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Makeup Tips from Auschwitz. How Vanity Saved My Mother's Life
Tommy Schnurmacher has written a book that could change your life. It changed his. As a writer, Montreal media icon Schnurmacher is an intense force of nature, a seismic swell of visceral empathy, laser-sharp wit and courageous self-analysis. Now meet Olga. Auschwitz prisoner A-25057, aka Mom, A fearless, dramatic and unpredictable maverick. An original. Exposing the souls of a family for all to see, Make-up Tips from Auschwitz is an addictive page-turner. Schnurmacher's voice resonates with a lyrical cadence all his own and an unsettling candor reminiscent of humorist David Sedaris and essayist Augusten Burroughs. Like the Oscar-winning film, Life is Beautiful, Schnurmacher revisits the Holocaust with rays of light in the darkness. Sparkling with chutzpah and charm, this is a story of a family's cultural collision and delightful dysfunction. With the growing pains of Shtisel, the earthiness of The Simpsons and the fierce family loyalty of The Sopranos, these newcomers from Hungary defy authority. They figured out early on that conventional values were not enough. It was their moxie that allowed them to succeed Schmooze with the passing parade that includes John Lennon, Elizabeth Taylor and Crystal Nacht. You will laugh out loud as you meet a cast of supporting characters who redefine eccentric: the 50-minute therapist, the psychic rabbi and a superstitious hypochondriac named Paris. Once you get to know these mutineers from the mainstream, you will want to organize an intervention. Or at least a Passover Seder.
225 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 14, 2019
14 people are currently reading
703 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
September 17, 2019
Witty, charming, engaging and entertaining is what Tommy Schnurmacher brings to his memoir Makeup Tips from Auschwitz: How Vanity Saved my Mother's Life. Each piece in this book let’s his readers into a chapter of Schnurmacher’s life eagerly awaiting to read the next one. We see the love, understanding and respect that Tommy had for his mother.
Schnurmacher is completely honest about his mother’s character, his reaction to it and how therapy helped him understand her better. We as readers get a comprehensive inside look at what it was like to grow up inside a home with parents who survived the holocaust, escaped during the Hungarian Revolution and made Canada their new home. Schnurmacher will make you laugh and cry as he lets you into his life from immigrant child to journalist, radio talk-show host and political commentator.
Schnurmacher is completely honest about his mother’s character, his reaction to it and how therapy helped him understand her better. We as readers get a comprehensive inside look at what it was like to grow up inside a home with parents who survived the holocaust, escaped during the Hungarian Revolution and made Canada their new home. Schnurmacher will make you laugh and cry as he lets you into his life from immigrant child to journalist, radio talk-show host and political commentator.
December 2, 2019
Wonderful, warm memoir of a unique life. I laughed and I cried but most of all I would have loved to meet Tommy’s mom. What a story. I think it is of particular interest to children of Holocaust survivors. There were many instances in the book where I kept nodding my head and thinking me too. Summers in Val Morin as a child, never learning how to swim bc my mom was terrified of the water. Unreal.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
November 23, 2019
This is a paper book, but since I rarely missed a day of his radio program in 20 years, of course it’s Tommy’s voice who’s reading in my head. His intelligence, erudition but most of all, his sardonic humour always had always made his talk-show fun and often educational. His style carried to this book too.
The book starts a short hop from where I work. We walk the same streets. I was married to the only son of a single mother Holocaust survivor. I couldn’t wait to read it. Still for all, there’s plenty in here to relate to or to laugh along with. Or gasp. Or cry. Or especially, want to reach though the book and give Tommy a hug. Even if you don’t live in Montreal and have never heard of him. And don’t have a holocaust survivor family.
This is not entirely his story. His story is sublimated into his mother’s, which is what I expect he wanted. HIs mother survived Auschwitz by being intensely proud even in horrific conditions and later by not taking no for an answer. Still, although he’s writing a memoir about his extraordinary and brave mother, he finds ways to tell some of his stories, the ones that are only his. Like his famous early brush with fame, or more to the point, not the brush - the whole hairdo, with his week with John and Yoko at the bed-in in Montreal. But from his childhood memories of Hungary, to their crazy escape to Canada, to first days at school learning English, to his successes in the media world there was his mother, and not just in the background either. We learn something of his father and his sister, but it’s his mother who was there to support him and he, her at every turn. Some of us might think while reading this story that she was, I don’t know, demanding. But the special relationship they had for each other comes through on every page. The stories are sometimes hilarious, other times heartbreaking. Always engaging.
The only minor beef I had with this book is that it seems to be written in the style of a talmudist rather than an memoirist. It meanders a bit. If you like your memoirs starting with A and ending with Z, you are in for a ride.
Reading this, I wondered how he got through his show and sounded mostly upbeat when his mother and father were going through terrible issues. Great compartmentalization there.
To Tommy. Your mother was exceptionally brave, and a one-of-a-kind. And I am truly sorry for your loss. And you are a wonderful son. Nobody who reads this can doubt that for a second.
Thanks for sharing.
The book starts a short hop from where I work. We walk the same streets. I was married to the only son of a single mother Holocaust survivor. I couldn’t wait to read it. Still for all, there’s plenty in here to relate to or to laugh along with. Or gasp. Or cry. Or especially, want to reach though the book and give Tommy a hug. Even if you don’t live in Montreal and have never heard of him. And don’t have a holocaust survivor family.
This is not entirely his story. His story is sublimated into his mother’s, which is what I expect he wanted. HIs mother survived Auschwitz by being intensely proud even in horrific conditions and later by not taking no for an answer. Still, although he’s writing a memoir about his extraordinary and brave mother, he finds ways to tell some of his stories, the ones that are only his. Like his famous early brush with fame, or more to the point, not the brush - the whole hairdo, with his week with John and Yoko at the bed-in in Montreal. But from his childhood memories of Hungary, to their crazy escape to Canada, to first days at school learning English, to his successes in the media world there was his mother, and not just in the background either. We learn something of his father and his sister, but it’s his mother who was there to support him and he, her at every turn. Some of us might think while reading this story that she was, I don’t know, demanding. But the special relationship they had for each other comes through on every page. The stories are sometimes hilarious, other times heartbreaking. Always engaging.
The only minor beef I had with this book is that it seems to be written in the style of a talmudist rather than an memoirist. It meanders a bit. If you like your memoirs starting with A and ending with Z, you are in for a ride.
Reading this, I wondered how he got through his show and sounded mostly upbeat when his mother and father were going through terrible issues. Great compartmentalization there.
To Tommy. Your mother was exceptionally brave, and a one-of-a-kind. And I am truly sorry for your loss. And you are a wonderful son. Nobody who reads this can doubt that for a second.
Thanks for sharing.
February 22, 2020
Oh, I so wanted to love this book.... I really, really did. I am a big fan of Tommy’s. I mourned his retirement from CJAD while celebrating his decision to write his memoir. I anticipated its release and was one of the first to purchase it (there were NO reviews here on GR when I first bought it).
Alas, the title threw me off. I suppose I was expecting something different (danged expectations!!) and was not prepared for what it really is: a memoir of Tommy’s relationship with his mother. Which is very cathartic, I imagine, to be able to look at and examine and write about this extremely significant and all-encompassing relationship. I must say, it is the first and only time I have ever read, anywhere, about a mother-child relationship as neurotic as mine with my mother. I have often wanted to express how I felt about my mother but words failed me - in this, Tommy spoke directly to me. I understood and related to his neediness, his neurotic, almost OCD need to check on her, to ensure that she was ok, that she was happy... that he could never do enough, that no whim of hers was too trivial for him to drop everything and rush to selflessly do her bidding, reasonable or unreasonable as it may be. I was the same with my mother and it was heartbreaking to read. And I appreciated his candour.
However, danged expectations, it was not what I was expecting and what it was, wasn’t enough to make up for my disappointment. So I liked it, but I didn’t love it.
Alas, the title threw me off. I suppose I was expecting something different (danged expectations!!) and was not prepared for what it really is: a memoir of Tommy’s relationship with his mother. Which is very cathartic, I imagine, to be able to look at and examine and write about this extremely significant and all-encompassing relationship. I must say, it is the first and only time I have ever read, anywhere, about a mother-child relationship as neurotic as mine with my mother. I have often wanted to express how I felt about my mother but words failed me - in this, Tommy spoke directly to me. I understood and related to his neediness, his neurotic, almost OCD need to check on her, to ensure that she was ok, that she was happy... that he could never do enough, that no whim of hers was too trivial for him to drop everything and rush to selflessly do her bidding, reasonable or unreasonable as it may be. I was the same with my mother and it was heartbreaking to read. And I appreciated his candour.
However, danged expectations, it was not what I was expecting and what it was, wasn’t enough to make up for my disappointment. So I liked it, but I didn’t love it.
July 6, 2021
I VERY badly wanted to love this book and honestly feel what author, Tommy Schnurmacher, would probably call Jewish guilt for my rating. So firstly, I’m from Montreal, a granddaughter of Holocaust survivors and an academic who literally wrote a thesis about Holocaust education and storytelling. So when I heard a local Montreal broadcaster wrote a memoire about his mother’s life during and after WWII, I thought, wow this is for me! And I mean, the title and cover are SO on point! Unfortunately, this book did not live up to my expectations. The narrative focuses mostly on Tommy’s life in a series of short stories. He writes about his childhood, career, and his complicated relationship with his mother using an exhaustive list of pop culture references and a lot of dark humour. Stories about his mother are approached delicately and we are invited into a very complicated and sometimes unhealthy relationship that extends into many post war families. He uses his mother’s words in her dialect and considers the respect that she deserves throughout. Honestly, I just wish there was more of her and less of him.
July 8, 2022
‘We are going on an adventure’ – mother to son…and to a lucky audience of readers!
Canadian author Tommy Schnurmacher earned his degree from McGill University and is a celebrated broadcaster, hosting The Tommy Schnurmacher Show on CJAD radio, Montreal, winning a Gold Ribbon Award from the Canadian Association of Broadcasters in 1997. He is also an actor in films, journalist and a political commentator. His books to date – ARE WE ON YET?: Insider Secrets on How to be Interviewed, and now MAKEUP TIPS FROM AUSCHWITZ.
For an evening (or several…!) of pure delight, few books will satisfy on as many levels as this ‘memoir’ by the wise and witty and sensitive Tommy Schnurmacher. Yes, as the title indicates, this is the story of his mother and her vanity-based survival in the concentration camp of Auschwitz, but with Tommy innate skills and wit, he makes this history of a Holocaust survivor a rollicking adventure. The book is written in short Pieces (not chapters), and even the initial Piece prepares the reader for the book; ’Darn. It was too late to pick up a plastic-wrapped Mondo Kosher smoked salmon and cream cheese on a bagel at Second Cup. I was already huffing and puffing along a rain-swept Greene Avenue worried about arriving late for my two o’clock appointment with my psychologist, one Dr. Rebecca Melman-Hellman. The doctor is no relation to the Hellman’s (est. 1913) mayonnaise empire and when I made the rookie mistake of asking if she was, I had to spend thirty minutes of the expensive session defending myself…I must confess I was addicted to this woman….’
Hungarian born, Tommy’s tale is a once-in-a-lifetime tour of the interplay of one amazing mother and her extraordinary son, and life following the Holocaust as the family moved from Hungary to Canada. The book sparkles while embracing tenderness, and that is why it is so successful. There are moments of testimony - ‘I was in awe of Holocaust survivors and amazed at how they had triumphed over unspeakable horrors. I admired their amazing resilience and remarkable courage. Like any child of Holocaust survivors, I had been told often enough that I had an obligation to never forget. Some survivors do not like to talk about the Holocaust to their children. Not my mom…not Auschwitz prisoner #A-25057…’ From that springboard Tommy’s story explodes like fireworks. Very highly recommended for all readers!
Canadian author Tommy Schnurmacher earned his degree from McGill University and is a celebrated broadcaster, hosting The Tommy Schnurmacher Show on CJAD radio, Montreal, winning a Gold Ribbon Award from the Canadian Association of Broadcasters in 1997. He is also an actor in films, journalist and a political commentator. His books to date – ARE WE ON YET?: Insider Secrets on How to be Interviewed, and now MAKEUP TIPS FROM AUSCHWITZ.
For an evening (or several…!) of pure delight, few books will satisfy on as many levels as this ‘memoir’ by the wise and witty and sensitive Tommy Schnurmacher. Yes, as the title indicates, this is the story of his mother and her vanity-based survival in the concentration camp of Auschwitz, but with Tommy innate skills and wit, he makes this history of a Holocaust survivor a rollicking adventure. The book is written in short Pieces (not chapters), and even the initial Piece prepares the reader for the book; ’Darn. It was too late to pick up a plastic-wrapped Mondo Kosher smoked salmon and cream cheese on a bagel at Second Cup. I was already huffing and puffing along a rain-swept Greene Avenue worried about arriving late for my two o’clock appointment with my psychologist, one Dr. Rebecca Melman-Hellman. The doctor is no relation to the Hellman’s (est. 1913) mayonnaise empire and when I made the rookie mistake of asking if she was, I had to spend thirty minutes of the expensive session defending myself…I must confess I was addicted to this woman….’
Hungarian born, Tommy’s tale is a once-in-a-lifetime tour of the interplay of one amazing mother and her extraordinary son, and life following the Holocaust as the family moved from Hungary to Canada. The book sparkles while embracing tenderness, and that is why it is so successful. There are moments of testimony - ‘I was in awe of Holocaust survivors and amazed at how they had triumphed over unspeakable horrors. I admired their amazing resilience and remarkable courage. Like any child of Holocaust survivors, I had been told often enough that I had an obligation to never forget. Some survivors do not like to talk about the Holocaust to their children. Not my mom…not Auschwitz prisoner #A-25057…’ From that springboard Tommy’s story explodes like fireworks. Very highly recommended for all readers!
May 4, 2020
How does one write a tribute to a woman who has survived the worst to give you the best? I honestly cannot imagine how hard the author must have worked to pull it off but the end result was a beautiful portrait of gratitude, respect and unconditional love.
I first came across this book as a recommendation in my university newsletter (the author is a McGill alum). I loved the glimpses of 20th century Montreal and McGill through the eyes of war refugees and the new hope and beginnings that the city represented for an entire generation of WWII survivors. It also demonstrated the randomness of survival, how even a century after the happenings of the Holocaust, nobody can come up with a reasonable way to come to terms with it. Some people survived, just because and others didn't. For those who survived, the war has not ended but they continue to pick up the pieces and rebuild what is left of their lives.
Highly recommend for people who need to reaffirm their beliefs in the power of family, home and human strength.
I first came across this book as a recommendation in my university newsletter (the author is a McGill alum). I loved the glimpses of 20th century Montreal and McGill through the eyes of war refugees and the new hope and beginnings that the city represented for an entire generation of WWII survivors. It also demonstrated the randomness of survival, how even a century after the happenings of the Holocaust, nobody can come up with a reasonable way to come to terms with it. Some people survived, just because and others didn't. For those who survived, the war has not ended but they continue to pick up the pieces and rebuild what is left of their lives.
Highly recommend for people who need to reaffirm their beliefs in the power of family, home and human strength.
February 10, 2020
This was a thoroughly enjoyable read with each chapter like a small glimpse into Tommy's life at different times. Sometimes shocking, sometimes humorous, and sometimes sad, it is a fun ride. Of course i loved all the "hometown" references! What a mother he had!! Only complaint- he used the word pithy too many times.
January 22, 2023
What began as a light, humorous memoir of Hungarian Jewish immigrants in Montreal, Canada became tedious and repetitive somewhere at the midway point.
This was another audiobook, chosen as my listening material while driving. I was put off a bit by the narrator, the author. I didn't care for the sound of his voice, but eventually accepted it. The first half of the book was funny often enough; stories of his childhood with a vain and demanding mother, a survivor of Auschwitz. Some of that humor was in part due to her misunderstanding of life in Montreal, of western culture. And that was about the end of the humor.
There are still moments of wit throughout the rest of the book. The chapters are short and feel more like newspaper essays, rather than a fleshed out memoir. Many of the chapters are focused on her aging and time in the nursing home and her dementia. All of it feels kind of sad, a little desperate (and I get this, my own parents are entering this time of their lives now). What is most cloying about the memoir is the author's utter devotion to a woman who is often demeaning, bigoted, narcissistic, and unappreciative of the efforts of anyone around her to keep her happy, as is her wish all of her life. She often pouts and cries like a petulant child when she doesn't get her way. She is rude to family members. She literally cuts out images of movie stars from magazines and pastes them over pictures of her son to make it look like she's posing with the celebrity.
I don't like her. I don't care what her end looks like. The author has spent years in therapy dealing with his complicated relationship with his mother. After telling one therapist that he's always felt his job was to make his mother happy, and the therapist admonished that it's not the job of a child to make his mother happy, but rather a mother's job to make her child happy.
I'm thankful that I was only listening to this while driving.
This was another audiobook, chosen as my listening material while driving. I was put off a bit by the narrator, the author. I didn't care for the sound of his voice, but eventually accepted it. The first half of the book was funny often enough; stories of his childhood with a vain and demanding mother, a survivor of Auschwitz. Some of that humor was in part due to her misunderstanding of life in Montreal, of western culture. And that was about the end of the humor.
There are still moments of wit throughout the rest of the book. The chapters are short and feel more like newspaper essays, rather than a fleshed out memoir. Many of the chapters are focused on her aging and time in the nursing home and her dementia. All of it feels kind of sad, a little desperate (and I get this, my own parents are entering this time of their lives now). What is most cloying about the memoir is the author's utter devotion to a woman who is often demeaning, bigoted, narcissistic, and unappreciative of the efforts of anyone around her to keep her happy, as is her wish all of her life. She often pouts and cries like a petulant child when she doesn't get her way. She is rude to family members. She literally cuts out images of movie stars from magazines and pastes them over pictures of her son to make it look like she's posing with the celebrity.
I don't like her. I don't care what her end looks like. The author has spent years in therapy dealing with his complicated relationship with his mother. After telling one therapist that he's always felt his job was to make his mother happy, and the therapist admonished that it's not the job of a child to make his mother happy, but rather a mother's job to make her child happy.
I'm thankful that I was only listening to this while driving.
August 25, 2022
When you hear the word “memoir” you don’t think “hilarious”. However, that is exactly what you get with this book. The chapters fly past you before you know it, but each one holds something truly memorable. From the mother sharing pieces of her past to comparing herself to a famous actress from back in the day.
Makeup Tips from Auschwitz: How Vanity Saved my Mother’s Life is a memoir by Tommy Schnurmacher that details moments from his life growing up, and gives us readers some insights into what his mother herself experienced during her time at Auschwitz. While keeping this book light and humorous, the author shares with us his experiences leaving you feeling closer to him and his family by the end of the book.
Right from the beginning, the author smacks you with humor. An “unfortunate” but hilarious incident with his therapist starts this book. Trust me, even you’ll be thinking “Is she related to them?” too when you read the therapist’s name. The resounding fall-out is absolutely hilarious.
It was a moment that could have possibly been avoided, but would the fun be in that? Needless to say, the therapist more than gets her money’s worth when it comes to his sessions.
There is one particular scene that nearly had me reaching through the pages. When he says one particular individual was “scratching one Christian Louboutin Bianca Botta boot with the other” I nearly fainted dead away. The horror! Did she scratch/scuff the boots doing that?! Who does such a thing?? Those things are insanely expensive! LOL!
The author says that he got the “inspiration” to write a memoir after reading the dirty parts in Leonard Cohen’s book. Really now? What dirty parts? But let’s keep going with this book for now, shall we?
Throughout this book, you are going to encounter humor packed – lines like “I was afraid of what the relatives we never talked to would think.” You’re literally going to scoff at that because we all know how we feel about THOSE relatives. We may not speak to them, but the minute something salacious comes up there they are ready to partake in the gossip.
Descriptions like – the house of the therapist as having a “low hanging sloping roof that indicated that the house was, clearly and profoundly, ashamed of itself” Eloquently fits this book and creates such vivid images in your head. You can almost believe that maybe, just maybe, the house actually had some self-loathing about itself because of its owner. It’s fun to imagine right?
The variety of individuals he interacts with really keeps you on your toes. You get the good friend Paris panicking about a phone call from a telemarketer. I promise you, you’re going to laugh at how she handles that. Then there’s the sister who tells him literally to eat seven (yes, you read that right – SEVEN) bowls of a particular cuisine. To “cure” an ailment? That can’t be right…right? LOL! . Later on, in the story, you’ll learn a bit more about the sister. Yet, you’ll appreciate how the author can see the humor in this particular situation.
One of your favorite chapters in this book is going to be about the author’s pet dog(s). You’re going to be tilting your head thinking “there is no way” only to find yourself laughing your butt off. The descriptions used to paint the pictures of the scenes with the pup(s) will have you rolling as the mother adds a nice flair to it all.
Another aspect of this story that you are truly going to enjoy is the stories that the author relates concerning his mother. Brace yourself for a range of emotions to hit you all at once. But I know that you’ll agree with me on this – that woman was seriously clever. She used her skills to the hilt to do what she needed to do for her family.
One word in particular that you’re going to find yourself uttering as you read this book is “wow.” You’re honestly going to say that A LOT. Whether it be a particular situation the author regales you with a story, or a story about his mother – you’re going to be saying “wow.” The familial bond is truly strong in this family and it shines through at every moment. When the mother believes that some form of “wrong” has been committed against her child, she has no qualms handling it herself. Whether you know that she’s done it out and out, or she uses a touch of “subterfuge”, she handles it. The only thing you’re going to do is sit back and applaud her for her ingenuity. It also explains a lot as to where her son gets his moxie.
This book isn’t all laughs and giggles though. While that is the majority of it, Tommy Schnurmacher shares some shocking moments and then ones that will wound your heart with tragedy. He shares the experiences that these various situations brought to him. The strength of his family throughout these tragedies though is tremendous as they forge ahead. In some cases, they never lose that spark that makes them who they are.
There isn’t a straight line in this book. You don’t start at the beginning and get the childhood and then move forward into adulthood. The author jumps around taking you from childhood memories to adulthood, and back again. It keeps you on your toes and fully engaged. There might be some moments when you are looking for something to tie the story to the title, but be patient. It’s coming.
The author has led an interesting life. From being an immigrant himself due to a chaotic time in his past, to meet a TON of celebrities. Your jaw is going to be on the floor at his resourcefulness and at times just sheer luck at the encounters he will regale you with throughout this book. I could hardly believe some of the names that I read. You’re going to be right there with me thinking “Wow! He was so lucky!”
When you reach the final page of this book you’ll feel a sense of distant connection. To have shared these moments with you, the author has opened up his life to you. You’ll wish with all of your heart that you could have met his mother. She sounds like she was truly an exceptional woman.
Pros:
The humor is absolutely spot on. You’ll be laughing yourself silly with this book.
The descriptions will really engage your mind and paint vivid pictures immersing you in the story.
You get just the right amount of background in the right places to fill out the story.
You get to see just how much the author cared for/loved his mother.
Cons:
None
Lesson of the book: Life is a many-faceted journey, but a dash of humor can make it all just a little bit easier.
Cover score: 8.8
Book score: 8.7
Makeup Tips from Auschwitz: How Vanity Saved my Mother’s Life is a memoir by Tommy Schnurmacher that details moments from his life growing up, and gives us readers some insights into what his mother herself experienced during her time at Auschwitz. While keeping this book light and humorous, the author shares with us his experiences leaving you feeling closer to him and his family by the end of the book.
Right from the beginning, the author smacks you with humor. An “unfortunate” but hilarious incident with his therapist starts this book. Trust me, even you’ll be thinking “Is she related to them?” too when you read the therapist’s name. The resounding fall-out is absolutely hilarious.
It was a moment that could have possibly been avoided, but would the fun be in that? Needless to say, the therapist more than gets her money’s worth when it comes to his sessions.
There is one particular scene that nearly had me reaching through the pages. When he says one particular individual was “scratching one Christian Louboutin Bianca Botta boot with the other” I nearly fainted dead away. The horror! Did she scratch/scuff the boots doing that?! Who does such a thing?? Those things are insanely expensive! LOL!
The author says that he got the “inspiration” to write a memoir after reading the dirty parts in Leonard Cohen’s book. Really now? What dirty parts? But let’s keep going with this book for now, shall we?
Throughout this book, you are going to encounter humor packed – lines like “I was afraid of what the relatives we never talked to would think.” You’re literally going to scoff at that because we all know how we feel about THOSE relatives. We may not speak to them, but the minute something salacious comes up there they are ready to partake in the gossip.
Descriptions like – the house of the therapist as having a “low hanging sloping roof that indicated that the house was, clearly and profoundly, ashamed of itself” Eloquently fits this book and creates such vivid images in your head. You can almost believe that maybe, just maybe, the house actually had some self-loathing about itself because of its owner. It’s fun to imagine right?
The variety of individuals he interacts with really keeps you on your toes. You get the good friend Paris panicking about a phone call from a telemarketer. I promise you, you’re going to laugh at how she handles that. Then there’s the sister who tells him literally to eat seven (yes, you read that right – SEVEN) bowls of a particular cuisine. To “cure” an ailment? That can’t be right…right? LOL! . Later on, in the story, you’ll learn a bit more about the sister. Yet, you’ll appreciate how the author can see the humor in this particular situation.
One of your favorite chapters in this book is going to be about the author’s pet dog(s). You’re going to be tilting your head thinking “there is no way” only to find yourself laughing your butt off. The descriptions used to paint the pictures of the scenes with the pup(s) will have you rolling as the mother adds a nice flair to it all.
Another aspect of this story that you are truly going to enjoy is the stories that the author relates concerning his mother. Brace yourself for a range of emotions to hit you all at once. But I know that you’ll agree with me on this – that woman was seriously clever. She used her skills to the hilt to do what she needed to do for her family.
One word in particular that you’re going to find yourself uttering as you read this book is “wow.” You’re honestly going to say that A LOT. Whether it be a particular situation the author regales you with a story, or a story about his mother – you’re going to be saying “wow.” The familial bond is truly strong in this family and it shines through at every moment. When the mother believes that some form of “wrong” has been committed against her child, she has no qualms handling it herself. Whether you know that she’s done it out and out, or she uses a touch of “subterfuge”, she handles it. The only thing you’re going to do is sit back and applaud her for her ingenuity. It also explains a lot as to where her son gets his moxie.
This book isn’t all laughs and giggles though. While that is the majority of it, Tommy Schnurmacher shares some shocking moments and then ones that will wound your heart with tragedy. He shares the experiences that these various situations brought to him. The strength of his family throughout these tragedies though is tremendous as they forge ahead. In some cases, they never lose that spark that makes them who they are.
There isn’t a straight line in this book. You don’t start at the beginning and get the childhood and then move forward into adulthood. The author jumps around taking you from childhood memories to adulthood, and back again. It keeps you on your toes and fully engaged. There might be some moments when you are looking for something to tie the story to the title, but be patient. It’s coming.
The author has led an interesting life. From being an immigrant himself due to a chaotic time in his past, to meet a TON of celebrities. Your jaw is going to be on the floor at his resourcefulness and at times just sheer luck at the encounters he will regale you with throughout this book. I could hardly believe some of the names that I read. You’re going to be right there with me thinking “Wow! He was so lucky!”
When you reach the final page of this book you’ll feel a sense of distant connection. To have shared these moments with you, the author has opened up his life to you. You’ll wish with all of your heart that you could have met his mother. She sounds like she was truly an exceptional woman.
Pros:
The humor is absolutely spot on. You’ll be laughing yourself silly with this book.
The descriptions will really engage your mind and paint vivid pictures immersing you in the story.
You get just the right amount of background in the right places to fill out the story.
You get to see just how much the author cared for/loved his mother.
Cons:
None
Lesson of the book: Life is a many-faceted journey, but a dash of humor can make it all just a little bit easier.
Cover score: 8.8
Book score: 8.7
December 18, 2019
What a delightful memoir! Forget the superhero franchises; Mrs. Schnurmacher would have been the best back-up in a crisis. She incarnated the best & scariest of all mothers; I felt simultaneously charmed & terrified of her. I also nominate the Tommy Shnurmacher as best son ever. I received a Kindle edition from a Goodreads giveaway. (Looking at the photos, I think Mrs. S bears a stronger resemblance to Penélope Cruz than to Liz Taylor. Of course, the former had yet to born at the time of the comparison.)
June 21, 2023
I wanted to really like this book but I was disappointed.
While the title was catchy it was a "bait and switch". For the story is not about Tommy's mother the Auschwitz survivor; but it was about Tommy. That's a bit bothersome.
Given Tommy's interesting life and considerable skills I think he could have done better with his own material.
Perhaps it was the combination of emotion tied with the recent passing of his dear mother but he can - and I'm sure will - do better with the next book he refers to in the acknowledgements
While the title was catchy it was a "bait and switch". For the story is not about Tommy's mother the Auschwitz survivor; but it was about Tommy. That's a bit bothersome.
Given Tommy's interesting life and considerable skills I think he could have done better with his own material.
Perhaps it was the combination of emotion tied with the recent passing of his dear mother but he can - and I'm sure will - do better with the next book he refers to in the acknowledgements
February 7, 2020
This book is so different from all the Auschwitz memoirs I have read, it made me laugh! The author has written a beautiful story. I can see this story turned into a play or a movie. Thank you for sharing Mom with us, I'd give her a hug if I could! I received this ARC in exchange for my review
January 3, 2020
Not what I expected
This book was about the authors life with his mother whom was a holocaust survivor. I expect to learn more about her life but the book was mostly about his
This book was about the authors life with his mother whom was a holocaust survivor. I expect to learn more about her life but the book was mostly about his
August 29, 2022
This is the only writing by this author that I have read. It is not my usual genre - memoirs - but I very much enjoyed the book. The history that the author lived through, and seeing it through his eyes, helped the book stand out to me. As the first generation born to survivors of the Holocaust, Schnurmacher offers a rare glimpse into the lives of those children - both in youth and adult lives - and how the trauma their parents survived shaped who they became. The complete devotion of the son to the mother is heart wrenching, while the mother’s devotion to the son takes on an almost antagonistic feel sometimes. But of love, there is plenty, and the relationship between Tommy and his aging mother is quite compelling.
The author does a great job setting a scene, and his dry humor and often sarcastic tone make the stories come to life. At times, the number of grammatical errors becomes slightly distracting, but does not take away from the heart of the narrative. As the author jumps around in time, though, there are stories that turn into stories within stories. He starts out with one thought, which reminds him of another thing, which leads to a third story - without ever having gotten to the point of the initial thought. They do eventually come back around, and a sense of conclusion is achieved.
Overall, the book is poignant, the stories are entertaining, and the spirit of the woman at its center is inspiring. To have endured so much hardship, and still have the passion for life that she had, really makes one think about what they are contributing to their world. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy memoirs, stories of generational trauma and how the effects are seen from generation to generation, and any child who has experience with a parent whose personality was just too big for one body.
The author does a great job setting a scene, and his dry humor and often sarcastic tone make the stories come to life. At times, the number of grammatical errors becomes slightly distracting, but does not take away from the heart of the narrative. As the author jumps around in time, though, there are stories that turn into stories within stories. He starts out with one thought, which reminds him of another thing, which leads to a third story - without ever having gotten to the point of the initial thought. They do eventually come back around, and a sense of conclusion is achieved.
Overall, the book is poignant, the stories are entertaining, and the spirit of the woman at its center is inspiring. To have endured so much hardship, and still have the passion for life that she had, really makes one think about what they are contributing to their world. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy memoirs, stories of generational trauma and how the effects are seen from generation to generation, and any child who has experience with a parent whose personality was just too big for one body.
September 13, 2022
I read this a few years ago, but I still think about it because I felt kind of scammed!
I was really excited to read this book, but the title is clickbait.
I only recall the mother's Auschwitz story being told in one chapter, and even that chapter doesn't tell the story that's teased in the book's title. Spoiler Alert: In said chapter, the author theorizes that his mother *may* have survived Auschwitz due to attractiveness (for some reason, Josef Mengele didn't send her to die during 'selection') and tidiness (her clothing and shoes were always neat, which is maybe why she was chosen to be some predatory lesbian Nazi's house slave? Forgive me if my details are a bit off - it's been a few years). However, there's no "makeup" or "vanity" anywhere in this story.
The first few chapters are diary entries of meeting celebrities, and getting the last word about years-old fights with friends (Spoiler Alert #2: None of the drama was the author's fault. The woman who was mad at him was just unreasonable! Lol.)
As a woman, I also found the characterizations of women in this book surface-level and cartoonish.
I think the author should take the opportunity to write a book that's actually about his mother, instead of himself - preferably, one with an honest title! If there isn't enough story to write about, a fictional novel loosely based on his mother's life could be interesting (although it would be better written by someone who perceives women as multi-dimensional).
No hate - it's great when we continue the conversation about the Holocaust, and I think the author is capable of improving! There's nothing wrong with his writing - he just misses the mark with the content.
I was really excited to read this book, but the title is clickbait.
I only recall the mother's Auschwitz story being told in one chapter, and even that chapter doesn't tell the story that's teased in the book's title. Spoiler Alert: In said chapter, the author theorizes that his mother *may* have survived Auschwitz due to attractiveness (for some reason, Josef Mengele didn't send her to die during 'selection') and tidiness (her clothing and shoes were always neat, which is maybe why she was chosen to be some predatory lesbian Nazi's house slave? Forgive me if my details are a bit off - it's been a few years). However, there's no "makeup" or "vanity" anywhere in this story.
The first few chapters are diary entries of meeting celebrities, and getting the last word about years-old fights with friends (Spoiler Alert #2: None of the drama was the author's fault. The woman who was mad at him was just unreasonable! Lol.)
As a woman, I also found the characterizations of women in this book surface-level and cartoonish.
I think the author should take the opportunity to write a book that's actually about his mother, instead of himself - preferably, one with an honest title! If there isn't enough story to write about, a fictional novel loosely based on his mother's life could be interesting (although it would be better written by someone who perceives women as multi-dimensional).
No hate - it's great when we continue the conversation about the Holocaust, and I think the author is capable of improving! There's nothing wrong with his writing - he just misses the mark with the content.
July 30, 2022
The Review
This was such a moving and captivating read. The author did an incredible job of bringing warmth and heart into this nonfiction memoir that blended reflections of his mother’s life experiences with his own. The honesty and charm with which the author shares these moments felt both humorous and emotional in their delivery. In one moment, we learn of how the author’s mother lived and survived Auschwitz and later how they all escaped the Hungarian Revolution, and in the next the author shares a heartwarming bond the two shared over their love of Elizabeth Taylor.
The way in which the author writes felt very witty and allowed the author to infuse some humor and heart into the memories and experiences that the author brought to the book. The writing also did a great job of making the experiences and memories very vivid and painted a sharp image in the reader’s mind, allowing readers to get a greater sense of the impact these experiences had on the author’s life. Add to that a level of history and culture that this narrative naturally brings to the forefront and this book was an instant hit in my books.
The Verdict
Brilliant, heartfelt, and engaging, author Tommy Schnurmacher’s “Makeup Tips from Auschwitz: How Vanity Saved My Mother’s Life” is a memorable and captivating nonfiction memoir. The inspiring and breathtaking way the author captures the childhood memories and the tales of his parents, in particular his mother, as she survived one of the world’s greatest horrors made this a stark balance of history and heartfelt family life that very few memoirs are able to fully capture themselves.
This was such a moving and captivating read. The author did an incredible job of bringing warmth and heart into this nonfiction memoir that blended reflections of his mother’s life experiences with his own. The honesty and charm with which the author shares these moments felt both humorous and emotional in their delivery. In one moment, we learn of how the author’s mother lived and survived Auschwitz and later how they all escaped the Hungarian Revolution, and in the next the author shares a heartwarming bond the two shared over their love of Elizabeth Taylor.
The way in which the author writes felt very witty and allowed the author to infuse some humor and heart into the memories and experiences that the author brought to the book. The writing also did a great job of making the experiences and memories very vivid and painted a sharp image in the reader’s mind, allowing readers to get a greater sense of the impact these experiences had on the author’s life. Add to that a level of history and culture that this narrative naturally brings to the forefront and this book was an instant hit in my books.
The Verdict
Brilliant, heartfelt, and engaging, author Tommy Schnurmacher’s “Makeup Tips from Auschwitz: How Vanity Saved My Mother’s Life” is a memorable and captivating nonfiction memoir. The inspiring and breathtaking way the author captures the childhood memories and the tales of his parents, in particular his mother, as she survived one of the world’s greatest horrors made this a stark balance of history and heartfelt family life that very few memoirs are able to fully capture themselves.
June 29, 2020
How does he write with such deep love and gratitude ? I loved Olga/Sarolta from the start. What an explosive character, visionary and resilient, loving and fiercely ! It reminds me of my mother in law that I adored. In addition, I am in awe of the son's dedication ! I loved the story about Mirabel job and the author's reaction to Holocaust justification trough Jewish assimilation. The story about the McGill Maoists was funny too, not a laughing matter anymore. I know the author for 20 years and I respect him a lot. I went to a reading especially to meet him but I was to shy to approach him. It is a good book to read during a PANDEMIC! Forget about reading La peste...Read Makeup tips from Auschwitz !
Viorika Aresteanu, Montreal
Viorika Aresteanu, Montreal
October 13, 2021
Not an easy book to review really. I was quite interested to read a memoir about Tommy Schnurmacher after having listened to him for so many years. It was a page turner and easy read but introduced me to one of the most dysfunctional mother-son relationships I have ever been privy to. I know that there was an underlying beauty to his love for his mother but there seemed most definitely to have a disproportionate amount of neurotic and harmful behaviour towards him from his mother. I can’t help but feel sorry for Tommy and his parents thinking about the type of life they led, each one in their own personal prison. I hope he has found a certain peace and balance in his life.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 29, 2025
Well, I made it to the end, but this book was unfortunately not what I was expecting. The story was the relationship between a son and his mother, a concentration camp survivor, but had little detail about her life in the camps. Tommy is most definitely a dedicated, loyal son who does everything in his power for his mother. If you're looking for a cute mother and son bio, give it a go. If you're looking for survivor stories, keep looking.
July 15, 2025
3.5 stars. A book about the Holocaust with a voice “reminiscent of David Sedaris and Augustan Burroughs”?! What a strange concept…I HAD to read it.
All I can say is that it wasn’t all about the Holocaust and definitely felt a lot like David Sedaris. Heartwarming in parts - heartbreaking in others.
All I can say is that it wasn’t all about the Holocaust and definitely felt a lot like David Sedaris. Heartwarming in parts - heartbreaking in others.
May 24, 2020
Candid account of a complicated and beautiful relationship between a son and his mother.
My copy was a gift through Goodreads First Reads.
My copy was a gift through Goodreads First Reads.
February 10, 2022
Loved this story. Love Tommy Schnurmacher!
January 17, 2020
Fellow Montrealer Tommy Schnurmacher, a former Montreal Gazette columnist and CJAD talk show host, has given us, in this memoir, a gift. It engages us with funny stuff, then takes a deep dive into all things Auschwitz, and finally levels out in heart-achingly moving prose. Yes, it's a gift -- to the memory of Mr. Schnurmacher's beloved mother, and to us, his readers.
January 7, 2020
This book is not at all what I was expecting. I thought it was going to more about the authors mothers experience surviving the holocaust. What I read instead was a funny memoir about the authors life told in short entertaining stories that kept my attention as I read through the book.
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