The Carrion Vine

by Erane Elizabeth Scully

The Carrion Vine is a historically accurate, non-fiction account based upon the diary that the author's mother kept. fleshed out with her vivid memories at a 14 year-old girl. Some of the characters' nemes have been changed at their request to protect those who are still in Russia. The 9000 mile journey during WWII.

Genres: Nonfiction

245 pages

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book. I am learning so much about WWII that I did not know. Very interesting. It is taken from the authors memoris and her mothers diary. The author is from a small town where I was born in Il, and my mother had the chance to meet her at her book club. She has only published 500 of her books.

[Jp Wendt · Rating 5 out of 5]

After being rewarded for her good school marks, Author Scully went to Poland in summer of 1939 to enjoy riding at her uncle's ranch. The Germans invaded, and even with a Swiss diplomatic passport, Elizabeth and her mother were trapped. The ensuing story of the German, and then Russian, occupations and her subsequent incarceration in a Siberian labor camp is so vividly told you will be enraptured. It is pathos, hearthrob, fear and fascination all skillfully woven into a narrative that will hold you through until the end. This book was self published by the author because she felt she had to get her story told. As such, it is difficult to find. You might find a referral at the Wisconsin printer or find a copy at NW Illinois libraries in Cary, Crystal Lake, or Woodstock and I can affirm, it will be worth the search. The author resides in N Illinois and makes appearances at many book club gatherings. She not only gifted the world with a vital narrative, but she continues to enthrall those around her with her strong spirit and amazing ability to engage all those around her with stories of her amazing life.

[MaryAnn Hay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Couldn't put this down. It was given to me to read by a friend of the author, and I was told in advance a little of Mrs. Scully's story. Written in the first person, you feel as if you are taking this journey with her and her mother. It is a fascinating and horrifying trip through wartorn Poland and Russia, exposing terrifying yet life-affirming situations and unbelievable strength of character and the human spirit. I truly hope this book and its author get the exposure and accolades they richly deserve. Do I recommend it? More than I've ever done any book before.

[Annette Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erane (Ellie) and her mother, Swiss citizens, tell a tale of survival, love and resilience. The reader is quickly pulled in to their incredible account of life on a Siberian labor camp. I had the extreme honor of meeting Erane at 91 and hear firsthand many more stories and details of their journey from Poland to Siberia and finally to India. On the my list next: view the documentary and read the sequel.

[Tami · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredible, miraculous true story of how a Swiss mother and daughter were vacationing in Western Poland in 1939 when Germany decided to bomb, destroy and take over Poland from the west while Russia from the east decided they'd do the same thing saying they were helping the Poles - Yeah ship them off to Siberia in work camps, that's helping.
The author and her mother survived by persevering, working hard, helping others and sheer luck. I love that her mother wrote their ordeal down on a calendar and scraps of paper. For three years they were basically prisoners who struggled thru malnutrition, disease and other atrocities that come with war. There are others who struggle right along with them and how they pulled together to survive was amazing to me.
One of those books that was hard to put down.
I learned so much about WWII that I was not taught in school. So I always knew Germany was the bad guy during this time but was confused because in my generation - Russia was our enemy and no longer Germany once Hitler was out of the picture but in reality Russia was the bad boy back then too, just because Germany was coming for them didn't make them innocent victims like those in Poland who were caught in the middle - literally 6 million, mostly citizen died during this time - just unreal - -The thievery, bribery that goes on just for survival in communist countries is crazy. Russia lied to the Polish people trying to escape the German invasion and shipped them off to work camps, I'd call them more death camps. Both Russia and Germany wanted Poland but they had to get the people out - One decided to force them out by blowing up cities and the other decided to relocate them. Insane
How these ladies survived is incredible.
The author/daughter moved to Woodstock, Illinois (not far from where I live now) back in the 60's. It looks like she's had a great life since this ordeal and I'm glad she wrote her and her mother's story down cuz some stories never get told

[Jerry Wendt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a riveting story of a young girl trapped in the start of WW2 in Poland unable to get home to Switzerland. Evading the Germans by hiding out in rural Poland , when the Russians occupied they were not so lucky. She and her Mother were arrested and transported to a Siberian Labor Camp where they were kept until the end of the war . This book tells in detail the journey pieced together by memory or Erane and by scraps of paper written by her Mother. With Erane passing at 93 early in 2019, the book becomes a chronicle to that horrid time- memoirs that need to be preserved and kept alive. It will become hard to find but seek it out, the read will be rewarding in abundance.

[Laura Warnecke · Rating 4 out of 5]

This true story of a girl and her mother running for their lives in Poland during WWII is heart wrenching and horrible, but full of love and strength. Erane was only a teen when her mother and her took a trip to Poland from Switzerland. There they were trapped when Poland was invaded and unable to leave the country. Erane takes us through her story as her mother and her struggle to flee the country and end up in a Russian work-camp. Her story taught he sides of the war that I had yet to really know. The book is an enlightening read that describes how it really felt to experience such horrible events.

[Cecily Winter · Rating 4 out of 5]

This highly engaging documentary/memoir is about a mother and daughter trapped in Poland during World War II's Nazi invasion and, while fleeing the German army, their forcible relocation by Soviet forces to a hard-labor camp in Siberia. The book provides yet another lens through which to judge 20th-century history through its wars, invasions, tyrannies, and inhumanity.

[Jill H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting true story and a remarkable group of people, many who were at the wrong place at the wrong time. Inspirational characters.

[Lou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Life story resident PRRC

[NANCY BERKHOLTZ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written by a lady from my hometown. Her experiences during WWI.

[Bj Frantz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just re-read this book (Nov., 2012) and reviewed the author's Blog:

http://eranescully.blogspot.com/

What an interesting page-turner and account of a mother and her daughter and the unknown history involving World War II, Russia, Poland and human courage and determination.

Great news - if you can not find the hard cover book, it is now an e-book for $3.99:

In Kindle - http://www.amazon.com/THE-CARRION-VIN...

In Nook - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-c...

What a great read - I highly recomend it!!

[Rick Knox]

My wife received this book from her client. I am honestly not a big reader but noticed it in the den and decided to read a couple pages. I quickly found I couldn't put it down. Amazing insight and vivid descriptions into this little known or spoken about time in history. I must admit I was disappointed the book had to end. Thank you to Ellie for the courage to share, thank you to your mom Vita for taking the risk to write down these events, and thank you to Nancy Jung to encourage the book to be made.

[Barb Frantz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read this book twice and loved it each time. I did not know abouth the Russian War camps until I met the author and was touched by her and her mother's personal experiances. This is a great read and educational at the same time.

[Pat Petrouski Kasprzak · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading this book, which I loved, I was present at the author's presentation to a women's group I belonged to in Crystal Lake. It was moving to say the least. The book brought me to tears a number of times.......knowing how cruelly some were treated in WW I I .

[Adela Durkee]

Poignant account of war refugees, pertinent to today.

Everyone should know this story. Incredibly touching, made more so by meeting the now 90 year-old author. Ellie wrote a follow up book, which I'm looking forward to reading soon.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting. Lots of new info. Held my attention and wasn't boring.