The Stable Boy of Auschwitz by Henry Oster
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Memorable
Very well written, tells the story with personality and very personal encounters. I am thankful for this book & the education it brings to the world. I will never forget this one.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Absolutely moving!!
I have read several different accounts of individual experiences throughout the Holocaust, and each time I am moved to tears. Thank you for sharing your experience with the world.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Fantastic
Henry was a very young boy when Hitler came to power. His family struggled to stay together. But, this was just not meant to be. After his father’s death, Henry and his mother were sent to the concentration camps. And how Henry survived years of starvation and abuse is shocking. And then his struggle with the unknown of liberation and the success in the United States is a tale not to be missed. There is so much packed into this book. And yes it is all terrible and hard to believe. To know human beings did this always amazes me. Man’s inhumanity to man! But, what I discovered is, I do not think I ever really knew what happened to the children after liberation. To be honest, I don’t think I thought any of the children survived. So, to say my eyes were opened is an understatement. This story had me crying and terrified for all the children. I just cannot fathom people doing this to other people…ok…I have said that already but this story just brings it to the surface. The narrator, William Hope, is incredible. He must have had to pause in places and get his emotions in check! Need a heart wrenching memoir…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today. I received this book from the publisher for a honest review.
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Stirring biography about the Holocaust
This was a very readable memoir about something horrific. There are no Holocaust stories that don't have challenging moments to read, and this was no exception, but Oster's story and Ford's treatment of that story is done with a full awareness that humanity can be brutal. There are no punches pulled, but it is interesting that Oster does sometimes speak to the fact that some of the people who were hurting him and his fellows may not, in fact, have been horrible people necessarily. I'm still not sure I understand how someone could justify treating others badly even if they are themselves in a hard situation, but I have also had the luxury of never having a choice between my own life or that of a loved one and that of someone else, so who am I to judge? There is nothing negative that I can really say about this book. It was something that I burned through quickly when I sat down to read it, and while I did have to set it aside over the holidays, it was not for a lack of desire to get back to reading the story and finding out what happened to Oster. The Holocaust Museum in DC is one that I have yet to visit, and it is on my list for the next time we travel there. After having read this and seen some of the photos that are included in the exhibit there, I would very much like to make it a priority for sure. What I did value most here is that it was such a well crafted memoir that it read like historical fiction. So, I was able to immerse myself fully in the characters and their story in such a way that it was actually a mini surprise every time there was a photo included that reminded me this was a memoir and not fiction. I will say that I was sad to learn that Oster had passed away, but as the book points out, fewer and fewer survivors remain alive to tell their story and remind people of the horrors of this type of elitist belief.
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Even in Hell, There is Hope.
Wow! This is an incredible survival story of one young boy named Henry Oster. Henry (his name in English) is a German Jew. His story told is heartbreaking, sad and incredible. When HItler came to power in 1933 Henry was only 5 years old. His story, although very sad, is a test of courage and survival. It is the story of a young man that did not give up no matter what. He survived the transport of 2,011 German Jews from Cologne Germany to the ghetto in Poland and then on to the concentration camps. He is one of only 23 that survived. Henry tells his story of the loss of his parents, the time in the concentration camps, and after the camps when these survivors of the camps were afloat without a country or a home. When he made it to America to live with relatives in Las Angles, he vowed never to step foot in Germany again. He did make another trip to honor his parents and to speak to the German people about his life. Also to let them know that although their forefathers did unspeakable deeds they were not to blame. That must have taken a whole lot of courage, but we already know how courageous Henry was. I really liked the historical parts and the descriptions of the country. I thought it was very good that he talked of their feelings, how they reacted to situations and how they felt at different times. Especially when they were liberated from the camp. I listened to the audio book which was provided by NetGalley. The narrator did a wonderful job telling Henry's story. He has a pleasant voice which was easily understood. Henry said that History should never be destroyed or forgotten. We need the reminders of what happened so it can never ever happen again. The memorials and the writings about the holocaust and the camps are there to make sure everyone can see what happened and take steps to stop it from being repeated by future generations. This was an excellent story of a very courageous person. It was a very historical rich read, a bit sad, and inspirational in the courage it represented. I would recommend this book. Thanks to Henry Oster for sharing his story, to Dexter Ford for the great narration, to Bookouture audio for publishing it and to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the audio book to listen to and review.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
NEVER FORGET, Never Again
WW2, holocaust, nonfiction, memoir, memories, death-camps, family, survivors, genocide, historical-figures, historical-places-events, history-and-culture, PTSD, jews, coping, mass-murder, NEVER FORGET, never-again, biography, debasement, persecution, children, juvenile, starvation***** He was only a small Jewish child when the terrors began, but he lost his homeland, his father, then his mother, and by slow torture he lost his childhood until rescued by the US Army at the end of the war. He eventually was able to come to the US, learn English, and did graduate to become a practicing optometrist and university professor for many years. It is his story of hope and perseverance no matter the circumstances. This is a very moving book that is needed now and in the future. Not as long as Night, Anne Frank, Schindler's list, or The Book Thief, but also very moving. NEVER FORGET. William Hope has the voice and cadencing to enhance it all and to remind us that this is no work of fiction. I requested and received a free temporary audio from Bookouture Audio/Thread via NetGalley. Thank you
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Incredible survival story
The Stable Boy of Auschwitz is a remarkable true story of a childhood stolen and the will to survive against all odds. I am thankful that Henry chose to tell his story so that these atrocities may never happen again. I have read many holocaust stories and still learned new things from this book. It can be graphic and difficult to read, heartbreaking even more perhaps because he was just a child, but it is the truth that we all need to hear. I highly recommend this book, as well as From the Holocaust to Hogan’s Heroes by Robert Clary. These were both young men that thankfully survived everything the Nazis could do to destroy them, and then went on to influence the world and us as individuals for the better. *I received a free copy of this book from Thread Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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