ARTFUL READERS CLUB  

November 28, 2014

"The Girl in the Green Sweater:

A Life in Holocaust's Shadow"

by Kyrstyna Chiger with Daniel Paisner 

Hi Folks,

It's the end of the month...time for my monthly book review and art for the Artful Readers Club (and anyone else who might enjoy the suggestion of a new book to read or avoid.) Hope the month has been good to you and that you're ready to face the holiday season head on!

This month's book is THE GIRL IN THE GREEN SWEATER: A LIFE IN HOLOCAUST'S SHADOW by Krystyna Chiger (who lived through the horrific time) and Daniel Paisner. Krystyna recounts the story of her survival as a child, while her family transitioned from a wealthy home to the Lvov Ghetto and then into the sewers of Poland, living amid rats, worms and filth. They fled to the sewers, along with several other Jews, then unknown to them, to save their lives during the final 14 months of the Holocaust. Their belief was that they'd see the sun again in a few weeks...this was not their lot!

 

 Krystyna was almost 8 years old when Germany and Russia split Poland in 1939. Living under the Communist government wasn't easy for the Jews in Eastern Poland as the Ukrainians were brutally cruel to them. When the German army invaded, they suffered another brand of cruelty. All their circumstances are viewed and explained through the eyes of Krystyna...a child victim of the times, (augmented, in part, by the unpublished memoirs of her father.) But, in typical child-like fashion, her positive attitude shines through her writing as she's grateful to be with her family...even through such difficult times.  Their survival beneath the city in the inhabitable sewers, in addition to their own bravery and tenacity, depended greatly on the support and eventual friendship of a Polish Catholic man, Leopold Socha (a sewer worker and former thief) and his two friends. They risked their own lives and that of their families to bring them supplies, comfort and news even when the money to pay  for these services ran out...good to find that their intentions were not solely mercenary.

With each book I read about the Holocaust, I'm overwhelmed by the human capacity for cruelty as well as bravery, generosity and will to survive. This book is no different in that manner...Krystyna shares her thoughts as a little girl and keeps the reader intrigued by the story and the sheer miracle of survival. Most poignant were the times she and her little brother could hear the children playing above their sewer grate... 

This was a beautiful piece of historical literature.... beautiful, harrowing and heartbreaking. It's not just another Holocaust story, it's unique, haunting and in the end, triumphant!! YES...this is a must-read!

Thanks for stopping by. I pray you enjoyed your Thanksgiving (those of you who celebrate the holiday,) and that you found many blessings for which to be thankful. I'm thankful, among other things, for YOU! 

xox,

Hope to see you for my next...

abbyj

  

MAINLY VINTAGE...and BAOBABS

February 18, 2014

 

 

Hi Dear Ones!

Still experiencing more snow than we've had in a very long time...a part of each day seems to be devoted to snowfall!! Beautiful and cold...I'm loving it!

 

The current art challenges don't reflect this winter wonderland at all. In fact, Flicker's DIGITALMANIA requested a botanical theme in art journal format ...my art was based on a photo of a BAOBAB tree that I took in Africa. Note the beautiful Malachite Sunbird on one of its branches. Baobab trees live for thousands of years.

The one in this photo is young and small...

 

in comparison to THIS one...and this isn't the largest I've seen...(just can't find the photos of the larger ones! )

They're amazing trees that give food (with their bark as well as their fruit) and shelter to the animals of the savannah.

COLLAGE OBSESSION asked for an art piece with some handwriting. I combined this request with TAKE A WORD's challenge for a piece with  something vintage...here's what I came up with....

My tribute to those who perished in the HOLOCAUST

Enjoy the rest of your week...be comfortable!

See you next posting???

 

Big Hugs and thanks for checking in,

abbyj

 

 

ARTFUL READER'S CLUB

June 25, 2013

 

Welcome...happy to be posting a review of my June reading adventure...THE INVISIBLE BRIDGE by Julie Orringer.

A breakout novel for the author who's been known as a writer of short stories, this 600+ page historical novel is totally engrossing and brilliant. Based on the author's own family story, THE INVISIBLE BRIDGE begins in 1937...pre-war Hungary. It's the story of three brothers: the eldest studying medicine in  Italy, the second studying architecture in Paris and the youngest still at home with their parents in Konyar, Hungary. Slowly, Hitler's vice closes on Europe; student visas are cancelled and ultimately, all young Jewish Hungarian men are forced to work far from their families, toiling in labor camps where conditions are increasingly desperate.

At the same time, these brothers Levi are falling in love, marrying and agonizing over their lost careers and their imagined fates. Orringer introduces us to many other compelling characters as well... characters who allow us to be eavesdroppers, in a sense. Many of the emotional and physical problems aren't seen directly, but are revealed when two characters who have been separated, reconnect with each other. I found this an interesting way to communicate what was happening everywhere in Hungary. But, it also lets the reader sense the horror of not being in control either one's own destiny or the harrowing circumstances of loved ones.

The events described provide insight into the little known aspects of what transpired in Hungary during that time in a very real way! Many  historical novels describe this era, but rarely from the viewpoint of Hungarian Jews. This beautifully written novel pays tribute  not only to this population but also to familial ties and relationships. It's a metaphor for love and war, yearning and loss, strength and survival under the most adverse conditions. It reminds us of the scale of what was lost and cherishes all that survived.

Admittedly, since my return from last Christmas' trip to Krakow, Poland (where my husband and I visited Auschwitz and Birkenau, both Nazi concentration camps,) I've been obsessed with novels about the Holocaust and WWII. Julie Orringer's INVISIBLE BRIDGE is as much a study of relationships and family love as it is about the horrors of the time. It deals with the war, discrimination, poverty, criminal activity...and it's full of twists and turns! It's definitely a book worth reading. My art reflects a bit about this amazing book, with the brothers Levi front and center!!

 

Will post my July book review the last Friday of the month...I'll be taking a few weeks off from blogging until then. Thanks for checking in! To see other book reviews from this group, check out Darcy's Art and Sole Artful Reader's Club.

 

Hugs,

abbyj





FIRST POST: ARTFUL READERS

January 25, 2013

Hi Family and Friends,

Well, we're somewhat entrenched in the new year...I hope things are going well for you and that you've started to meet all those goals you set for yourself. One of my goals is to read even more than before, so, I've made a commitment to ART and SOLE's new club, ARTFUL READERS. (Last year, it was the weekly Postcard Art Challenge from different countries. Remember?)

At the end of each month, for the next year, I'll be posting some art representing a book I've read and will review the book as well. Perhaps it'll be something you've already read... or I'll offer a suggestion to read (or NOT read it!!!) Hope you'll  check back at month's end to check it out!

My first book is one with which many are already familiar. I started reading it after having been in Poland for Christmas and visiting Auschwitz and Birkenau, Nazi Concentration/Death Camps. Here's my review, followed by my art representing THE BOOK THIEF by Marcus Zazak (published in 2005.)

Each book review and representitive art will go in my journal. If you've read THE BOOK THIEF, I hope it was a stand-out for you as it was for me. If you haven't...what are you waiting for????

Happy reading until my next review... see you for my next regular posting the beginning of February.

Thanks for stopping by. Had a wonderful haitus that I'll tell you about soon.

Hugs,
abbyj

CREEPING CLOSER...

ALL HALLOWS EVE...Soon! 
October 21, 2011  

" circle of life...a path unwinding"

My Mom and me in my younger years...

 

Childhood comprises such formative years...years for us to learn about the world, our environment, behaviors, other peoples...and we each experience it in different ways. TAKE A WORD, a fun challenge blog,  was interested in seeing how we as artists think about CHILDHOOD... above is my grandson just a few years ago, in his pensive mood...

Youngsters from the village where my Ethiopian adopted families live...playing with their photo as they returned from the fields...a childhood of hard work...

 

 

A different kind of childhood...one filled with terror and heartache...children of the Holocaust

 

 

Also in Africa...the elders take a very active role in the development and teaching of the children...and their nurturing as well

Well, 'tis that time of year...the time of frightening visions, thoughts, fears and fantasies...Halloween! The CREAVIL CHALLENGE BLOG wanted to see our visions...the above and those below are MY visions for All Hallow's Eve!

SUNDAY POSTCARD ART, in the Halloween spirit, was interested in Haunted Houses..

THINK MONDAY-THINK ATC  was into Vampires and Bats...FUN images...dark!

This should get you thinking about All Hallo0w's EVE... last year, my grandchildren went as Harry Potter and Hermione Granger. I'm looking forward to seeing what excites their imaginations this year...

 Hoping to see you for my next posting. Thanks for stopping by!


xox,
abbyj