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410 reviews for:
The Light of Days: The Untold Story of Women Resistance Fighters in Hitler's Ghettos
Judy Batalion
4.12 AVERAGE
410 reviews for:
The Light of Days: The Untold Story of Women Resistance Fighters in Hitler's Ghettos
Judy Batalion
4.12 AVERAGE
emotional
informative
sad
slow-paced
Excellent historical context - took me forever to get through, hard to follow at times. But an excellent insight into the Jewish resistance among women in particular, during WWII and Nazi regime. Interesting time to read this particularly as resistance and uprising is exactly what is needed for this current administration.
Fascinating and gruelling history, well worth reading for those who are interested in the subject. Unfortunately, the first 1/4 of 1/3 of the book was a slog to get through - so many people with similar names and backgrounds are introduced that it's difficult to keep them straight. The narrative jumps around from place to place without providing much background info to understand the different locations.
Eventually I gave up on knowing who was who which made it less frustrating, and also the last 2/3 or more was much more readable as it stuck with each individual or group for longer, so that events unfolded more clearly.
I didn't know much about the events covered in the book so I learned a lot. And it was great to learn about the role played by these young women leaders.
Maybe 3.5 stars but better editing at the front end would have really helped.
Eventually I gave up on knowing who was who which made it less frustrating, and also the last 2/3 or more was much more readable as it stuck with each individual or group for longer, so that events unfolded more clearly.
I didn't know much about the events covered in the book so I learned a lot. And it was great to learn about the role played by these young women leaders.
Maybe 3.5 stars but better editing at the front end would have really helped.
"And then there is gender. Women are routinely dropped from stories where they played roles, their experiences blotted out of history. Here, too, women's stories were particularly silenced."
audiobook
audiobook
I may never recover from the heartbreak of these brutal stories and the overwhelming admiration of these courageous women. I may never ever be the same.
I have been listening during the same week that Russia invaded Ukraine and I just keep wishing we had learned. I'm baffled as to how we are here again. I want to be brave, and I cannot fathom their necessary pain and courage.
These women are exceptional at every turn, and relentless in their fight. One idea keeps rolling around in my mind, she refuses to die because it would be making the job of "the Germans" easier. She will not do their job for them. I wonder how many stayed alive out of spite - a motive I hadn't considered before.
This story is incredible and I'm so glad Batalion shared it with us, and that the historical documents and stories were available for her research. The recording and the retelling required courage and honesty.
I have been listening during the same week that Russia invaded Ukraine and I just keep wishing we had learned. I'm baffled as to how we are here again. I want to be brave, and I cannot fathom their necessary pain and courage.
These women are exceptional at every turn, and relentless in their fight. One idea keeps rolling around in my mind, she refuses to die because it would be making the job of "the Germans" easier. She will not do their job for them. I wonder how many stayed alive out of spite - a motive I hadn't considered before.
This story is incredible and I'm so glad Batalion shared it with us, and that the historical documents and stories were available for her research. The recording and the retelling required courage and honesty.
As with the other Holocaust literature I've read, this made my blood boil and heart break in equal measure. That said, it was the first account I've read that primarily takes place in the ghettos and with a focus on women. These humans are my heros. Although this book made me cry on a regular basis and put me in a depressed state while reading it, I would recommend it to all; their stories ought to be heard.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
I love to read WWII, both fiction and nonfiction. The stories are always brutal but the bravery of the common person always inspires me. This story of the women who organized, spied, fought, suffered torture and died was awe inspiring. It’s a story that has been pushed aside and forgotten. It deserves to be remembered. It’s not an easy read. I put it down many times to start other books, but I am glad I read it. The ending was especially interesting because it talked about the generational trauma suffered by survivors and their families. A slow but worthwhile read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Colonisation, Deportation
The brutality is hard to read but the bravery of these women deserves more attention.
Read this book for Sharon Says So book club.
Surprised to go against the popular opinion on this one and say I abandoned this book about one third through.
The story is interesting and something I would usually devour but the writing made it too hard to follow. There is no clear linear narrative. In an attempt to describe all the horrors and events that befell Polish Jews the author piles on lists upon lists of side notes. The main protagonists and their trajectories get lost in the mire. All the general info about life in the ghetto distracts from the specifics and interrupts the story in every chapter. I could not keep up.
Surprised to go against the popular opinion on this one and say I abandoned this book about one third through.
The story is interesting and something I would usually devour but the writing made it too hard to follow. There is no clear linear narrative. In an attempt to describe all the horrors and events that befell Polish Jews the author piles on lists upon lists of side notes. The main protagonists and their trajectories get lost in the mire. All the general info about life in the ghetto distracts from the specifics and interrupts the story in every chapter. I could not keep up.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
This book was a fantastic account of the Jewish women who fought for their families. I learned many things that I did not know about Nazi occupied Poland and the Jewish people who lived there. The story has points that are difficult to read due to the brutality of the Nazi Army. Everyone should read this book. The author also as a YA edition for teens to read.