Reviews

When she's talking about her experience in the concentration camps, it's shockingly mesmerizing. So many valuable quotes and stories that we need to remember and tell the next generations coming after us. Hédi inspires me to take action, to not only talk the talk but also walk the walk. However, I don't agree with or believe in all of the conclusions she drew after the war ended. And so I respect and cry over her experiences and will fight by her side in order to never allow history to repeat itself the same way ever again, yet not by compromising with my faith in love and forgiveness.

Review in Swedish coming up soon!

oldsimoneaccount's review against another edition

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5.0

I received a complementary advance copy from Edelweiss+ in return for an honest review!

"One of the lessons from the Holocaust is this: never get used to injustice. An injustice is like a grain of sand in your hand; on its own, its weight may seem insignificant, but injustices have a tendency to multiply, they soon become so heavy that you can no longer bear them" (Hédi Fried)

As someone who was born and raised in Germany and 14 years of those early childhood years behind the Iron Curtain in East Germany, this book hit very close to home. In East Germany, we learned a lot about the Holocaust. There was no such thing as Holocaust denial. I have since encountered numerous members of the neo-Nazi movement and each time I got upset about their ignorance, hate, and denial. I have visited concentration camps such as Buchenwald and even though it has been decades since someone suffered there, I felt like their souls were still there. Hédi Fried's book is the type of book that we need more of! We need to keep hearing their stories, so that we will never forget. While I thought I knew a lot about the Holocaust already, this book helped me understand more about those Jews who did not originally come from Germany. It was very interesting to hear from a Hungarian Jew's perspective. I knew Jews from all kinds of countries suffered in the camps, but I had not idea how they ended up there and I had no clue about their perspective of the suffering and relationships they had in the camps. Hédi Fried tells the story in a language that is easy to understand for readers as young as highschool students. But I believe that it is equally interesting for older readers. This book was also made me reflect on my own religious beliefs. She states "I cannot demand tolerance of my faith if I do not tolerate yours." What a powerful and true statement! Great book and fast read that answers a lot of questions younger generations may have!

elizabethlk's review against another edition

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5.0

In Questions I Am Asked About the Holocaust, Hédi Fried has essentially created an FAQ regarding her experiences as a survivor of the Holocaust. After speaking with students regarding her experiences for decades, she's certainly been asked enough of them. This is the kind of book that is necessary reading for anyone who has never had the opportunity to ask questions of a Holocaust survivor. While many of her experiences echo those of other survivors, Fried also had many powerful and enlightening answers that deserve to be heard. The writing is clear and accessible, perfect for those trying to understand the unfathomable. Highly recommended.