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Life Must Go On: The Remarkable Story of Sol Lurie, the Kovno Ghetto, and the Tragic Fate of Lithuania's Jews
240 pages, Hardcover
Published June 3, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 5, 2026
I wish I had met the author’s father. The world could use a lot more of him. Excellent book.
July 5, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ to support the book and the spread of Sol’s story!
This was a tough read for me, as evidenced by taking a full year to read. I usually only read from my Kindle before bed, but the brutal stories were giving me nightmares so I had to find opportunities to read during the day. I ended up suggesting the book for book club to give me a deadline to finish the book.
Sol’s story was horrific yet inspirational, and I am grateful I got to hear some of it from him in person a couple years ago. Thankful Bea wrote it all down to have this story preserved, as well as some pictures I might have never seen without it.
On the book itself, I found the weaving in of history hard to digest and too academic for what I was looking for. The writing style was a bit choppy and had some spelling and grammar mistakes. My actual rating would be more like a 2-3 if the story wasn’t so important to me. I would still recommend everyone read it though!
This was a tough read for me, as evidenced by taking a full year to read. I usually only read from my Kindle before bed, but the brutal stories were giving me nightmares so I had to find opportunities to read during the day. I ended up suggesting the book for book club to give me a deadline to finish the book.
Sol’s story was horrific yet inspirational, and I am grateful I got to hear some of it from him in person a couple years ago. Thankful Bea wrote it all down to have this story preserved, as well as some pictures I might have never seen without it.
On the book itself, I found the weaving in of history hard to digest and too academic for what I was looking for. The writing style was a bit choppy and had some spelling and grammar mistakes. My actual rating would be more like a 2-3 if the story wasn’t so important to me. I would still recommend everyone read it though!
July 20, 2026
I listened to the audio version of this book on Audible.
I found myself more engaged in the sections of the book that were focused on Sol's memories and personal stories. The rest felt like a history text book, which is not in itself bad, but the narrator did not make it any easier to listen to. His narration was very dry and nearly void of emotion, which was strange considering the subject matter.
Overall, I am glad I listened to it as I was not aware of Lithuania's connection to the Holocaust and it is important to never forget these tragic times in history.
I found myself more engaged in the sections of the book that were focused on Sol's memories and personal stories. The rest felt like a history text book, which is not in itself bad, but the narrator did not make it any easier to listen to. His narration was very dry and nearly void of emotion, which was strange considering the subject matter.
Overall, I am glad I listened to it as I was not aware of Lithuania's connection to the Holocaust and it is important to never forget these tragic times in history.
August 19, 2025
Life Must Go On by Bea Lurie, co-written with Steven Leonard Jacobs, is a valuable addition to the ever-important body of Holocaust literature. The memoir tells the remarkable story of her father, Sol Lurie, a child survivor who endured six concentration camps. The narrative is powerful, and the firsthand account of survival against unimaginable odds is both heartbreaking and inspiring.
The book excels in providing a detailed history of the Jewish communities in Lithuania, a region of the Holocaust often overlooked in more general accounts. This historical context is vital and enriches the personal story, giving a deeper understanding of the life and traditions that were brutally erased. The authors succeed in portraying Sol not as a passive victim, but as a resilient individual with an incredible will to live and a later-in-life mission to spread a message of love and forgiveness.
However, the narrative sometimes feels like a dual effort, with the personal memoir of Sol’s experiences interwoven with more academic or historical chapters. While this is a noble attempt to provide context, it can disrupt the flow of the story. There were moments where the emotional weight of Sol's journey was lessened by a shift to a more detached, scholarly tone. This uneven pacing prevents the book from achieving the truly immersive and intimate feel of some other survivor memoirs. Frankly, Sol's story alone was truly both inspirational and powerful in both past and present.
Ultimately, Life Must Go On is a worthwhile and important read. It is a testament to the human spirit's capacity for resilience and hope, and a crucial historical record. While the structure could have been more seamless, the story it tells is one that deserves to be heard and remembered.
The book excels in providing a detailed history of the Jewish communities in Lithuania, a region of the Holocaust often overlooked in more general accounts. This historical context is vital and enriches the personal story, giving a deeper understanding of the life and traditions that were brutally erased. The authors succeed in portraying Sol not as a passive victim, but as a resilient individual with an incredible will to live and a later-in-life mission to spread a message of love and forgiveness.
However, the narrative sometimes feels like a dual effort, with the personal memoir of Sol’s experiences interwoven with more academic or historical chapters. While this is a noble attempt to provide context, it can disrupt the flow of the story. There were moments where the emotional weight of Sol's journey was lessened by a shift to a more detached, scholarly tone. This uneven pacing prevents the book from achieving the truly immersive and intimate feel of some other survivor memoirs. Frankly, Sol's story alone was truly both inspirational and powerful in both past and present.
Ultimately, Life Must Go On is a worthwhile and important read. It is a testament to the human spirit's capacity for resilience and hope, and a crucial historical record. While the structure could have been more seamless, the story it tells is one that deserves to be heard and remembered.
December 11, 2025
Bea Lurie writes the harrowing and heroic story of her father’s survival during the Holocaust. A very important read, especially in our current times.
July 7, 2026
This book was co-authored by my rabbi. It was an enlightening book. I won’t say good because this book was not for enjoyment. It was education. It succeeded at that.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews