Customer Reviews

Far Above Rubies

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a compelling and riveting novel about life before, during, and after internment at Auschwitz. Although written as a work of fiction, it is soundly grounded in at least three truths: It is based on a brave and heroic Dutch woman who actually existed; it is well researched and, therefore, contains excrutiatingly factual detailed information about life in the infamous concentration camp, Auschwitz, including even the inhumane deportation by train ride to the site; Like most exceptional fiction in contains truths that transcend the story itself and carry the brand of universality, revealing both the depths of evil to which humans can plummet and the indominatable spirit which can enable a person to rise above and survive through the most adverse of circumstances imaginable.

The writer's style tends to be sparse and Spartan, particularly when focusing on the deportation and concntration camp experiences. I don't know whether this reflects the customary voice of the author's fiction or whether it was strategically adopted to fit the narrative of this story. I suspect the latter. Be that as it may, the style is judiciously adapted to the story at hand. Any other approach would have have been contaminated by romantic commercialism.

Sofie Rijnfeld, the heroic woman who existed in real life and is depicted in this story, is not a saint. When she voluntarily leaves with her six step-daughters for deportation she believes she is simply being sent to a "labor camp," never envisioning the horrors ahead. Yet when she enounters the atrocities that abound at Auschwitz, she rises to the occasion and becomes the bulwark of moral support for her step-daughters, despite her own suffering. At times, she feels resentment towards Jan, the husband she loves and left behind, for now she imagines him living comfortable as they all did before the German army entered the picture. She bitterly reflects on how he should have insisted that she stay behind since she was not mandated for deportation, as were her step-daughters. Not once does she think that his fate might have been different than she imagines. I mention this because I believe these understandable thoughts humanizes this indubitably brave woman with an irrepressible spitit to do good and to survive. These observations of her humanness in no way mitigate the heroism and valor that she exhibits.

I will not recapitulate the story here, as I don't wish to dilute the reader's experience of the novel. However, I will venture to say that the reader is likely to find herself immersed in the story as if in a trance that has transported her to the narrative that unflolds in the story itself.

The story that is told in "Far Above Rubies", by Cynthia Polansky, has the potential for a life-transforming experience regardless of the reader's background.

We all know the Holocaust was an unbelievable act of barbarianism, but how did the people of Europe sit back and let it happen? In Far Above Rubies, the facinating early story of the implementation of the Holocaust in occupied Holland is a window into a seldom told story of our recent world history.

The story in Auschwitz is chilling, but made even more so by the seemingly random events that can mean life or death. The list posted in the dining hall of the next day's deportees, for example. Cindy Polansky's skill at describing these seemingly trival events, and their deadly import, is chilling.

When the war ended, what happened next. Surprisingly, Polansky reveals the truth that not all Jews had been rounded up. Some, in rural parts of Holland, had made it through the war in their own homes with comparative ease. How the concentration camp survivors re-entered life after the war is a fascinating second story that is also seldom written.

This is a great book, and very enlightening for its description of both the pre- and post-war views of Jewish life in Europe. Highly recommended.

FAR ABOVE RUBIES is a powerful, chilling true story. Cynthia Polansky re-creates "Tante Soof," the incredible Sofie Rijnfeld, who survived the ordeals of Nazi imprisonment at Auschwitz. The author's narrative skill brings us to tears of admiration, rather than just the usual tears of sadness, hopelessness, and dim remembrance that accompany many holocaust stories. Her characterizations are both gripping and real. And what a plot! Who ever heard of anyone voluntarily going to a concentration camp? But that's what Sofie did. Her six beloved stepdaughters were called up for deportation, wrenched from their comfortable Amsterdam home. But Sofie would not let them face the Nazi horrors alone. Her heroic efforts to protect them live on in this memorable novel. Cynthia Polansky's rubies truly do sparkle.

All the characters have such beautiful souls. Emotionally this is a deep spiritually introspective book. Polansky was really worth waiting for. I both cried and was uplifted during my entire read. Far Above Rubies is such a sad moving story about Dutch Jews, but the main character will be my role model and inspiration for ever. I can't say enough good things about this wonderful book that was such a pleasure to read. Tom Rose, PhD, Professor and board member, Temple Beth Shalom, Arnold, Md.

This was the most graphic depiction of the camps that I have ever read and I'm sure that my blood pressure went up many notches as I was reading this novel. I recommend not reading this book if you are - for example, waiting for a child at piano or soccer lessons. It's a very riveting story and one can easily get "caught-up" in the horror of the era. This is not easy reading, but a must for book clubs and for those who truly want to understand the horrors that these innocent people experienced. The first half of the book deals with the horrors of the camps and the second half depicts the resiliency of many of the survivors, such as that of the heroine in this story. Personally, I cannot comprehend how these survivors were able to pick up the shattered pieces of their lives and attempt to continue living in light of the atrocities these people endured. I have the honor of knowing a number of holocaust survivors and I stand in awe of their outlook on life... and such is the message Ms. Polansky so ably conveys in this book.

After reading this book, my eyes hurt from crying and I felt numb. At one point in the middle of the book, I almost questioned how one could pass on a book with such horrific detail. However after finishing this book, I was thankful to have read such a remarkable story about someone so courageous and positive. We, as readers, can only hope to strengthen our own spirit and courage through the inspiration of 'Tante Soof'.

The book should definitely be included in any jewish education 'required reading' lists. Difficult to endure, but necessary to remember. A good reading for Yom Kippur and Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day).

I recently read The Diary of Anne Frank with my 14 year old daughter. Anne's story leaves one with many questions about the horrors of WWII and the Holocaust. There is no better book that complements Anne Frank's story and takes one inside the terrible world of this genocide. From a teen-agers perspective Far Above Rubies is the story that brings an appreciation as to just how bad life was for the Jews. Telling your child war is bad simply does not compare to sharing the stories and experiences people went through. Far Above Rubies is much more than a story; it is a vivid education. This is a must read!

This booked needed an editor. Bad punctuation, missing words/letters -- but most of all, written in a boring and amateurish style. What a shame -- since the story, based in truth, is very compelling. The presentation and style just got in the way of my being truly moved by this story, when it should have been a service to its characters and content. I'm guessing that this was a self-published vanity effort. Clearly good editing adds so much to important novels.This should have been a book I raved about and recommended. Unfortunately, it's not.

This book is an easy read. I'm a slow reader and still finished it in about 8ish hours. The content isn't always easy to read about and a few of the word choices seem inordinately elaborate for no good reason. (much like that sentence:-) However, the story itself is refreshingly realistic. You can believe it when it says based on a true story because there isn't a fairy-tale ending.

I am a very picky reader I guess because I wasn't all that impressed by the writing. The evil looked evil but didn't feel evil, know what I mean? If you blinked you'd miss the descriptions of the Nazi misdeeds. Sofie seemed to have a character voice but nobody else did.

If you like stories about the Holocaust, you probably will enjoy this book. I think the non-fiction books on the subject are better though. I mean parts of this book felt like a history text, then jumped right back into the narrative.

5.0 out of 5 stars Far Above Rubies, May 12, 2008

Just finished 'Far Above Rubies'. Oh my! What an incredible (as in not untrue but amazing) tale and what a wonderful way to bring history alive. Beautifully and tactfully and impressively written. Thank you so much for writing Sofie's story. This book should be in every library and every school all over the world. Can we learn from history? One would hope. But it appears not. This book might be just the tonic to make a difference.
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