Aftermath: A Granddaughter's Story Of Legacy, Healing & Hope

by Allison Nazarian

The first-of-its-kind memoir by a "3G," or grandchild of Holocaust survivors, Aftermath is about being born into a history that never goes away. It is about reconciling memories of a tragic past with hopes for a better future. It is about the delicate balance between a proud legacy and a burdensome responsibility.

Allison Nazarian grew up in the Washington, DC suburbs, living a comfortable American life while at the same time being surrounded by stories of Auschwitz, of lost family members, of destroyed dreams and of miracles. The tales of Holocaust survival shared by her maternal grandparents and by their only child—Allison’s mother—were so ingrained in all aspects of everyday life that it wasn’t until Allison was older that she realized not everyone’s grandparents were Holocaust survivors.

As Allison moved into adulthood, she began to examine more deeply the reasons why the family history empowered and made resilient people like her grandmother, whose life was a triumph until the day she died, well into her 90s—while it haunted and ultimately destroyed others, like her mother who took her own life at the age of 51. Aftermath is a powerful look at healing, forgiveness, breaking old patterns and, ultimately, finding ways to remember the past while being able to live a life of peace and joy in the present.

218 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 21, 2016

Reviews

[Erika Messer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was not your typical Holocaust story. I was really amazed at how it was written - Allison was the granddaughter of a couple who survived the Holocaust and her mother was actually born inside Bergen-Belsen after the liberation. She tells the story of how her life was changed by knowing and ultimately caring for her grandparents (especially her grandmother Bubby) and how it affected the way she lived her life. I loved the way it was written - not like a book - but just like a diary of how she felt, things she did and some quotes from important works that impact the storyline. And all of this is done without apology - she doesn't apologize for her feelings which is great. All of the stories about Bubby are just awe-inspiring. Like stealing potatoes, being proud of the town Lodz where she lived in Poland, how she watched most of her family perish in the camps. It's all just sad and yet amazing at the same time because she didn't let it affect who she was. She raised her family, she told her story, she was proud of who she was. And Allison is clearly very proud to be her granddaughter. I loved the family pictures that were included, and also the pictures taken in Poland and Germany. It all comes together in a way that will keep you interested and I literally could not put this book down. I have never read a book quite like this and I now want to learn more about Allison and her family. Highly highly recommend this to anyone.

***I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.***

[Christi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first found this book a few years ago. I wanted to read a variety of books from fellow alumni and I naturally gravitated towards this non-fiction because it had to do with the Holocaust. What I didn't expect was to be schooled in how that historical event has transformed multiple generations of families of those who endured the loss and sufferings stemming from the survivors of these concentration camps.
This is an American prospective, so the generational effect may be different in Israel or other European countries. But the message endures that families carry the "never forget" slogan on their souls.
Allison gives a powerful (and very private) account of how her Grandmother's story shaped her view of the world.