Aurora : a Wartime Love Story

Rating:
Summary: A VERY THOUGHT PROVOKEING BOOK
Review: After reading the review by Andris Straumanis of Aurora, wejust had to buy it.

Mr. Straumanis biggest complaint seem to be theinaccurate dates of Latvians deported and the lack of smooth transitions in time, he found this book a valuable addition to the small collection of English-language books regarding such a turmoil period of time as World War II.

I too feel that this book is a very valuable addition to help children, grand-children, and friends of those who experienced the life of a refugee and the displaced persons camps after WWII to understand the traumas that molded each person.

It's hard to relate to someone who has life experiences that are so alien to the average person. The pain, the fear, the depravation, the loss of identity and the humiliation that so many of the refugees experienced, impacted each and every refugee in ways that most never even recognized. One cannot survive such horrors and come out as the same person or even a whole person. There are no words adequate to convey some of the experiences.

Aurora accurately speaks of the feeling of betrayal by the Big Three after the war. Countries that were promised free elections if they backed the allies were just handed over to Russia. That move dashed any hope most refugees had of returning to their homes and forced them to scramble for alternatives.

I do hope that anyone who wants a better understanding of what life was like for refugees, will read this book. For accurate dates and a more researched historical version of the time, read Mark Wyman's DPs: Europe's Displaced Persons 1945-1951.

My problem with this book was that perhaps the author unintentionally in many passages made Aurora appear as a somewhat dense and daffy person.

Page 17: "I'd like a church wedding with six bridesmaids," I told Alfreds. (the Russians were occuping Latvia at this time) "A church wedding!" he exclaimed... "Surely you know such a ceremony isn't considered legal by the new order..." "Almost every married couple I know had a church wedding," I pouted.

With the Russians invading, people being killed, life turned upside down, in some passages Aurora appears totally oblivious to her surrounding and seems self absorbed.

Page 51: "There's no motion" the attending nurse said. (This was at the birth of Aurora's still born first child) "What do you mean?" I asked. "I can move." I wiggled my arms and feet to prove it.

Page 74: I was too overcome by my own grief to be aware Ralphs had delivered a similar message to Tina. ( They were both to leave without their husbands) I remember her tears mixing with mine, but I thought it was in sympathy for Alfreds and me.

Perhaps there was a problem in translating thoughts, perhaps there was a problem with poor editing. I would like to give Aurora the benefit of doubt.

Rating:
Summary: me too..
Review: I must agree with "a reader from Riga" - although an interesting story, I was very disappointed with the level of English. It did indeed read like a high-school essay which is such a shame - the story of Aurora and Alfreds deserves better! I would have liked to recommend the book to non-Latvian friends but was embarrassed, due to the poor language. I did lend it to my mother, without divulging my thoughts, and having read it, she said the same thing.

Rating:
Summary: sorry...
Review: In all due respect, (since the reviews are getting so personnal...) this might be an interesting story from an interesting lady... but the writing is horrible! It reads like a high-school essay, with very awckward sentences, corny emotional passages and failed attempts at high-literature. The story could have been good, but this book was not a pleasant read, no matter how interested I am in the history of Latvia during and after WWII. Sorry...

Rating:
Summary: me too..
Review: In regards to the last review of my grandmother's book - I must reply with all due respect in the following manner concerning the statement that it makes my grandmother seem very daffy,etc.. What MUST be understood is that my grandmother was not yet out of her teens when she married and her world turned upside down. She was but very young and yes,certainly niave and selfcentered as many are at so young an age. One must take into consideration that the world was far more innocent at the age of 17 in those days as compared to this age group now. Yes, she was truly this niave at this time in her life, perhaps as a result of NOT wanting to face the harsh reality - it was her personal way of responding and perhaps a way of denial regarding the reality around her. I hope readers will understand as well, that in the book, it is stated that, the time frames may be askew as the result of memory. This book's value is for life experience amidst great hardship and not historical accuracy data.

Rating:
Summary: reponse to critique
Review: In regards to the last review of my grandmother's book - I must reply with all due respect in the following manner concerning the statement that it makes my grandmother seem very daffy,etc.. What MUST be understood is that my grandmother was not yet out of her teens when she married and her world turned upside down. She was but very young and yes,certainly niave and selfcentered as many are at so young an age. One must take into consideration that the world was far more innocent at the age of 17 in those days as compared to this age group now. Yes, she was truly this niave at this time in her life, perhaps as a result of NOT wanting to face the harsh reality - it was her personal way of responding and perhaps a way of denial regarding the reality around her. I hope readers will understand as well, that in the book, it is stated that, the time frames may be askew as the result of memory. This book's value is for life experience amidst great hardship and not historical accuracy data.