Customer Reviews

The Shadow of Death: The Holocaust in Lithuania

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I just finished reading this book. The book is written in a simple style, composed of numerous short chapters. The author is indeed lucky to have survived the holocaust. The author talks about his life with his extended family in Kovno, the eventual destruction of all but 3 of the family, the occupation under Russians and then the Germans, his constant hunger due to rationing and overworking, behaviour of fellow Lithuanians and Jews, and his subsequent emigration to USA. The narration is free of self-pity and emotions, over-generalizing to what happened with Jews elsewhere in Europe, and the author also avoids philosophizing too much - which is also natural as he was a teenager during the period. Especially for non-Europeans, it is so frightening to imagine the life of a Jewish person during those times, when the mere direction of the finger of a German commandant could land you among the living versus the soon-to-be-exterminated. The author also paints a neutral and impersonal picture of Lithuanians, Russians, Germans and fellow Jews. There were rapacious and exploitative Jewish police, and there were occasional acts of kindness from the Lithuanians and Germans.

A very good read, especially coming from this corner of Europe

Although this book is not of high quality literary-wise, it is very interesting. As a reader you get a realistic glimpse of how life in the Lithuanan Jewish gettho's was during WWII. I was shocked to find out that not only Germans, but Lithuanians and Poles too were involved in mass-killings of innocent people. 'The shadow of death' is a very suitbale titel, because that is exactly how the jewish people must have felt: living in the shadow of death.

I couldn't put this book down and didn't want it to end. Harry could easily write a sequel to this book of how he transitioned into American life. This book is very easy reading and insightful of the atrocities that happened in Lithuania. Harry I admire you.

While I know that genealogy searching can be difficult, please share this information where it will do the most good: with the author. As a Librarian, I depend on the kind of informative, concise, and relevant reviews that are shared on a regular basis by those kind souls who have actually read the book in question. Not having read the book, my stars are simply there so that I could post the messege. Thank you

Hello, Harry! I am your cousin, Leslie Hoffman Levenson (my mom's name was Ina Ginsberg, daughter of my grandfather Jack Ginsberg). I learned about your book on this title a while ago. I'd like to hear from you thru e mail shown at below (LEV10315@aol.com). Our cousin, Esther Ginsberg Cohen (daughter of Alex Ginsberg)also learns about you recently thru our cousin, Shelly and Marlee Ginsberg who went to the Museum of Holocaust in Wash. DC. Esther and I found each other by accident! Long story! We also found out there The Ginsberg brothers (Jack, Alex and Barney) did have sisters back in Lithuania we never knew ever existed). Please contact me and let you know that you have more cousins still living and well! Unfortunately, your book is out of print! Is there any way we can obtain that? Please don't put this on line as we the cousins are trying to locate you! :-) We are surely proud of your accomplishment for writing this book we want to read. We would love to know more about our descendents despite the history that happened. Thank you so much, Harry from your long lost cousin, LESLIE of Granada Hills, CA born in Buffalo, NY in 1948 daughter of Morris and Ina Hoffman (both still living).