CILKA'S JOURNEY: A NOVEL by Heather Morris

CILKA'S JOURNEY: A NOVEL by Heather Morris

 ✯✯✯✯                                                               Review by Astrid Galactic

Way up in the Arctic Circle there is a Siberian gulag that goes by the name of Vorkuta Gulag. This was the home of Cilka Klein for 10 long miserable years of her life. Not by choice but as a prisoner of the Soviet Russians at the end of World War ll. We know Cilka from the novel The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris, which chronicled the love story of Lale Sokolov and his wife Gita. All three were prisoners at Auschwitz-Birkenau during the Nazi's reign of terror. In this sequel, Cilka's Journey, we follow Cilka as she is unfairly punished yet again for crimes that were nothing but trumped up charges that sent her off to a grueling and inhumane work camp, better known as a concentration camp. 

As with TToA, Cilka was a real person but the book is loosely based on her life with many liberties taken to create a fictionalized account. A few stories from the lives of others were woven into the story as well as inspirations from the imagination of the author. From what I could tell, Cilka's Journey contains much more fiction than the previous book, in part, because Morris was able to actually meet and compare notes with the real Lale Sokolov whereas the same opportunities were not available for Cilka's story. With that said, Morris did extensive research as to what life was like at Vorkuta for those who spent time there, from the prisoners to the trusties and also some of the employees. Many of the various physical living conditions were laced into the story detailing what everyday life was like as well as how the social groupings created a network of caste systems, often utilizing fear for their own survival tactics. 

Cilka, a Slovakian Jew, arrives at Vorkuta straight out of Auschwitz-Birkenau and is housed with 19 other women she must share a cold, flimsy hut with. The others are there for a variety or perceived crimes against the Russian government but Cilka is the only one with previous concentration camp experience. She fears the others will hold this against her, especially regarding what she had to do in order not to be killed, so she tries her best to keep that information to herself. As the ladies do their best to survive from day to day, we get to know a few of the characters whom Cilka develops bonds with. Then there are the "husbands" who often come and visit them. In other words, men who have the run of the place and rape them. This creates its own strange psychological environment amongst the group. 

During the day, all of the prisoners must work outside in harsh conditions with little protection. One of the jobs the women are forced to do is to transfer heavy buckets of coal from place to place. Early on, after Josie, a woman Cilka has befriended, has an accident, Cilka manages to obtain a job working in the gulag's hospital. Not only is this job less labor intensive but it provides Cilka with more warmth and food. She takes to this job rather well and it leads to a new passion for Cilka as well as sets the tone for one of the central paths in the story. It also presents different dynamics for Cilka in regards to her relationship with the other ladies in the hut. She knows this and is very cautious for fear of retaliation because she is aware of the jealousy that some of the others might hold against her. Cilka is proactive and makes sure she uses it to their advantage just as much as her own by smuggling food and other items to help make life a little easier for her hut mates. 

Ten years slowly go by and Cilka gradually works her way around the grounds learning who she can trust and who she needs to avoid and what she must do just to get by. She also learns much more about nursing and broadens her range within the hospital. Throughout Cilka's Journey, we feel her anguish, her fears, her struggles and even her joys as we get to know what life was like in that faraway land where life is taken one difficult day at a time.   

This is a book that I very much liked but have one little issue with. I've always had a problem with books and movies that tend to make the protagonist the constant hero, saint, savior, most loved, and the best at everything. It always comes off like a high school story in Fantasyland. While I knew going into the book that it is Historical Fiction, I wanted to believe everything along the way, yet I couldn't help but not buy into some of what was being presented because of the extreme idealization of the character. This is the one area where I feel that the story manages to make Cilka's story less real and I did not want to think that any of the real parts were not true to life. Because it was based on a real woman's journey into Hell and back, I wanted to know exactly which parts were true and what was enhanced for the sake of a coherent story. In some ways, this was somewhat of a fairy tale; albeit, one that included lots of pain and suffering along the way. Never the less, it was well worth reading. 

As a sequel to The Tattooist of Auschwitz, there are several references in the book that provide a much richer story for those who have read the previous book. One can still read Cilka's Journey and appreciate it for what it has to offer but I would very much suggest that one do what I did by getting a copy of the first book before you take your journey with Cilka. Not only will you read about how Nazi concentration camps compare to the Russian gulags but you will have a much better understanding of where Cilka came from and what her mindset was like once she arrives at her second stop along the way of her horrendous journey through her young, tortured life from one Hellhole to another. 

(eBook)

Thanks to NetGalley for an advance copy of the eBook for a fair and honest review.

*This is the sequel to the book THE TATTOOIST OF AUSCHWITZ by Heather Morris.

(Click here for review.)

Historical Fiction*

Hardcover, 352 pages

ISBN-13: 978-1250265708

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Expected Release Date: October 1st, 2019

*Loosely based on a real life person 

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THE TATTOOIST OF AUSCHWITZ: A NOVEL by Heather Morris

THE TATTOOIST OF AUSCHWITZ: A NOVEL by Heather Morris

✯✯✯✯✯                                                                                                Review by Astrid Galactic

We know that countless of millions of people were murdered and slaughtered during World War ll by the Nazis. There were those who died in the battles, bludgeoned on the streets as dissidents, euthanized because they were Jews, unhealthy, criminals, Gypsies, homosexuals, Free-thinkers, Modern artists or thought to be a threat, for any number of reasons, to the Nazi way of life. Or maybe an unsuspecting person just happened to cross the path of a psychotic Nazi soldier having a bad day and he decided to take his anger out on that person, all for the sport of it all. 

It's well known that the Holocaust is one of the more horrifying events within the history of mankind. With the magnitude of those who suffered under this regime or lost their lives because of it, it's easy to lose sight of each and every one of these people as individuals. The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris is one of those  stories that attempts to allow us to meet a few of those individuals and learn about how they suffered and managed to survive the totally inhumane tortures of their imprisonment at Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camps while, at the same time, finding love. 

Though categorized as Historical Fiction, The Tattooist of Auschwitz is based on the life of Ludwig (Lale) Sokolov whom, as a Slovakian Jew, was hauled off to Auschwitz where he met and fell in love with Gita. (I'll not include her last name because of it's importance of such within the story.) The book is as much a love story as it is one of retelling the daily indignities and tortures of the camp's occupants. 

Because of Lale's ability to speak several different languages, he held a little bit of a protective status amongst the Nazis making him an asset for their purposes. This was why they immediately gave him the job of Tattooist, or Tätowierer in the German language. You learn early on that you do what they command you to do or it means immediate death. Lale understood this and even used his position to his advantage, often even to the advantage of the prisoners whom he made a point of smuggling food for and other life sustaining items. This is also a story of humanity as much as a story of inhumanity. 

As painful as they are, yes, it's true, we must keep the memories of these horrors alive. They are lessons that we all can hopefully learn in order to avoid such tragedies in our future. But we must also remember that this was a massive collection of individuals, all with their own purpose and life stories, many cut short well before their time. Lale and Gita were two of the lucky ones; that is, if you can find luck in their misfortune as is sometimes discussed within the book. You will find yourself experiencing several different emotions, some at the same time, while reading this book. And, of course, it's advisable to keep a box of tissues by your side because you are bound to need a few while sadness overtakes your senses and even shed a tear of joy as you revel in Lale's and Gita's everlasting love. Lale and Gita are only two of many but two well worth getting to know. This is their story. 

* Here is a review of Cilka's Journey, the sequel, courtesy of Netgalley.

(Click Here For Review)

Historical Fiction
Biography*

Hardcover, 288 pages

ISBN-13: 978-0062870674

Publisher: Harper

Release Date: September 4th, 2018

*Catalogued as Fiction but based on the true story of Ludwig (Lale) Sokolov.

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MOON WATER: A NOVEL by Pam Webber

MOON WATER: A NOVEL by Pam Webber

✯✯✯✯                                                                                                     Review by Astrid Galactic

Moon Water by Pam Webber is a book that I found slow to take to but once the tension got revved up, it hit with the full impact of a heavy storm. There were several different storylines going on all at once that brewed up altogether and were laced within each other. Once it finally got going, it just didn't stop. 

The story takes place in central Virginia along the Appalachian mountains in 1969. It's loosely based on the real life historic hurricane that hit the area on August 19, 1969 which devastated the entire area and took many lives. All through the book, we see the main characters come upon several omens warning of this, but ones they don't quite initially understand. Several of the characters are Monacan Indians who have a high respect for nature and it's messages. 

Meanwhile, Nettie, the protagonist of the story, is preparing for her Christian baptism. She's quite the spunky one who is full of fire and integrity which often gets her into trouble that isn't rightfully hers to begin with. Her best friend Win is a Monacan Indian whom, at the same time, is being prepared to take over for her grandmother, Nibi, as the local tribe's Medicine Woman. At the same time, Nettie receives much of this same training. We often see various similarities and lessons crossing both cultures as the girls go through their rites of passage during their undertakings. 

Part of Nettie's and Win's initiations into the Monacan tradition is to each create their own dreamcatcher. This itself is a venture that very few Boy Scouts could ever begin to tackle. A trip to your local crafts dealer doesn't cut it. The girls must take some very serious trips up to the mountain tops, through caves and along rivers just to find very specific items to be incorporated into their dreamcatchers. This part of the story alone is interesting just for the pursuits through nature and its descriptions. 

There are several interesting characters within the story who also add extra levels of intrigue, peril or just part of a plain old good love story. From the beginning of the book, Andy is in love with Nettie but Nettie doesn't know if she can offer him the same level of commitment. Then there are the two boys from California who come and stay with their grandmother and become friends with the two girls. We also meet several other town folk who have their own charm and are part of other interwoven stories. Like many small Mayberry-like towns, once there, you get to know almost everyone and their place within the community, and this story is a bit like that. They all interact and add their own dynamics to the whole story, very much like the different parts of the dreamcatchers. 

When the storm hits, we too are stuck right in the center of the storm and feel its impact. There's much sadness afterwards, especially since we've gotten to know some of the people and the town itself that we've grown fond of. But it's not all bad. Webber then treats us with several positive outcomes and another little story works itself out towards the end. 

This is an interesting book that will hook you if you are patient enough to allow yourself to keep reading early on. Personally, I found the first couple chapters a bit lightweight, but once the tension started; well before the storm, I might add; everything started to put itself together in ways that sucked you in for the rest of the ride. The entire task and adventure alone of creating the dreamcatchers was cause enough to read on but there were other parts of the story that too will grab your interest. Well worth the time it takes you to read a novel and learn a few things along the way. Ideal for young adults but of interest to all adults, especially women. 


Thanks to Netgalley for an advance eBook copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

(ARC eBook)

Fiction
Historical Fiction
Paperback, 280 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1631526756
Publisher: She Writes Press
Release Date: August 20th, 2019

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NEVER EAT STINK BAIT: LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE CREEK BANK by Bryan Mellage

NEVER EAT STINK BAIT: LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE CREEK BANK by Bryan Mellage

✯✯✯✯                                                                                                     Review by Astrid Galactic

Why did I bother to read Bryan Mellage's book? Fishing isn't one of my favorite past times. The book is listed under the Sports genre. I hate sports! It's not an appealing title, except, look at that title. Never Eat Stink Bait: Lessons Learned from the Creek Bank. How can you not be drawn to something like that? At least, wonder about it. My love for the bizarre and good humor drew me to this book like a catfish getting a good whiff of a well cured batch of stink bait. I didn't really know what I was getting myself into but it turned out that I loved every word in this crazy little book. 

Bryan writes about his love for fishing in his own little corner of Southeast Nebraska along the Missouri River. Okay, wait a minute now. This isn't your typical Field and Stream type reporting that would have you running out the door if fishing isn't your sort of lifestyle. Oh, no! This is real, down home storytelling that keeps you captivated from beginning to end and still wanting more. 

When I find myself fully immersed in a book, I tend to start visualizing the whole thing in my head as a movie. In this case, throughout the entire book I could hear Wilford Brimley, or some other old country codger type, narrating this story. You know, that grandfather you loved, or wished you had, who filled you full of a lifetime of fish tales and other stories to last you well into your own personal elder years. 

But then, only a few chapters in, the script takes a whole new turn, at least, in my twisted head. It took on a tone of a Mike Judge cartoon, ala King of the Hill but with more cow bell. Oh, yes, it's that crazy. Driving along the roads of Southeast Nebraska can be a bit of an adventure and not always one you were hoping for. Roads, apparently, aren't always a priority for those controlling the budget at City Hall. Not for the faint of heart, especially after a good soaking rain. Throw Bryan's good friend and brother-in-law, Gar-Bob, into the mix and things get even crazier. After their pick-up truck veers off the road down the riverbank, it's up to the boys to find a way to get back up on the road again. Let's say, for me, it was reminiscent of Werner Herzog's filming of Fitzcarraldo. More importantly, the documentary about the filming of the movie, Burden of Dreams; albeit, much less daunting, but daunting none the less. 

Mellage then goes on to regale us with tales about Christmas shopping as he compares it to a fishing or hunting expedition. Here's where he learns a thing or two from his wife, whom he refers to as the Redhead, and sister, Gar-Bob's wife. We also read about the acquisition of his first vehicle, the art of the zinger, how to pick a good wife and yes, even how to make your own batch of stink bait. There's more but best you sit by your own river (or virtual river) and read them all for yourself. It's a fairly fast, easy and definitely enjoyable read. Happy fishing!

Thanks to Netgalley for the copy of the eBook in exchange for a fair and honest review.

(eBook)

Biography

Humor

Paperback, 156 pages

ISBN-13: 978-1733230612

Publisher: Flat Fish Publishing LLC

Release Date: July 12th, 2019

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AYN RAND'S ANTHEM: THE GRAPHIC NOVEL adapted by Jennifer Grossman & Dan Parsons - Illustrated by Dan Parsons

 

AYN RAND'S ANTHEM: THE GRAPHIC NOVEL adapted by Jennifer Grossman & Dan Parsons - Illustrated by Dan Parsons

✯✯✯✯✯                                                 Review by Astrid Galactic

In Ayn Rand's ANTHEM: The Graphic Novel, Jennifer Grossman and Dan Parsons have come up with a wonderful new edition of Any Rand's novel, Anthem. What they've done was to retell the story, complete with graphics. You could say that it's a comic book of sorts, beautifully illustrated in color with nice, thick pages.

 

The story itself is based on an extreme dystopian society that has completely abolished the concept of the self as an individual. One could say that it is a sort of extreme Communism where the whole is all that matters and any regard towards individualism is grounds for severe punishment. They are so entrenched in the idea of a group mindset that the word "I" does not exist within their language. Pure Collectivism all the way!

 

Even the various characters have names that reference them only as machine parts or classification tags which includes numbers. The closest they get to any sort of concept of self is that there are various groupings of people but they are completely departmentalized as a company might be divided up. In some ways, they were almost like gangs. It was a little unclear of these divisions other than that they seemed to be classed by skills, character types or even races.

 

As in any social settings, there are always those who rebel and go rogue. This is always met with some sort of public shaming and punishment, unless they can escape from their confines which they've been brainwashed would only lead them to danger and even death. Not only are they brainwashed but most knowledge is kept from them and discouraged, so any sort of personal learning must be done in secret for the sake of their own safety.

 

Our protagonist, Equality 7-2521, is such a character. One day he discovers an abandoned underground room that seemed to have been some sort of scientific lab in many decades past. There he fiddles around and experiments with what has been left behind until he eventually discovers a means to create light. We would know it, essentially, as being electricity and batteries.

 

Thinking that the overlords would be pleased that he had come up with a way to aid his society, he presents his findings to his overlords. Bad move! The light, symbolic of enlightenment, is one of the many things they want kept from their serf class. Of course, this leads to his punishment.

 

Meanwhile, Equality 7-2521 had developed a secret bonding, of sorts, with a beautiful woman working the fields whom he thought of as The Golden One. She too had taken a shine to him though they each were aware that they had to keep their friendship secret from the others.

 

As the story progresses, the two find their way together and out of the confines of their community and into the wilderness and the remains of the old world abandoned for the sake of the repressive world they left behind. In many ways, they eventually become sort of Adam and Eve figures for the beginning of a whole new world of enlightenment based on the original one left behind by their immediate elders.

 

The graphics are very good and reminiscent of old Superman comic books as well as several images we've seen of other Fascist type governments. In some respects, some of it struck me as reflecting the old Constructivist Art posters from early 20th century Russia which is very fitting to the storyline.

 

Besides being an important story, the book is a beautiful work of art printed on thick paper. My only real problem with the book is the binding. While reading the book, I found the pages would separate from the book itself, even with the gentlest of turning. I would very highly suggest to the publishers that they find a new method to bind the book in future publications. This book is too nice to read once and toss. It's a keeper!

 

One other note of interest is that this would make for a great required reading for classes studying various forms of governments, societies or other philosophic movements. Possibly have the students do a comparison between this and what is often thought of as the "Me Generation" for the sake of balance. There are many possibilities of how the lessons from this book can be utilized to stimulate thought and encourage a healthy balance in one's life, as well as compare to other existing governments.

Fiction

Graphic Novel

Paperback, 72 pages

ISBN-13: 978-1732603707

Publisher: The Atlas Society

Release Date: July 10th, 2018

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DEAR EDWARD by Ann Napolitano

DEAR EDWARD by Ann Napolitano

✯✯✯✯                                                                                                     Review by Astrid Galactic

Imagine surviving the trauma of a plane crash. Then imagine having to deal with the loss of your entire immediate family, as well as the fear, guilt and loneliness that ensues. That is exactly what AnnNapolitano has done with her latest book, Dear Edward.

Edward Adler knew his life was at the beginning of a whole new venture when he boarded a plane with his family for a move from New York City to Los Angeles. What wasn't known was that it wasn't the intended move that would change his life. His life, the only one that was spared, would undergo a massive change after that very plane crashed halfway across the country.  

With a broken body, twelve year old Edward, is finally released from the hospital to live out the remaining days of his childhood with his sole living relative, his mother's sister,  Lacey and her husband John, in New Jersey. Lacey and John easily take to Edward, known as Eddie from here on out, because of their inability to conceive their own child. There was already a healthy bond between Eddie and his aunt and uncle prior to the crash but, as one would gather, a deep emotional bonding develops as the story develops.

No sooner than when Eddie moves in, he quickly becomes friends with the girl next door, Shay. Shay helps to fill the void of the loss of his older brother, Jordan, whom he always looked up to and tries desperately, to deal with his death. In fact, he becomes so emotionally and psychologically dependent on Shay being by his side that he can't sleep unless she is in the room with him. A very innocent relationship but one of great respect and personal trust.

The story continues with telling us details of the flight, a few stories about several of the passengers and crew, and what led to the crash of the plane. Interestingly enough, much of these details tie together towards the end of the book in an rather enduring manner.

Dear Edward will draw on your heartstrings at different times through Eddie's life changes as he is uprooted from the home and family he knew and loved to having to start anew with all new people in a whole different world that he never imagined would be his future. A wonderful book that is told well and keeps your interest from beginning to end.

(ARC)

Fiction

Contemporary

Hardcover, 352 pages

ISBN-13: 978-1984854780

Publisher: The Dial Press

Expected Release Date: January 14th, 2020

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NO FISH FOR CHARLES by Tracy Detz & Illustrated by Monika Suska

NO FISH FOR CHARLES by Tracy Detz & Illustrated by Monika Suska

✯✯✯✯                                                                                                     Review by Astrid Galactic

No Fish For Charles by Tracy Detz is a cute story that would make for many nights of bedtime story time reading. Catchy wording that kids will pick up on while learning to read and recite back while having fun going through the book on many rereads. Great artwork by Monika Suska. Very colorful with fun details.

As a former teacher (Art), can't help but appreciate the pro-school message. A few nice play on words gave it a nice twist in places.

The only nitpick complaint I have is that I wish that it was just a few pages longer. The story just needed a bit more detail, mostly towards the end.

Recommend for children ages 3 to 8.

Children

Fiction

Paperback, 32 pages

ISBN-13: 978-1733897310

Publisher: Warren Publishing, Inc.

Release Date: April 16, 2019

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