Surviving the War

by Adiva Geffen

An extraordinary novel based on an incredible true story of love, resilience, survival and hope. Perfect for fans of THE TATTOOIST OF AUSCHWITZ, THE VOLUNTEER and THE LIBRARIAN OF AUSCHWITZ.
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Against all odds, love will lead them home.

Shurka, her husband and their two small children never thought the war would reach their remote Polish village. They were wrong.

Forced to flee their family home, they find shelter with their fellow Jews in the ghetto - but every night more and more people disappear, taken away on trucks to never be seen again. As terrible rumours of extermination camps swirl, Shurka realises that the longer they stay in the ghetto, the lower their chances of survival.

Their best hope is to flee into the Polish forest, where Jewish resistance fighters hold out against Nazi search parties. Their new life is precarious in the extreme - and will test them more than they ever thought possible...

Even in the dark, hope can be found.
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Surviving The War is the international Amazon bestselling survival and holocaust story, based on an incredible true story and previously published as Surviving The Forest . It has been translated into English from the original Hebrew.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, World War II

295 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 1, 2020

About the author

Adiva Geffen is a prolific writer and playwright. She lectures and leads many writing workshops, and she's a board member of the Israeli writers Association. Adiva has published 21 books, including children's stories, reference books and, most famously, suspense novels; most of which were best-sellers. In fact, Adiva is widely regarded as the best suspense writer in Israel. Her plays have appeared on major stages in Israel.

Drawing from rich life experience and pure imaginative force, Adiva Geffen creates compelling characters and captivating scenarios in which suspense, humor, passion and joy are woven into an almost addicting emotional thrill-ride. Her latest duo, detectives Sami and Dikla, have become staples in Israel's literary community.

Geffen began her career as a special-ed teacher. After leaving the education field, she served as the spokesperson for the Habima National Theater for more than a decade. She founded and subsequently led the Israeli Theater Award for 10 years.

Born in Haifa and the mother of three sons, Geffen now lives in Tel Aviv, Israel, with her partner Aharon Meidan.

Her latest book "Klara's Boys" is set to be published in 2017.

Reviews

[Carolyn Scarcella · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a Parisian story. A wonderful, beautiful and a page turner called “Surviving the War” by Adiva Geffen. She is the daughter and wrote and telling the story the voice of a 90-year-old grandmother was telling her grandchildren about her life. The story unfolds, she grew up in Poland during the war. She was forced to escape from their home and finds a shelter with other Jews in the ghetto. A lot of people have disappeared overnight, taken away on trucks and never came back. They heard rumors' of the extermination camps. Shuka realize if her family stayed longer in the ghetto their chance of survival is numbered. They decided to flee into the Polish forest where the Jewish resistance fighters hold out against the Nazi. They set up camps in the forest, and bunker. A remarkable and strong woman she has sacrifice, courage, pain, love, and loss. This book is related to Defiance brothers. She married one of Defiance brothers as a result.

[Morgan]

I did not finish this book because I felt I had read it before.
Does anyone know if it was published under another name?

[emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

i did like this book and i really find the forest they stayed in so interesting and I’ve never heard of it before. however i feel the book wasn’t all too emotive? and was kinda too fast paced. storyline was very interesting though!! a good read for those interested in history

[Stephanie Ng · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this. About a Jewish family who live in Poland and go into hiding to escape the Nazis. This is based on a true story.

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given this book as a gift for Christmas.
The book is about the war, yes. But it isn’t about Auschwitz. It’s about a Polish woman who grew up learning one thing and through the greatly incomprehensible, discovered life could be something else all together.
People she’d laughed with and been akin to, suddenly wanting nothing to do with her or anyone of her religion. And yes, worse still who would give them up to the German invaders, knowing they would be executed.
Where can they go? Where will they hide? These questions come up a lot in this book, which is based on an incredible true story.

[historicole (nicole) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book reminded me of the movie Defiance (2008). I finished it in a couple of hours. It's fast paced, years go by in a matter of pages. I fell in love with Avraham who took multiple risks not only to save his family but others. I liked that this book also gave insight into the lives of Polish Jews after the war and the struggle of finding a new home and rebuilding a family. My only criticism is the lack of physical and emotional descriptions as well as the pace of the novel.

[Hazel McHaffie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read countless books about the Holocaust but this one is different. It follows a family of Jews from Poland who escape into a swampy forest and live a hand to mouth existence in bunkers they dig out of the ground themselves. The cruelty and harassment continue even after the end of the war. Sobering stuff.

[LaVerne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite similar to Surviving in the Forest, by the same author, she shares the trials and tests of the will of the Polish Jews in WWII. The persecution is beyond belief, but Sarah’s testimony to their struggles reveals their hope in the,selves and in their God, who at times seemed to fail His people. What do you think?

[Lisa Trup · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was well written, telling the story of a Polish Jewish family during the war. Rather than be taken from the Ghetto they chose to hide in the forest. Many of them perished or were killed but 2 of the family survived and managed to return to their home town and eventually to Israel. An horrific time in their lives, but also a story of survival.

[Frances · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interesting idea. Set in Poland just before and during the Second World War. Makes a few good points about survival and the evils of collaboration, but I found the storyline sentimental and the dialogue pure exposition.

[Scarlett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A rollercoaster of emotions.....

Humbling. Heartbreaking. Inspiring.
Thank you for this story.... Emotionally powerful and thought provoking...
It's a story that will stay in my heart and mind.

[karen walmsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book. They had to live in forests to survive the cruelty being done to the Jews. Amazing book. Very sad when the baby boy dies. So glad that they survived after everything they went through. Couldn't put the book down. Would recommend

[brian williams · Rating 2 out of 5]

Padded out

Rather predictable and repetitive. It would have been more interesting if a account of the pArtisan fighters was Hicks here

[Lyaine Munro]

was interesting reading and learnt some more about what happened to Polish Jews during the WW2.

[Sarah Sissons · Rating 4 out of 5]

Never knew there were Jews that hid in the forest. I found it really interesting to read. Couldnt put it down.

[B · Rating 2 out of 5]

Drags towards the end and turns into Israeli propaganda. Writing is too simple at times and fails to keep you engaged.

[Domnica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Based on an incredible true story of how a mother will risk everything in order to keep her family safe.

[Dona Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great and pretty engaging. I felt like I was able to witness firsthand the experiences of Shurka and her family. This one is the fastest read for me. Highly recommend this book.

[Corrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

very good read and it gives you a good account of the length the Jews went to survive.