In the People to Know series, an awkward account of the life of a thoughtful and eminent Holocaust survivor whose life has been dedicated to keeping memory of the Holocaust alive lest it be repeated. Though Schuman interviewed Wiesel and several of his associates, he relies most on secondary sources for a narrative of the main events of the author/professor's life—including some grim Holocaust detail, Wiesel's active stance in behalf of Cambodians and Bosnians as well as Jews, and a sampling of recent criticisms of his role. Unfortunately, the author summarizes Wiesel's books without conveying their flavor and evokes neither his compelling persona nor the drama of his life (which could easily have spoken for itself had details been more effectively selected), while his text is riddled with gaucheries (e.g., Wiesel's students at Boston University ``come not only to learn about the topic at hand, but to drink in Wiesel's sentiments, hoping some of his humanitarian views will rub off''). This eloquent Nobel Peace prize winner deserves far better; meanwhile, for some collections, this may fill a gap. B&w photos; chronology; notes; further reading plus nine videos; index. (Biography. 11-16)
Pub Date: Feb. 1, 1994
ISBN: 0-89490-428-0
Page Count: 128
Publisher: Enslow
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1994
BOOK REVIEW
This oversized, handsome book is an excellent introduction to one of America’s great photographers and her work, which influenced generations of others who followed her craft. Rubin (Toilets, Toasters, and Telephones, 1998, etc.) covers Bourke- White’s life chronologically, from her youth, when she wanted nothing more than to be a herpetologist, through her college years, when she first took a photography class, to her subsequent struggle to find her place in a largely male-dominated profession, photojournalism. By the time she was 30, Bourke-White had made her mark, and was able to earn a handsome living as she traveled the world, not only consorting with presidents and princes, but photographing some of the planet’s most wretched places, including concentration camps. Some of her most powerful photographs illustrate the book, and also give an insight into era in which she earned her place as an artist. Rubin makes clear that Bourke-White’s reputation continues to grow, providing researchers and browsers alike with a warm, admiring glimpse of a woman and her times. (notes, bibliography, index) (Biography. 10-13)
Pub Date: Nov. 1, 1999
ISBN: 0-8109-4381-6
Page Count: 96
Publisher: Abrams
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 1999
In a sequel to the well-received I Have Lived a Thousand Years (1997, not reviewed), Bitton-Jackson writes of her life as Elli Friedmann in 1945, when she, her brother, and mother were liberated from Auschwitz and sent back to their former home in Czechoslovakia. Finding only a shell of the place they had known, they struggled to rebuild some semblance of life and waited for the return of Elli’s father. When they realized he was gone for good, their only hope through all their efforts was the prospect of obtaining papers that would allow them to emigrate to America. Through the long years that they waited, Elli found work teaching, and helping other Jews escape to Palestine, a dangerous and illegal undertaking. When they finally arrived in New York City, relatives welcomed them; an epilogue collapses most of the author’s adult life into a few paragraphs so readers will know the directions her life took. Interesting and inspiring, this story makes painfully clear how the fight to survive extended well beyond the war years; the discomforts and obstacles the author faced and articulates in such riveting detail will make readers squirm at the security and ease of their own lives. (Memoir. 12-14)
Pub Date: March 1, 1999
ISBN: 0-689-82026-7
Page Count: 258
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 1999
BOOK REVIEW
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