Bashert: A Granddaughter's Holocaust Quest (Willie Morris Books in Memoir and Biography)

Rating:
Summary: An Important Book to Read
Review: Bashert by Andrea Simon is not only a labor of love and a remarkable gift to those who came before and will follow, it is an important addition to Holocaust literature, describing events that may not have come to light before. The events are described in a very readable and personal form.

What makes this book especially moving is the way the author weaves her personal story into her search for historical fact. It is the author's personal involvement, warmth and humanity that draw the reader in and create a sense of personal involvement for the reader. We are not just reading history, but being taken along on the author's quest for knowledge and truth. We share her hunger to know what happened to her lost family.

For those with personal experience or knowledge of the Holocaust, this will add; for others it is a good place to start. It is a remarkable personal odyssey which will leave the reader affected and transformed.

Rating:
Summary: From a Non-Jew
Review: I can't imagine many non-Jews looking at Andrea Simon's book in a catalogue or a store and thinking they MUST have it, or that it would necessarily contain anything of value to them. After all, it's just a Jewish woman's search for her history, right? Wrong! It is a tender, and unsettling, story of a personal journey that turns historic. And it is a reminder of what can happen, and has happened, when we lose touch with our shared humanity. This is not an easy book to read but it is a compelling book- and it is a call to action. We must never forget, and we must never give up. Andrea Simon persevered on her journey, as did her grandmother (and many others) before her. So must we all.

Rating:
Summary: An Unforgettable Memoir
Review: This is a riveting account of Ms. Simon's search for her roots as she returns to the birthplace of her eccentric and fascinating grandmother. In the process of unveiling her family's history, she unwittingly becomes a post-holocaust witness and a chronicler to a little known yet horrifying Nazi-Russian massacre. In this memoir, Simon carries us with her on an intimate, personal and historic trip. And, one that stayed with me long after the last page was read. I highly recommend this book to those interested in a soulful, spiritual and important journey.