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puglover's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Murder, Genocide, War, Death, Torture, and Antisemitism
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Child death, and Deportation
Minor: Sexual violence
abbyluvsfrogs444's review against another edition
5.0
A rating less than five stars would be ridiculous. This is the best memoir ever written. I don't have much to say other than this is a must read for everyone. We must remember what happened. In Wiesel's words, "...one could not keep silent no matter how difficult, if not impossible, it was to speak."
He also says, "For the survivor who chooses to testify, it is clear: his duty is to bear witness for the dead and for the living. He has no right to deprive future generations of a past that belongs to our collective memory. To forget would be not only dangerous but offensive; to forget the dead would be akin to killing them a second time."
We have a responsibility to stand firmly against evil and bigotry. If you stay silent, you are taking the side of the oppressor. That is the reason why Wiesel wrote this book. To make sure the world knew what happened and we never forget it.
"Because if we forget, we are guilty, we are accomplices."
Again, this is a must read. Not only is this story important, the way Wiesel writes is magnificent. His talent shines through. He has such a strong narrative voice, one I could never forget, even if I tried.
Old review:
A lot of books about the Holocaust end with a renewed hope of life or a lesson learned through the experience. This one doesn't have that. Wiesel's telling of his experiences are so raw and truthful. He tells it exactly how it happened and how it made him feel. It's so much more realistic for someone to completely lose their faith and hope after a horrific experience like this, which is what Wiesel talks about in this book. As sad as it is, it's just so truthful and blunt.
Graphic: Murder, Confinement, Body horror, Antisemitism, Child death, Emotional abuse, Deportation, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Religious bigotry, Torture, Death, Genocide, War, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Violence
zakcebulski's review against another edition
5.0
This book is so vitally important. It is an absolutely heartbreaking exploration into one man's experiences in to some of the most hellacious events in the history of mankind. The things that occurred were to the point I needed to put this book down for a moment. I am glad to have the chance to read this book, as it is important to know and learn about the Holocaust more and more. The Holocaust is such a broad view of unrivaled suffering and tragedy that these memoirs and personal experiences within the book are necessary to understand the impact on the human condition that this genocidal racism had.
I can't say more, but, I do urge each and every person to read this book, and others like it to educate yourselves on the tragedy of the Holocaust, and other genocides, so that these events are not forgotten.
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Genocide, Physical abuse, Racism, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, Deportation, War, Forced institutionalization, and Grief
mandi4886's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Antisemitism, Blood, Body shaming, Bullying, Death, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Hate crime, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Torture, Violence, War, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Ableism, Classism, Deportation, Excrement, Gaslighting, Suicidal thoughts, and Terminal illness
Minor: Cursing, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Slavery, and Suicide
kylajaynebooks's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Hate crime, Medical content, Medical trauma, Police brutality, Racism, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Antisemitism, Body horror, Death, Death of parent, Deportation, Excrement, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Grief, Vomit, Murder, Suicidal thoughts, Genocide, and Injury/Injury detail