these stories difficult but also think it’s so important to read them to keep these stories and experiences alive for generations to come. Everyone of these survivor stores are important but this one stands out due to the fact that he actually managed to successfully escape the camp! Unfortunately there weren’t many successful escapes from any of these horrific places, but Chil was one of the few. because Treblinka had less than 100 known survivors these stories and first-hand accounts of the horrors they witnessed feel especially important.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse
bones_jackson's review against another edition
5.0
Eu não sou muito de ler biografias, mas essa é muito boa, muito fluida e contando com maestria todos os detalhes do campo de concentração e mostrando todos os horrores que eram feitos lá e todas as experiências que as pessoas tiveram que passar
thaydra's review against another edition
4.0
Rajchman's writing is simple and straight-forward, chronicling the horrors he endured while kept prisoner at Treblinka during the war. What makes this book truly horrible is knowing that this all really happened, and that people are actually capable of committing such atrocities against other human beings. It is also a testament to the human spirit's ability to persevere and rise against such tremendous odds.
jessicka's review against another edition
5.0
Amazing... Disturbing, brutal and honest. A must read for anyone interested in the Holocaust. Absolutely devastating.
willynate's review against another edition
5.0
Haunting. I've read many books about the Holocaust. This was was unique. It was near poetic in its horrid description of the Treblinka Death Camp.
readinggrrl's review against another edition
4.0
This is one of the most haunting and riveting books I have read about the holocaust. Rajchman escaped Treblinka after 11 of the most horrifying months. Starved, beaten and used as a barber to shave the heads of the women before they were gassed, or a "dentist" to extract the gold teeth from the mouths of the dead. His account of the brutality, and sadism of his captors was horrifying. Yes I've read accounts of camps before but none so vivid and detailed. His details are almost detached as he watched men cover the pathways with sand to cover the blood so the next victims wouldn't see what was about to happen. Having to sing to the cries and screams of Jews being gassed to death, removing bodies to be burned or buried. That this man had enough hope to participate in an uprising and escape, to go on living, after what he had seen and been forced to do is amazing. Most would have broken under much less. He survived to reveal what what happened, so that we can remember all those that were lost.
butyougotmysoul's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
sad
fast-paced
I won’t rate this book as it is a piece of history and contains suffering and heartache for millions of people and their families. With that said, it is well written and easy to understand the narrative.