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The Love I Lost
200 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2020
1 person want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 24, 2022
During my teaching days, I encountered a young lady in one of my classes who was an exchange student from Slovakia not long after it split with the Czech Republic (I hope I have this right). Her name is Ivana and during the following year I learned a little about her background. She made the decision to remain in Canada for a variety of reasons, and here she still is, an educator herself.
A few years ago, I became Facebook friends with her mother, Alica. All this is to explain how the book I'm about to review came into my hands.
Alica's family was one of many Jewish families in Europe before and during WWII. Like most, they lived in fear of their lives because of this. The time came when they had to run or be captured and be sent to a concentration camp, where they would likely die. Over time, Alica's mother told her the story of her flight, her hardships, her dismal living conditions, along with her burgeoning romance, good fortune along the way, and the birth of her first child, Alica.
Alica knew this was a story worth preserving for future generations, if only to add to our knowledge of the atrocities of war. However, it has been long in the making. (Better late than never).
Over time it all came together, written first in Alica's native language, Slovak. It is such a captivating and poignant story that at some point it was deemed important to have it translated into English, at least for the benefit of English-speaking family members throughout the world. This is where my friend Ivana came in, and how I came to be aware of it.
Translation is not an easy thing to do, especially when you may not be used to it. Ivana has done an admirable job of it, to say the least. And this is why my rating is lower than it should probably be. There are some areas that I felt were weakened by the language difference. I understand, however, that a 2nd edition is now available, and hope some of these little glitches have been addressed.
Not only do we get a bit of a history lesson, but we are also given an important look at a beautiful love story that withstood the odds of the German attempt to wipe out an entire race. The book is fact and includes a number of photos of this heroic family and those who were brave enough to help them. There was unimaginable suffering, horrendous living conditions, and near starvation, yet they persevered and emerged survivors.
I do not believe this book is available in stores, but I do know who to contact. It's a wonderful story and as stated, well worth reading.
A few years ago, I became Facebook friends with her mother, Alica. All this is to explain how the book I'm about to review came into my hands.
Alica's family was one of many Jewish families in Europe before and during WWII. Like most, they lived in fear of their lives because of this. The time came when they had to run or be captured and be sent to a concentration camp, where they would likely die. Over time, Alica's mother told her the story of her flight, her hardships, her dismal living conditions, along with her burgeoning romance, good fortune along the way, and the birth of her first child, Alica.
Alica knew this was a story worth preserving for future generations, if only to add to our knowledge of the atrocities of war. However, it has been long in the making. (Better late than never).
Over time it all came together, written first in Alica's native language, Slovak. It is such a captivating and poignant story that at some point it was deemed important to have it translated into English, at least for the benefit of English-speaking family members throughout the world. This is where my friend Ivana came in, and how I came to be aware of it.
Translation is not an easy thing to do, especially when you may not be used to it. Ivana has done an admirable job of it, to say the least. And this is why my rating is lower than it should probably be. There are some areas that I felt were weakened by the language difference. I understand, however, that a 2nd edition is now available, and hope some of these little glitches have been addressed.
Not only do we get a bit of a history lesson, but we are also given an important look at a beautiful love story that withstood the odds of the German attempt to wipe out an entire race. The book is fact and includes a number of photos of this heroic family and those who were brave enough to help them. There was unimaginable suffering, horrendous living conditions, and near starvation, yet they persevered and emerged survivors.
I do not believe this book is available in stores, but I do know who to contact. It's a wonderful story and as stated, well worth reading.
March 20, 2024
I am reading the 2nd revised and updated version of this book with a different title - The Loves I Have Lost.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews