Customer Reviews

Mother and Me: Escape from Warsaw 1939

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Julian Padowicz's perilous escape from Warsaw is an exciting adventure, made all the more engrossing because he conveys so much about his feelings and impressions of this time in his life. The young Julian, who seems at times wise beyond his years, has a wonderfully wry outlook on the varied circumstances in which he finds himself during the course of his journey. The author enables us to understand his doubts and fears, his joys and sorrows, and above all, his great need to connect with his mother. His story is truly a poignant and heart-warming chronicle.

Mother And Me: Escape From Warsaw 1939 by documentary flimmaker Julian Padowicz is the true story of a Jewish child who grew up estranged from his mother to the point of hating other Jews. Virtually ignored by his mother and raised by his Catholic governess Kiki -- who taught him that God didn't love Jews because of what they did to His Son and that the only way Julian could go to heaven was to become bapitized. Julian's world transformed forever when World War II came to Warsaw. Kiki had to return to her family; his stepfather joined the Polish army; and the mother who once barely made time for him assumed responsibility for raising him. Determined to provide for her son, Julian's mother cut in food lines and later, under Soviet occupation, befriended Russian officers for extra rations of food and fuel. In the winter of 1940 as conditions for survival deteriorated, Julian's mother brought him in a daring escape to Hungary on foot, through the Carpathian mountains. Mother And Me is an unforgettable memory of blood bonds being thicker than water, and a family love that burns most fiercely when family is threatened. Highly recommended.

I JUST FINISHED THIS BOOK AND WAS GLAD WHEN I GOT TO THE LAST PAGE. I FOUND IT VERY DRAWN OUT AND AT TIMES BORING. I WOULD FIND IT HARD TO RECOMMEND THIS BOOK.

Julian Padowicz has done a superb job in recounting how his mother managed to get them both out of Poland just one step ahead of the Nazis. His mother does not come across as the nicest person especially in the first part of the book, but as the going gets tough she rises to the occasion more than most. She helps others on the road when they are fleeing by truck and manages to find a doctor for a very ill baby when no one else seems to know what to do.

Then, she had the foresight to look for an opportunity to get out of Poland altogether and when she found that opportunity was willing to take the risk when others would not. Considering that about ninety percent of Polish Jews were killed in the Holocaust, the author realizes that he probably owes his life to his mother's bravery and determination.

Julian and his mother would probably not be considered "Holocaust survivors" in the official sense, yet their lives, along with millions of others, were totally upended as a result of World War II. Fortunately Julian managed to carve out a decent life for himself here in America although he is only now beginning to learn about his Jewish heritage thanks in large measure to his good-hearted Catholic wife.

One reviewer had difficulty understanding how he could remember so much from when he was just five and six years old. He did point out that his mother wrote a book shortly after they got to America many years ago and he no doubt drew on that.

Julian indicates in the book that he hopes to wrote a follow-up autobiography. I sincerely hope so as I got totally caught up in his story and would love to learn how things subsequently turned out.

Thank you, Julian Padowicz for sharing your inspiring story with us--from which we can learn the importance of bravery and risk-taking in the face of great evil in order to do the right thing.

Couldn't put this book down until I finished reading it, then wished that it had not come to an end. A beautiful story of how we can do anything if we put our mind to it.

I so admire and respect the strength & determination of this mother and her son.

Inspirational and entertaining. Julian recaptures the voice of a little boy and tells one of the great stories of WWII.

I had met Julian Padowicz some years ago at a CT Press Club event. I was so glad I did! When I read his book, I kept reminding myself that he made it out and everything turned out OK. His book was not only fascinating but memorable. And, for me, a real page turner that kept me on edge every moment until I finished it.

A real page turner. I couldn't put it down. Aptly described as "part Anne Frank, part "The Great Escape" and part Marx Brothers. A plum for some actress, with a range from Lorelei Lee to Mother Courage.

Product received promptly and in good condition. I am very happy with your service.

the story by itself is probably important to the author, but for the rest who are interested in Holocaust, it's very remotely related. Although I'm only in the middle of the book, but so far it's very very boring. The author being age 5-6 mixes whatever he remembers with fiction. But mostly it's only based on his true memoirs as a child.