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Absolutely incredible. The strength and resilience of some humans is mind boggling.

Every Friday night as tradition dictates, my husband recites the following blessing to our children before we sit down for Shabbat dinner. “May God bless you and protect you. May God‘s face shine toward you and show you favor. May God look favorably upon you and grant you peace.” These words are the last Max Eisen will hear from his father as he placed his hands upon Max‘s head through the barbed wires of Auschwitz. 👇🏼

Then he said, "If you survive, you must tell the world what happened here. Now go." This were the last words spoken to Max Eisen's by his father before he was led away for the gas chamber during the Nazi's selection process in 1944. This book is written to fulfil his father's final wish. It's a poignant yet inspirational read.

Rating: 5⭐

For my full review please visit https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2857316479

Politics is a mess at the moment. History tells us that when politics is a mess, people die.
Remain vigilant, challenge bigotry, don‘t remain silent.
I feel so much for Max, what a story he had to tell, so humble and using that experience to try and teach others. Never forget.

Never forget people, it‘s sliding this way at the moment.

A reminder today, filled with sadness looking at the ballot paper today. At least three candidates from far right parties/groups. So depressing, spreading hatred and racist bile.

March Wrap Up!

March felt like a slow reading month, but it ended up being consistent with my totals from the last couple of months. I read 16 books in March (6 physical, 5 ebooks, 5 audiobooks). My favourites this month were the tagged book and The Kite Runner.

#MarchWrapUp #MarchStats

The well-deserved winner of #CanadaReads2019, By Chance Alone is an incredible memoir of strength, resilience, and gratitude. The author, Max Eisen, was only fifteen when he arrived at Auschwitz-Birkenau, and as with all survivor‘s accounts, the horrors he experienced there are incomprehensible. Stories like his are so important, especially as anti-Semitism in on the rise and the voices of Holocaust survivors fade away. #CanadaReads Full review ⬇️

The new floof is just one of many reasons I didn‘t read as much this month. #EarlGrey

I wasn‘t able to read them before our country‘s annual battle of the books, but after religiously watching the debates last week, I can‘t wait to dive in!

I‘ve finished all of the #CanadaReads shortlist and I‘m backing this book to win. Suzanne I adored - even more than BCA - and will revisit time and again, but I think this memoir is more in line with the theme. My remaining three order is: Brother, The Woo-Woo, Homes

I've now read all the Canada Reads books, and I'll be rooting for them in the following order:

By Chance Alone
Suzanne
Homes
Brother
The Woo-Woo

SUZANNE was my favourite by a big margin, but Holocaust education is more important than ever so I want to see BY CHANCE ALONE win. I liked HOMES but I don't feel strongly about it as a contender. I borderline disliked BROTHER (it was a syntax thing) and I couldn't finish THE WOO-WOO. #CanadaReads

Everyone should read this Holocaust memoir. Max Eisen's prose might not sparkle, but his story is a vitally important look at what happened seventy years ago and what we must never, ever forget. I'm beyond grateful to him for sharing it with the world through this book and his work as a speaker.

Honestly, I don't know how the Canada Reads panelists are gonna debate against this. It means that much. #CanadaReads

Max has a very powerful story to tell. I‘ll just say, you should read this book because, “We must all be alert to the dangers of hatred, speak out against discrimination, and defend the openness and fairness of a free and democratic society with rules of law to sustain it.” Never forget.
#CanadaReads2019

#CanadaReads2019 shortlist

I did have one of these on my TBR already. The others I not sure I'm interested. But 4 of the 5 have 4+ stars on Goodreads.
@Nataliepatalie

Max Eisen‘s story is an important reminder of what can happen if intolerance is allowed and how easy it is for people to do what is safe rather than what is right. We are losing the voices of those who survived the holocaust. It is so important that it not be relegated to something long forgotten in the past.

Just came across this book~ sounds like an important read for anyone interested in the Holocaust. Eisen has toured the world, educating people about the horrors he endured at the hands of the Nazis.
#WeRemember
International #Holocaust Remembrance Day. January 27 is the anniversary of the liberation of #Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration and extermination camp.