Posts in the Challenges Category at Savvy Verse & Wit, Page 105

Vietnam War Reading Challenge Update, and More

January 21, 2010 by Serena

War Through the Generations is now focused on Vietnam War-related reading.

And we had a guest post from Shannon of After the Fire Came a Gentle Whisper about her feelings on Vietnam War literature and what it means to her. If you haven’t checked out the guest post, you should. It just might inspire you to join us this year. You should also check out Shannon’s blog.

Some participants are so on the ball, they’ve already started sending us their review links; check out the first few reviews — My Detachment by Tracy Kidder and In the Lake of the Woods by Tim O’Brien. Other book review links will appear on the Vietnam War Book Reviews page as well as on the main blog pages. There are many more reviews from participants filtering in, but right now we’re staggering those posts.

If you have any guest post ideas that you’d like to run by us, feel free to email Email Us.

Finally, the winners among the WWII Reading Challenge Participants have been announced. Interested in seeing who they are? Check out the list.

Filed Under: announcements, Vietnam War Challenge 2010

Shanghai Girls by Lisa See

January 19, 2010 by Serena

Shanghai Girls by Lisa See examines the relationship between sisters, May and Pearl, their immigration story from Shanghai, China, to Los Angeles, Calif., and the political changes between the 1930s and 1950s. Pearl was born under the sign of the Dragon, and May was born under the sign of the Sheep. Do these signs define who they are? Will they guide their fate?

“Mama insists May and I couldn’t change who we are even if we tried. May is supposed to be as complacent and content as the Sheep in whose year she was born. The Sheep is the most feminine of the signs, Mama says. It’s fashionable, artistic, and compassionate. The Sheep needs someone to take care of her. . . I have a Dragon’s striving desire, which can never be properly filled. ‘There’s nowhere you can’t go with your big flapping feet,’ Mama frequently tells me. However, a Dragon, the most powerful of the signs also has its drawbacks. ‘A Dragon is loyal, demanding, responsible, a tamer of fates,’ Mama told me. . . ” (Page 9 of the hardcover)

Considering themselves modern Chinese ladies in Shanghai and shunning the old ways of their ancestors, Pearl and May become painted, beauties on calendars that sell products ranging from tobacco to other household goods. Pearl has a crush on the painter who makes the calendars, and despite being the older sister, often loses sight of her sister’s actions and whereabouts. Soon, their world is blown apart when the secrets of their father’s gambling are revealed and they are sold into arranged marriages with Chinese-Americans. Still, these young sisters dream of escape and willfully defy their parents’ wishes, only for the fates to step in and force them to honor their original plans to meet their husbands in America.

The ravages of war hit home in Shanghai as the Japanese invade China, and the Communists flee to the hills of China. Lisa See deftly interweaves the political backdrop of China and the world at large behind the more present plight of the Chin sisters. Through a series of twists and turns that mirror the rise and fall of political powers across the globe, Pearl and May face adversity together, but both emerge vastly changed. Reminiscent of Amy Tan‘s writing about mothers and daughters, particularly the clashes of old and new cultures, See grabs hold of the sisterly relationship to shed light the joys, sorrows, painful moments, and sacrifices that only sisters can share and feel deep down to their core. Larger issues of discrimination and political dissension also are prevalent themes.

Overall, Shanghai Girls is a deep novel that will lend itself to animated discussion among book clubs. Readers will enjoy unraveling the family secrets of the Chin women and their new families, and be exposed to the intricate and complex political and social dynamics of some of the most turbulent times in world history. Not only have these women grown through adversity and sacrifice, but they are sent on a journey to discover what it means to be family.

How I’ve missed reading Lisa See before, I have no idea. But she’s an author I hope to read more of in the future.

To Enter to win 2 copies of Shanghai Girls by Lisa See (U.S./Canada only):

1. Leave a comment on this review about what intrigues you about this novel.
2. Leave a comment on my interview with Lisa See.
3. Blog, Tweet, Facebook, etc. the giveaway.

Deadline is Jan. 26, 2010, at 11:59PM EST

About the Author:

Lisa See is the New York Times bestselling author of Peony in Love, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, Flower Net (an Edgar Award nominee), The Interior, and Dragon Bones, as well as the critically acclaimed memoir On Gold Mountain. The Organization of Chinese American Women named her the 2001 National Woman of the Year. She lives in Los Angeles, California. Please check out her Website. Read an excerpt of Shanghai Girls, here, and for book clubs, there are discussion questions.

I also interviewed Lisa See, here.

This is my 4th book for the 2010 New Authors Challenge.

If you are interested in the rest of the tour stops for Shanghai Girls by Lisa See, I encourage you to check out the TLC Book Tour site.

FTC Disclosure: I received my free copy of Shanghai Girls by Lisa See from Random House and TLC Book Tours for review. Clicking on title and image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page; No purchase necessary, though I appreciated.

Filed Under: giveaway, historical fiction, New Authors Challenge, random house, Read in 2010, review copy, reviews, tlc book tours Tagged With: Lisa See, Shanghai Girls

Pride & Prejudice & Zombies by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith

January 13, 2010 by Serena

“Sadly, this action prevented her from saving the second musket man, who had been pulled from his perch. He screamed as the dreadfuls held him down and began to tear organs from his living belly and feast upon them.” (Page 117)

Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith’s Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is a mash-up of Jane Austen’s classic, Pride and Prejudice, and a zombie conflict. Grahame-Smith effectively weaves in the zombie attacks and how the Bennet clan dispatches them with skill. A majority of this novel is Austen’s words, but the dialogue and descriptions that are modified to accommodate zombies are done with aplomb.

“‘My dear Miss Elizabeth, I have the highest opinion in the world in your excellent judgment in all matters within the scope of your understanding, particularly in the slaying of Satan’s armies, but permit me to say, that there must be a wide difference between the established forms of ceremony amongst the laity, and those which regulate the clergy. After all you may wield God’s sword, but I wield His wisdom. And it is wisdom, dear cousin, which will ultimately rid us of our present difficulties with the undead.'” (Page 77)

Fun and entertaining on a base level, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is an exercise in revision and an examination of Austen’s characters in a new light. Many readers will disagree with Grahame-Smith’s portrayal of Lizzy as a cutthroat assassin who is quickly turned by her own emotions or strict sense of duty and honor, particularly since she often talks of dispatching her peers for slighting her family, imagines beheading her own sister Lydia simply because she prattles on, and other unmentionable actions.

“‘Jane, no one who has ever seen you together can doubt his affection. Miss Bingley, I am sure, cannot. She may not be a warrior, but she has cunning enough. Dearest sister, I implore you — this unhappiness is best remedied by the hasty application of a cutlass to her throat.'” (Page 95)

However, one of the most perceptive and playfully done sequences in the novel is the sparring match between Mr. Darcy and Lizzy. Some readers could find this sequence too forceful, but others may view the physical combat between the characters as just a manifestation of their verbal tete-a-tete in the original novel. The elements of zombies and ninjas provide additional circumstances that further delineate the class differences Austen sought to examine in her novels, enabling readers to further investigate the social conventions and prejudices inherent in this society.

There are other instances, however, in which these revised scenes do not work as well, and many of the social conventions of the time are overlooked in favor of ensuring the Bennet sisters, who are of little means, were shipped to the Orient for training in the deadly arts — even if it was with the inferior Chinese Shaolin monks –and were prepared for combat, which is inevitable in a nation nearly overrun by the undead. In Austen’s novel, it would be unconventional for Lizzy to converse so openly with Wickham about Darcy, and it would be outside convention for Darcy to write her a letter to explain himself. Here, convention is defied even more so in that the Bennet women are trained to kill — even if it is only zombies — and Lizzy openly displays her talents and shuns marriage.

Austen purists will NOT enjoy this novel unless they loosen their reverence for the author’s work. Overall, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is a creative revision with an edge that modern readers may enjoy for its drama and action-packed zombie slayings. There is a lot more to this rendition than simple entertainment.

This is my 3rd book for the 2010 New Authors Challenge, though should I consider it a new author if a majority of the book is written by Jane Austen, who is an old favorite.

This is my 2nd book for the Jane Austen Challenge 2010!

FTC Disclosure: I received a free copy of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies from FSB Associates for review. Clicking on titles or images can bring you to my Amazon Affiliate page; No purchase necessary, though appreciated.

Filed Under: fiction, FSB Associates, Jane Austen Challenge 2010, New Authors Challenge, Quirk Classics, Read in 2010, review copy Tagged With: jane austen, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Seth Grahame-Smith

Ravens by George Dawes Green (audio)

January 12, 2010 by Serena

Ravens by George Dawes Green on audio, which I received from a giveaway on Peeking Between the Pages, is action-packed, engaging, and unique. Readers are first introduced to Shaw McBride and Romeo Zderko, two young gentlemen fed up with the “system” and anxious to leave Ohio for the great unknown and make their mark. Unfortunately, Shaw has a dark side and Romeo can lose control of his emotions.

The young men are traveling south and end up in Brunswick, Georgia, where they learn the identity of the state lottery winners — the Boatwrights. Shaw concocts a plan to garner the men at least half if not more of the $318 million prize.

The narrators shift between the Boatwrights, the local police officer, Romeo, and Shaw, with Maggi-Meg Reed’s Southern accent pretty close to the real thing and Robert Petkoff slightly dramatic in his portrayal. However, each character’s voice was easily discernible, making it easy to follow the shifting narration. Listeners will be drawn into the plight of the Boatwrights and may even sympathize with Romeo, but Shaw is another story. The tension is palatable, and readers will be kept guessing as to how the extortion situation will be resolved.

Ravens on audio made the commute fly by, and those that love mysteries and thrillers will find this a satisfactory listen. My husband and I often became absorbed in the story and had to wait for a chapter to end outside my office building in the mornings before I got out of the car. He loved the ending the best, though it is graphic, because it resolves the situation in a satisfactory way.

This is my 2nd book for the 2010 New Authors Challenge.

I’m considering this for my 1st book in the psychological thriller category for the 2010 Thriller & Suspense Reading Challenge.

FTC Disclosure: I received my free copy of the Ravens audiobook from a fellow blogger. Clicking on title and image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page; No purchase necessary, though appreciated.

Filed Under: 2010 Thriller and Suspense Reading Challenge, audiobooks, fiction, giveaway win, Hachette Books, New Authors Challenge, Read in 2010, reviews Tagged With: George Dawes Green, Ravens

The Bum Magnet by K.L. Brady

January 7, 2010 by Serena

K.L. Brady’s The Bum Magnet is local chicklit for Washington, D.C., residents and stars the bum magnet herself, Charisse. She’s a real estate agent with a serial dating problem, always seeming to attract the wrong kind of man and hanging onto them. Dwayne, Lamar, Sean, and Marcus are just some of the bums in this book, but are they all bums? That’s what Charisse has to figure out, if she can get past her own hangups.

“‘Charisse, a good man is like Santa Claus, believing in him feels real good until you find out he doesn’t really exist.'” (Page 1)

Brady’s debut novel uses a lot of colloquial language and delves into the wrong relationships of her characters through journal entries and flashbacks, but readers may not feel a connection to Charisse right off. She’s a bristly, independent woman on the one hand, but a dependent, lonely woman on the other. Like all of us, Charisse has her strengths and her weaknesses, but she seems to have a hard time recognizing the obvious and in many ways she goes off the deep end.

“No, to me, spying on a boyfriend was not only justified, it was a requirement. Hey, I keep it real. To ask me not to spy on a scheming boyfriend would be like asking a lion not to hunt, a dog not to bark, or babies not to throw up. ‘Verification’ was an instinctive to me (and all womankind), as giving birth.” (Page 61)

As she makes the decision to focus on herself and analyze her past relationship failures to improve her relationship capabilities, she stumbles upon the man of her “dreams,” Dwayne, shortly after breaking it off with Marcus. Things are soon spiraling out of control for Charisse when past flames reappear and past mistakes rear their ugly heads.

“I hoped she wasn’t crazy. For some reason, I’d always attracted crazy people. Not eccentric crazy, but wear aluminum foil as a fashion accessory crazy. They always shared their life stories with me. Did I have an inviting demeanor or a friendly face? Perhaps. Although I had a deep-rooted fear that crazy people might just be naturally drawn to other crazy people, which would make me one of them.” (Page 122)

The Bum Magnet has a lot of drama, and Charisse attracts it like wildfire. Readers will either enjoy the roller coaster ride or wonder when they can get off. Brady has an active imagination and the dialogue will have readers giggling. Brady’s writing is entertaining and has great potential.

FTC Disclosure: Thanks to K.L. Brady for providing me with a free copy of The Bum Magnet for review. Clicking on title and image links will lead you to my Amazon Affiliate page; No purchase necessary, though appreciated.

K. L. Brady is a D.C. native but spent a number of her formative years in the Ohio Valley. She’s an alumnus of the University of the District of Columbia and University of Maryland University College, earning a B.A. in Economics and M.B.A., respectively. She works as an analyst for a major government contracting firm and is an active real estate agent with Exit Realty by day—and writes by night (often into the wee hours of the morning). She lives just outside of D.C. in Cheltenham, Maryland, with her son, William, and two pet Betta fish, Spongebob and Jerry, and lives to eat chocolate, shop, read, and write.

***International Giveaway Details***

1. Leave a comment on this post about what new author you’ve found in the new year.
2. Blog, Tweet, Facebook, or otherwise spread the word about the giveaway and leave a link on this post.

Deadline Jan. 14, 2010, 11:59PM EST

This is my 1st book for the 2010 New Authors Challenge.

Also, this another stop on the Literary Road Trip.

Filed Under: chicklit, giveaway, New Authors Challenge, Read in 2010, review copy, reviews, The Literary Road Trip Tagged With: K.L. Brady, The Bum Magnet

2009 Challenge Wrap-Up

January 6, 2010 by Serena

I haven’t done my 2009 Challenge wrap-up yet, but I figured today would be as good a day as any.

I also have two challenges from 2009 that spill over into 2010, but I’ll give you a progress update at the end of this post.

First up is the WWII Reading Challenge I co-hosted with Anna from Diary of an Eccentric at War Through the Generations. I initially set out to read 5 books for the challenge, and actually exceeded my goal. I read 10 books! I only read one of the books I originally set out to read.

Here are the links to my reviews for the 10 books I completed for the challenge:

1. Reading by Lightning by Joan Thomas
2. Bloody Good by Georgia Evans
3. T4 by Ann Clare Lezotte
4. Now Silence by Tori Warner Shepard
5. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
6. Tallgrass by Sandra Dallas
7. Night of Flames by Douglas Jacobson
8. Searching for Pemberley by Mary Lydon Simonsen
9. Inglourious Basterds by Quentin Tarantino
10. Words That Burn Within Me by Hilda Stern Cohen

I hope you take the time to check out those reviews if you missed them. There are some great books in that list and one of them was my top pick for 2009.

I also participated in the Everything Austen challenge in which you could read Jane Austen’s books, spinoffs, or watch movies. All in all, you could mix and match to reach the six items required, which is what I did. I didn’t start this challenge with a specific list.

I read five books for the challenge and watched one movie. Check out my reviews below.

1. Mr. Darcy, Vampyre by Amanda Grange
2. Pride & Prejudice (2005) movie
3. The Trials of the Honorable F. Darcy by Sara Angelini
4. A Match for Mary Bennet by Eucharista Ward
5. Willoughby’s Return by Jane Odiwe
6. Searching for Pemberley by Mary Lydon Simonsen

You also will find one of these books in my top picks of 2009.

OK, as for the ongoing challenges through mid-2010 or thereabouts, this sums up my progress:

The Sookie Stackhouse Reading Challenge ends on June 30, 2010, and you must read the entire series, which for me is 9 books since I had never read these before. I’ve only read two books for this challenge, but I fully expect to catch up and finish this one. Click on the links below for my reviews:

1. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
2. Living Dead in Dallas by Charlaine Harris

I signed up for the Valparaiso Poetry Review challenge a bit late, but since I had already reviewed poetry earlier in 2009 and those reviews counted toward my totals, I signed up for the highest level of reading 11-15 books.

These are the ones I’ve read:

1. How to Read a Poem by Molly Peacock
2. Becoming the Villainess by Jeannine Hall Gailey
3. Green Bodies by Rosemary Winslow
4. Apologies to an Apple by Maya Ganesan
5. Carta Marina by Ann Fisher-Wirth
6. More of Me Disappears by John Amen
7. Fair Creatures of an Hour by Lynn Levin
8. At the Threshold of Alchemy by John Amen
9. Holocaust Poetry compiled by Hilda Schiff
10. Words That Burn Within Me by Hilda Stern Cohen
11. Vampire Haiku by Ryan Mecum

You will find one of these books in my top picks of 2009. While I have met the lower end of the scale, I plan to read more through the end of the challenge on May 16, 2010.

Also, I’ve been cleaning up some sidebar stuff and I decided to use thumbnail images for the 2010 Challenges; you can find those in the right sidebar under the Best of 2009 Amazon.com shelf.

How did you do with your challenges last year?

Filed Under: challenges, everything austen challenge, WWII Reading Challenge

Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World by Abigail Reynolds

January 5, 2010 by Serena

Abigail Reynolds’ Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World examines what it would have happened in Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen had Elizabeth Bennet not refused Mr. Darcy’s marriage proposal. Lizzy is stuck in a situation in which she is forced to accept Darcy’s proposal, or at least she feels that is the case. The marriage happens quickly and Lizzy is filled with anxiety about her role as Mrs. Darcy, what to expect from her husband, and how to overcome her prejudice against her him.

“Was his pride so great that it did not occur to him she might refuse him? Elizabeth opened her mouth to deny his allegation, but before any sound could emerge, she recognized the danger.” (Page 6 of ARC)

Reynolds has a firm grasp of Austen’s work and her Pride & Prejudice characters, and that knowledge shines through as we follow Lizzy and Darcy into their alternate universe. From misunderstandings to barbs, Darcy and Lizzy spar with one another and hide their true feelings as they fear the other’s reproach. The servants and the housekeeper, Mrs. Reynolds, are just as they should be — hovering on the outskirts and ready to lend help when necessary.

“But when he turned his head sideways on the pillow, his eyes clouded with the drug, she leaned towards him to meet his lips with her own. It was a gentle kiss, but his lips were hot against hers. Elizabeth almost shook with the emotion of it.” (Page 108 of ARC)

Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World is a treat that will transport readers into regency England with a set of new and old characters. Lizzy and Darcy may be one of the greatest classic love stories, and Reynolds‘ spin on the love story reads like a classic. Lizzy is still strong-willed, but tentative in her new marriage and her new circumstances. Darcy is a bit harsh at times, but readers will forgive him his transgressions. Readers should be cautioned that there are some intimate scenes that give this novel a more contemporary feel. All in all, this is a delightful variation.

***Giveaway Details***

Sourcebooks is offering 2 copies of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World to U.S./Canadian readers of this blog.

1. Leave a comment on this interview about what you would like to ask Abigail Reynolds.
2. Leave a comment on my review of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy.
3. Blog, tweet, Facebook, etc. this giveaway and leave a link here.

Deadline is Jan. 11, 2010, 11:59PM EST

FTC Disclosure: I received a free copy of Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy from the Sourcebooks for review. Clicking on titles or images can bring you to my Amazon Affiliate page; No purchase necessary, though appreciated.

This is my 1st book for the Jane Austen Challenge 2010!

Filed Under: fiction, giveaway, Jane Austen Challenge 2010, Read in 2010, reviews, sourcebooks Tagged With: abigail reynolds, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World

Jane Austen Challenge 2010

January 5, 2010 by Serena

The Life (and Lies) of an Inanimate Flying Object is hosting the Jane Austen Challenge 2010! And you knew I would join, didn’t you?

Here are the reading levels to help you choose:

Newbie 2 books by J. Austen, 2 re-writes, prequels, sequels, or spoofs (by other authors)
Lover 4 books by J. Austen, 4 re-writes, prequels, sequels, or spoofs (by other authors)
Fanatic 6+ books by J. Austen, 5+ re-writes, prequels, sequels, or spoofs (by other authors)

The challenge runs from Jan. 1, 2010, through Dec. 31, 2010. You can change your reading level during the challenge, any book format counts, and books can overlap with other challenges.

OK, so I guess you are interested in what level I’m signing up for . . . Yes, I am crazy about Jane and the other contemporary versions. These books could change as well.

I’m a Lover

Here are my possible Jane Austen books:

Persuasion by Jane Austen
Lady Susan by Jane Austen
Mansfield Park by Jane Austen
Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
Love & Friendship by Jane Austen or Sandition by Jane Austen
Sense & Sensibility by Jane Austen or Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen

Here are my possible Spinoff, rewrites, etc.:

Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World by Abigail Reynolds
Pride & Prejudice & Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith
Sense & Sensibility & Sea Monsters by Ben H. Winters
Impulse & Initiative by Abigail Reynolds
According to Jane by Marilyn Brant

What will you be reading for this challenge?

Filed Under: challenges, Jane Austen Challenge 2010

New Year’s Read-a-Thon Wrap-up

January 4, 2010 by Serena

I think the holidays have scrambled my brains or turned them to mush because when I initially signed up for the New Year’s Read-a-Thon, I thought great I would finish reading The Bum Magnet and Jane Austen’s Persuasion. Little did I know, I had a date with Mr. Darcy in the latest Abigail Reynolds’ novel, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World.

So, after initially continuing to read The Bum Magnet, I set it aside and nearly finished Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy: The Last Man in the World.

That’s a sad update I know. How’d your read-a-thon weekend go?

Filed Under: New Year's Read-a-Thon

New Year’s Read-a-Thon

December 31, 2009 by Serena

Bookworming in the 21st Century, which is a new blog to me, is hosting a read-a-thon over New Year’s Weekend.

Start Time is 5PM Dec. 31, 2009
End Time is 10 PM Jan. 3, 2010

I don’t have a time commitment in mind, but I hope to read some books this weekend! I want to at least finish Persuasion by Jane Austen and The Bum Magnet by K.L. Brady.

I’ll probably have a post ready when the read-a-thon is over, and I’ll let you know how it went.

Filed Under: New Year's Read-a-Thon

Vampire Haiku by Ryan Mecum

December 31, 2009 by Serena

Ryan Mecum’s Vampire Haiku mixes humor and poetry in diary form for vampire William Butten, who was turned in 1620. He falls in love with a beautiful woman on the Mayflower named Katherine, who turned him into a vampire. Soon he’s parted from his love to roam America on his own and make his own friends. There are tales of some well known historic figures from Davy Crockett to Amelia Earhart and famous events in history like the Civil War and Woodstock.

Readers may initialy be attracted to the cover haiku, which also appears on page 37:

“You know that your drink
is down to the last few sips
once the toes curl up.”

Butten has a twisted sense of humor, but readers will enjoy is little anecdotes about becoming a vampire and bumbling around learning how to feed, etc. Mecum uses his linguistic and historic knowledge to create fun and witty haiku. Although they are not precisely haiku in the traditional sense, they mostly adhere to the form’s syllable count. It is fun to see Butten reveal insider knowledge about the deaths of Davy Crockett and other major historical figures. In some cases, the poems will have readers cringing in disgust.

“Discarded band-aids
are rare unexpected treats.
My version of gum.” (page 113)

There are even moments in the book where the vampire makes fun of the modern vampire crazes from the goth kids to the latest vampire movies. One of the best haiku in the book is about the Twilight movie:

“Those were not vampires.
If sunlight makes you sparkle,
you’re a unicorn.” (page 117)

Will Butten ever find his true love, Katherine, or will he stop searching for her and settle down? Overall, those interested in humor and vampires will find Vampire Haiku to be a treat. I’m looking forward to reading Ryan Mecum’s Zombie Haiku next.

I’m counting this as my 11th book for the poetry reading challenge.

By the way, I unintentionally read 100 books this year and reviewed all 100! This is quite an accomplishment for me, since I’m a slower reader than most. Yipee!

FTC Disclosure: I purchased my copy of Vampire Haiku by Ryan Mecum. Clicking on title links or images will bring you to my Amazon Affiliate page; No purchase necessary.

Filed Under: 2009-10 Valparaiso Poetry Review, poetry, purchased, Read in 2009, reviews Tagged With: Ryan Mecum, Vampire Haiku

Words That Burn Within Me by Hilda Stern Cohen

December 29, 2009 by Serena

Hilda Stern Cohen’s Words That Burn Within Me is a collection of photographs, essays, stories, snippets of interviews, and poems detailing Cohen’s experiences during WWII and the Holocaust as a German resident. (Please check out a recent reading from the book at The Writer’s Center). Cohen’s husband, whom she married in Baltimore, Md., in 1948 following her release, discovered her notebooks after her death and set about his journey to have his wife’s writing translated from German and published. In some cases, the poems are included both in English and in German.

“Our physiognomies were ageless. There were wild, unfocused eyes, silent, indrawn lips, and haggardness around the cheek and neck . . . only defined and exaggerated by hunger.” (Page 49)

This harrowing story follows Hilda through her early years in Nieder-Ohmen, Germany, and her transfer to schools in Frankfurt as the Nazis gained power. From Frankfurt, she is transported with her family and young beau Horst to Lodz, Poland, only to face devastating circumstances, the loss of Horst, and more and be transported to Auschwitz. In a series of essays and interviews, Hilda talks about happier times in her village and with her sister, the trials of childhood and being bullied, but soon the reality of politics sets in and her family is forced to leave their ancestral home.

Forced Labor (Page 54)

My numbed brow drops on the machine,
I fold my captive, tired hands.

A dangling yellow bulb sheds smoky light,
Dusk falls, the day grows pale.

The harried working hours are almost done,
The evening mist is waiting to embrace us.

What binds us in our common chains
Will only hold us while we work —
Night will find each of us in separate gloom.

Cohen’s writing is sparse but detailed in its observations of those around her in the ghetto and the concentration camps. Her keen eye examines the impact of starvation on her fellow neighbors and on her family members, and it also sheds light on how well her family and herself cope with their situation. She eventually teaches herself Yiddish after joining a literary group because she only speaks and writes German, which is not what the majority of the Lodz Ghetto understands. Readers, however, will note a sense of detachment in her writing, almost as if she is reporting the events as she observed them rather than as she felt them. On the other hand, they will hear the anger and disappointment in her voice, especially when she speaks of the last words her father utters about her mother upon her death.

“There was a strange role reversal that took place psychologically, as it did also later in the camps. Adults who had lived a life from which they had gained certain expectations were suddenly confronted with an abyss. There were no signs, no gateposts, none of the usual milestones that one could follow. Everything had fallen away.” (Page 33)

Words That Burn Within Me is well assembled mixture of interviews with Hilda Stern Cohen’s essays, stories and poems. While the collection does illustrate one Jewish woman’s journey during WWII and the Holocaust, it stands as a testament — a record — of how inexcusably these humans were treated and how their debasement impacted their lives, their relationships, their faith, and their souls. Through well tuned description and controlled emotions, Cohen takes the time to record everything she saw during the war and the Holocaust to ensure that it becomes a warning to others. A powerful collection and a must read for anyone learning about this time period and the horrors that should never have happened.

This is my 10th book for the WWII Reading Challenge at War Through the Generations!

I’m not sure if this will qualify for the Poetry Review Challenge, but if it does, this will be book #10.

FTC Disclosure: I purchased my copy of Words That Burn Within Me from The Writer’s Center following a reading by Hilda Stern Cohen’s husband and her interviewer Gail Rosen. Clicking on image and title links will bring you to my Amazon Affiliate page; No purchases necessary.

Filed Under: 2009-10 Valparaiso Poetry Review, essays, memoir, poetry, purchased, Read in 2009, reviews, WWII Reading Challenge Tagged With: Hilda Stern Cohen, Words That Burn Within Me