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Peril: From Jackboots To Jack Benny
The daughter of Holocaust survivors, Pearl Goodman grew up in Toronto in the 1960s. In this exceptionally original memoir, written with wry humor and a sharp satirical eye, she juxtaposes popular culture with the jarring transitions and contradictions in her and her parents' lives. Striving to make sense of her emerging identity, she invokes TV shows, ads, movies, and distinctive details of the material and ideological landscape, while interweaving them with her parents' harrowing wartime experiences of concentration and refugee camps, and the drama and uncertainty of their postwar emigration first to Israel, and then to Canada.
300 pages, Paperback
First published September 24, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 13, 2013
Pearl Goodman was raised by her Holocaust survivor parents in Toronto in the 1960s. Her childhood was different from that of most children of the 60s, as her parents based their parenting philosophy on their life experiences. This background set her apart from her Canadian neighbors and schoolmates on many occasions.
The author weaves a tale of her unusual childhood by interspersing stories of her parents Pre-WWII European lives and their concentration camp memories with her stories of coming-of-age in 1960s Canada. While at times this makes for an uneven narrative, her story is so engrossing that the reader will forgive. Only one real complaint: the ending seemed very abrupt, leaving me shocked and wanting to know more. Perhaps she will write a sequel...
Recommended for mature teens and adults.
4 stars
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
The author weaves a tale of her unusual childhood by interspersing stories of her parents Pre-WWII European lives and their concentration camp memories with her stories of coming-of-age in 1960s Canada. While at times this makes for an uneven narrative, her story is so engrossing that the reader will forgive. Only one real complaint: the ending seemed very abrupt, leaving me shocked and wanting to know more. Perhaps she will write a sequel...
Recommended for mature teens and adults.
4 stars
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
April 10, 2014
I could really relate to the author's tales of growing up Jewish in the 60's, but it started to become all of a sameness around half-way through. No discernible dramatic arc. I never finished it.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews