My Endless War. . .And My Shattered Dreams: My Survival Of The Holocaust And The Recollection Of My Unforgettable Memories Of My Life Before World War ... War And All Of My Happenings...

by Sonia Kaplan

This is my autobiography, and the story of my survival of the Holocaust under the Nazi regime. I am describing my life, before,during and after the war and having to face life all alone,without any of my family members left alive.

Genres: Holocaust

386 pages, Paperback

First published December 27, 2004

Reviews

[Nenette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got a signed copy of this book from the author herself when I visited the Holocaust Museum in DC last April. I've read quite a number of novels about the holocaust (fiction and non-fiction), but I’ve never met their authors or the subject/s of their stories. Buying this book, it was the first time I've come face to face with one who actually experienced that tragic event in history. I admire Sonia Kaplan for being able to write about it, when I know most people would just rather keep silent than relive their horror.

One thing I can say about the writing is that it is the real thing, very genuine! On the style....Being Polish and having learned the English language only when she was already in the United States, Sonia's writing is very basic and elementary, though very refreshing. I remember the time that I used to write formal theme papers in grade school. Reading her book was like going back and reading those formal theme papers.

Sonia started with the history of herself, her family (both on the maternal and paternal side), the Jewish religion, their practices, and even some recipes. It showed how very proud she is of her upbringing, her religion and their traditions. Her chronology obviously shows how she really favors her life before the war; the number of pages spent on it is proof.

Her account of what happened during the war showed her warring emotions. She did not care if she survived; she went from being hopeful to despondent, from being scared to being very angry. She still harbors resentment (and rightfully so, after all she'd been through) towards Hitler and the allies who did not do anything to stop the tragedy that was the holocaust.

I must admit that I questioned her rage, why she's not able to move on and be genuinely happy; after all she has her children and grandchildren now. But if I think about it, I (or anybody for that matter) don't have the right to question her. It must have been more than horrific to have gone through what she had, then finding herself all alone after the war, without any single family member left.

I admire Sonia for coming out with this book...It is part of her redemption…All the words she'd written and published, she is entitled to that.

[Cindy Clemens · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very repetitive and obviously not edited. A good book if you’re interested in day to day Jewish life pre 1942 in Eastern Europe. I am very interested in WWII (particularly Holocaust books) and have an extensive personal library on the subject, but this book was unlike any others I’d read. My heart breaks for every holocaust survivor and I marvel at their tenacity, courage and strength. I only wish Sonia had gotten the emotional help she needed, which would have made the remainder of her life much more bearable.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short, happy childhood that the war interrupted. Traditions and Jewish faith. Poignant description of the war and its cruelty, a hard return to normality after the war. The book is very good though sad, I have no doubt that history is true. I was my childhood favourite books: "Akademia Pana Kleksa", "Pipi Longstocking" and "The Neverending Story". Every child has the right to a happy childhood, everyone has the right to live. I hope that one day I will see the publication of this book in Poland, although it is written in a very understandable language. "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing" Edmund Burke.

[Berlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting details, a lot of repetition among the chapters. A little slow going

[Sharon Neary · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is an informative book about WWll and the horrible and cruel way Hitler treated the Jewish population. It is the story of a family.