Against All Odds: A Tale of Two Survivors

by Norman Salsitz, Amalie Petranker Salsitz

Tells the story of how these two Polish Jews each escaped from their ghetto confines and used their cunning to survive the Holocaust

398 pages, Paperback

First published December 31, 1990

Reviews

[Kari Matadobra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an insight into 2 survivors of genocide in southern Poland. It paints a picture of characters and a town that no longer exist. It shows both good and evil in the people on the German/ Polish side at the time, as well as the incredible fight for survival when death seems like such a sweet release. It is a hard book to read. Some of my husband's family left Kolbuszowa before WW1, and thus escaped this epoch. Rabbi Saul's words on page 171 stick with me.: "The Torah is the word of God and is stronger than any human power. Now the real question is not whether we will survive as a people; we will..." I will let you read the rest.

[Judibea · Rating 5 out of 5]

I discovered this book when I was asked to find all books that had 0 check-outs in the last 5 years to determine whether it should be weeded from the collection. To rescue this book I asked to check it out because it is a book witnessing the atrocities suffered by the Jewish communities in Poland during the oppressive and criminal Third Reich! The story is written by two survivors and tells each of the experiences of their separate communities. I have read other Holocaust accounts but this one also must remain on our library shelves “lest we forget”! Please request this book from your libraries even if you must request it through the interlibrary loan system. Remember that the reading of this book and the rating should reflect the spirit of remembrance.

[Bridget · Rating 4 out of 5]

since i had to read this for a class, im just gonna put my opinions aside and review it objectively. i thought it was a really well written narrative account that intertwined how two people persevered and survived the Holocaust. it offered a lot of insight on how a lot of the underground, lesser known aspects played out, particularly the realities of the liberation process.