Joshua and Isadora: A True Tale of Loss and Love in the Holocaust

by Michael Benanav

Brand New. Will be shipped from US

Genres: Holocaust, Nonfiction, Biography

Hardcover

First published April 15, 2008

Reviews

[Elaine Reinhard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous book. So horrifying to know what the Jewish Holocaust families went through. So hard to believe that any were able to survive.

[Johanna DeBiase · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. A sad but necessary inside look at the Holocaust and the importance of Zionism.

[Ed]

Benanav, Michael (2008). Joshua & Isadora: A True Tale of Loss and Love In the Holocaust. Guilford, CT: The Lyons Press. 258 pp. ISBN: 978-1-59921-240-1 (Hardcover) $24.95.

While this book is an adult biography of Michael Benanav’s grandparents and their experiences with the Nazis, I include it in this review because Joshua & Isadora is a cautionary tale to teen readers. There is an implicit suggestion to explore our own roots. Benanav asks us to create a world worthy of respect, a world filled with hope and mystery. Benanav remarks that despite all of the horrible things that happened, sometimes, out of the corner of his eye, he catches glimpses of perfection. He reminds readers of the spiritual teachings of Judaism, “ascent follows descent.” He then goes on to say that, “since none of the particular events for which we are grateful are pre-ordained, none of the particular sufferings that helped produce them actually had to happen. They are, simply, not necessary.” (243) What readers are left with is this notion that by digging into our own stories, we uncover links that connect us to our suffering and to our joys and to each other in ways that help us understand that ascent is possible without descent, that abominations like those of Nazi Germany are, simply, unnecessary. Joshua & Isadora is a book that everyone in Benanav’s family should read. It is also a book for anyone seeking a manual on how to use our own family histories to uncover “the mystery that swirls through life...” I am especially hoping to place this book in the hands of teens. Perhaps Benanav’s wanderlust and enthusiasm for traveling will strike a kindred chord in teens and encourage them to dream even bigger dreams. And while Joshua & Isadora is Benanav’s personal family history, it is also a book about the nature of love and commitment. It is a love story. It is a treatise on how to remain human in the face of unspeakable cruelty, a how-to book on recapturing a zest for living when all seems lost and broken. It is a beautiful piece of writing.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finally read this book last night. I foolishly thought it would be a romantic story, and it was in parts, but duh, it was about the horrors of Jewish extermination. This wasn't so much about the camps which I've read about, but more about the marches and ghettos--still terrible. The first part was a little difficult to get through as it was heavy Zionist, which I did not expect, but I couldn't put it down. Benanav weaves between Joshua, Isadora and his present journey into Romania and Ukraine. This is a great story and I'm glad he was able to tell it. On another note, as a great traveler myself, I loved how he described his interaction with people--sweet, final, sad--having these good-byes all over the world doesn't make them easier each time. Indeed.

[Jeni · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't decide if I give this book three or four stars. Three at the beginning, four at the end. I struggled through the beginning. If I had more knowledge of Jewish history, WWI history and politics and eastern European culture and geography I would have enjoyed this book more. The author leap frogs between stories of each of his grandparents, along with a trip he took of the places they lived and were imprisoned. A map would have been really helpful to visualize these places and how they intersect. Overall, I enjoyed it, but am still waiting for a book to really explain why the Jews were so persecuted and hated by so many, not just German Nazis.

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd add half a star if I could. The story started out to be very promising, and I was looking forward to learning about Joshua and Isadora, but I felt that there was a lot of filler. The filler wasn't bad, but it was a lot of military and political history that I wasn't as interested in.

Overall, it was a good read.

[Elena Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my never ending quest to make sense of the insanity of
Europe around WWII, this is a different scenario: Hungary,
Zionist and emigration to Palestine. It is also a love story
after a series of coincidental events.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had more info on the events that led up to the holcaust. Quite interesting. The format was of the author's grandparents and his personal search of finding out their story. I enjoyed it and still cannot understand why people of so cruel to others.

[Say · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just blew through this one. Amazing story (one of millions) about survival during WWII. Beautifully recounted by the grandson.

I want to try his other book too.

[Mindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

You would think that I would eventually get tired of book about the Holocaust - but no. Another interesting story of love and loss and hope and endurance.