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Sidonia's Thread: The Secrets of a Mother and Daughter Sewing a New Life in America
by
Hanna Perlstein Marcus (Goodreads Author)
Did you and your parent ever keep a secret that lasted a lifetime? When Hanna Perlstein and her mother, Sidonia, come to Springfield, Massachusetts from a displaced persons camp after World War II, they know no one in America. With no other family, except each other, they build a world that revolves around Sidonia's extraordinary talent with a needle and thread to create b
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Paperback, 278 pages
Published
December 7th 2011
by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
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(showing 1-30)
There are so many lives that have forever been affected by World War II. For many, their stories ended in the German concentration camps. The survivors have stories to tell and we don’t always want to hear them. Isn’t one story the same as another? I think not.
As I read Sidona’s Thread: The Secrets of a Mother and Daughter Sewing a New Life in America I was reminded of the uniqueness of each individual who came through that time. Hanna Perlstein Marcus was born at the Bergen Belson displaced pe ...more
As I read Sidona’s Thread: The Secrets of a Mother and Daughter Sewing a New Life in America I was reminded of the uniqueness of each individual who came through that time. Hanna Perlstein Marcus was born at the Bergen Belson displaced pe ...more
I found Sidonia's Thread to be one of the most inspiring books I've ever had the pleasure of reading. I could identify with the author, as my own grandparents emmigrated from Germany in the 1920's and had to build a life, learn the language, and took great pride in becoming American citizens. The atrocities Sidonia faced before coming to America eventually received world wide recognition. The author does an excellent job in describing in detail how her mother came to be the person she was. I lov
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I was blown away about this memoir of a mother who survived the Holocaust and her daughter who learned more, piece by piece, about the choices her mother had to make to ensure their life in America. For those who are interested in stories about Holocaust survivors as well as the next generation who were raised by them, this is a great read. Also, the writer organized it according to the chapters of her mother's favorite sewing book. I have already recommended it to my mother.
Very good
I really enjoyed reading this account of a holocaust victims life after the holocaust. As always, these accounts are incredibly sad, how can they not be? Sidonia was an incredible woman. I'd say even a bit ahead of the times. Worth reading.
I really enjoyed reading this account of a holocaust victims life after the holocaust. As always, these accounts are incredibly sad, how can they not be? Sidonia was an incredible woman. I'd say even a bit ahead of the times. Worth reading.
I had heard some of these stories but this book blew me away.
This is the story of Sidonia as written by her daughter, Hannah. Hannah did not take a traditional approach in telling her mother's story. Sidonia had one skill that carried through life. She was an exemplenary seamstress. In telling her story, Hannah used a sewing technique to organize each chapter. For example, when discussing fitting and fitting clothes, she also discussed how her mother fit into her new family especially after divorce.
Sidonia was the only member of her family to survive the ...more
Sidonia was the only member of her family to survive the ...more
This is such a poignant memoir, one I will be reading again! I have read a number of books by survivors of the holocaust, and this book is once again unique, even though "some" of the story is familiar.....how the family came to be in a concentration camp, how the whole family was lost except for the mother, and how she carried many of her secrets to her grave, and how her experiences as a prisoner of the concentration camp, as a holocaust survivor shaped not only her life, but the lives of her
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great book. The mom reminded me of my grandma - a woman that endures unbelievable hardship but just keeps on. Lives a thrifty life but never wanting for anything except to understand. I could relate to the daughters anger - you never know what your grandparents or parents have endured and how they try to insulate you from the pain and hardness of the world - in the meantime - if they could have told you more a little at a time when you should have been ready for it so that you have an understand
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I really enjoyed this book. I loved how the author relates the theme of sewing to the stories in the book. It's a heartfelt memoir about a Mother-Daughter relationship strained by the events that took place early in her Mother's life during the holocaust. Most of the events take place in Springfield, MA and the east coast. It was really interesting how her mother kept so many secrets from her daughter.... mostly I believe it served as a protective shell for her to keep hidden away inside. Her da
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A great book about a survivor of the Holocaust and her daughter born out of wedlock. Sidonia's amazing survival is a story in and of itself. She was an incredibly strong woman and one to be admired. I cannot imagine the terror Sidonia suffered during her years in the concentration camps, but she came through it and lived a strong, independent life for many years after. Her gift of sewing kept she and her daughter fed, housed and clothed through tumultuous times. The only sad story here was her i
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Beautiful.
I have never read anything quite
Like Sedonia's Thread. It is a remarkable work of sheer strength, tenacity, and the ability of the human spirit to overcome unimaginable odds.
The author, being the subject's daughter, poured her heart and soul into this memoir. Her love and devotion, not to mention her respect to lineage, is evident in every word of this story. Her passion and love for her genealogy came through loud and clear, in an admirable and profound way.
Thank you, Hanna Perlstei ...more
I have never read anything quite
Like Sedonia's Thread. It is a remarkable work of sheer strength, tenacity, and the ability of the human spirit to overcome unimaginable odds.
The author, being the subject's daughter, poured her heart and soul into this memoir. Her love and devotion, not to mention her respect to lineage, is evident in every word of this story. Her passion and love for her genealogy came through loud and clear, in an admirable and profound way.
Thank you, Hanna Perlstei ...more
One of a plethora of books by the children of Holocaust survivors now being published in the Kindle format and offered as specials. But this one is different. It is not so much a story of the Holocaust as the story of the life of Sidonia and her daughter (the author) born in a DP camp following liberation, and after they immigrate to the US. It is an interesting story of survival and and the complex relationship between the daughter and mother. A story that Oprah or Dr. Phil would probably ruin,
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Like most Holocaust books, this was a sad book. However, little was written about actual experiences during the war; rather it is the period after the war, moving to America, adapting to a new life which was difficult for a single woman with a child. This book was written by the daughter, who wanted to know who and where her father was - sure that he did not want her, why he did not marry her mother. Her mother was closed off from her emotionally and only gave her glimpses of life in the camps.
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This was one of the most interesting books about the Holocaust I have ever read. Told from the perspective of the daughter of a survivor who raised her alone in America, this account really showed how it affected the life of such a young woman, the only one left in her family. It was a beautiful account of an unusual mother-daughter relationship and how the daughter (the author) came to understand her mother and her mother's way of loving her.
from a mothers point of view this book made you realised what you would do for you're child heartbreaking but totally poignant sometimes felt reading something that happened in another lifetime and could not think this could happened the strength and courage mother and daughter possess amazing good true and strong read
This book is so compelling that I could not put it down until I finished it. Written by her daughter Sidonia's Thread tells her mothers story from the early years, then through the Holocaust until her recent passing. The details and stories give insight to the life of her mom, a Holocaust survivor, and her growing up in the US. I recommend this for everyone.
This is a really well written book about a mother & daughter's struggles to rebuild their lives in a new country after the war. Stories of the mother's survival as told through her daughter's recollections are woven throughout to provide us with a picture of resiliancy & determination that shows us the incredible strength her mother had to survive.
Jan 21, 2014
Regmg1
rated it
really liked it
Recommends it for:
mostly women
Recommended to Regmg1 by:
Lucille Frank
very good. It shows how a girl and her mother come to America and live from being very poor and how Hannah and her mother progress and each chapter starts with a quote from COATS and CLARKS SEWING BOOK. Sidonia is a very talented seamstress and that is what keeps them going.
I loved the originality of this book! To write about her mother and the authors relationship through the vehicle of a book of her mothers craft is very unique and so well thought out. The story is excellently written and love conveyed is heartwarming.
This book was so good! I couldn't put it down!!
reading about the love the mother had for a daughter ...great! !
Another good book from the holocaust. This was told by her daughter how she came to America and made a life for them.
Great book.
This book is very well written. I feel like I know these people intimately and mourn for their suffering and all that they endured. But I also rejoice in Sidonia's triumph over it all.
Loved this book. As an immigrant whose mother was also a seamstress, i identified with the author.
A good book about a holocaust survivor raising a child as a single mom, and the mystery surrounding the father of the child. Good read, very well written, and inspirational in more than one way.
Local author. Interesting read.
it was a very interesting story. worth the read
Good read
felt like I was part of the family. kept me reading. sometimes hard to follow. Would recommend. good information on the holocaust. if there is good information.
felt like I was part of the family. kept me reading. sometimes hard to follow. Would recommend. good information on the holocaust. if there is good information.
The author had a unique method of telling her story, connecting it with the sewing theme that was central to her mother's life.
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“For a long time, I was trapped in this struggle with my emotions about the single person in the world who was my family.”
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