Aurora : a Wartime Love Story (Paperback)

~ Marie Kramer (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Book Brief by Jean Teller Aurora by Marie Kramer

She turned 17 that fateful summer. In 1940, Aurora's entire life changed as Russia went on the offensive and invaded her Latvia.

It was a summer of turmoil and change, it was also a summer of love. Aurora and Alfreds find each other in the midst of tradgedy, and pledge their unending love. But is it possible for such love to endure a world war?

In AURORA, Marie Kramer's novelization of Aurora's true story, we learn of the strength of love, the depth of pain and the agony of separation. We follow Aurora as she winds her way through the ever-changing landscape of war as first Russian then German troops invade her homeland.

As Aurora soon learns, the brutality of the Communists is a thing to fear and even the Nazis look like saviors to a country teetering on the brink of destruction. Her love strong and her need for Alfreds clear, Aurora struggles to maintain her tenuous link to her husband and to her beloved homeland.

Her struggles include the birth of two children, her mother's illness and eventual immigration to England, and the small family's fight to survive in a country ripped apart at the seams by war, starvation and unending uncertainty.

While the tale of Aurora and Alfreds includes long separations and unending strife, the lovers continue to grow as individuals and as a couple, until the last page of this wartime love story. -- Publisher Comments

Product Description

The saga of Aurora and Alfreds unfolds as the Russians invade peaceful Latvia at the dawn of World War II. This story is based on the life of a courageous woman who struggles to overcome the wartime savagery that shatters the young couple's dreams. Follow Aurora as she loses Alfreds and flees the relentless Russian army only to find hunger, suffering and rejection in the German and Allied refugee camps. Her escape to England is short-lived. Will America open its arms? Will Alfreds survive Siberia to se their daughter? Will he escape the Iron Curtain to touch Aurora's hand again?

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Product Details

• Paperback: 185 pages
• Publisher: Ogden Pub Inc (October 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 094167861X
• ISBN-13: 978-0941678612
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #453,347 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is my grandmother's life story, March 1, 1999

By A Customer

Greetings! This book is about my grandmother's life. It was fascinating for me to read as it filled in the gaps of what I knew and I feel it is a peek into what war does to families, lovers,etc..The anguish my grandmother and great grandmother and mother went through as well as my grandfather was incredible.Though my grandmother told me from a very young age about her experiences, to have more pieces in place and flowing in as it is in this book brought tremendous clarity for me. I am proud of the Latvian people, my grandmother, grandfather, great grandmother and mother as well as the rest of my family there. The struggle continues today in Latvia even though Latvia has gained it's "freedom", the plague of Soviet influence from after world war two has taken a great toll. The struggle to have enough to eat, recieve proper medical care is still a major problem for most people there. I urge all to read this book, it is a true account of my grandmother's experience. Certain names had to be changed for various reasons that I shall not go into to, none-the-less, the story of her experince and endurance of it, remains in tact and is a strong testament to the human spirit. Sincerely, Mrs.Maija Murphy Pacifica, Ca. USA

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good but flawed book., August 3, 1999

By	Daina Dahlgren "Veca Daina" (California U.S.A) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

After reading the review by Andris Straumanis of Aurora, wejust had to buy it.

Mr. Straumanis biggest complaint seem to be theinaccurate dates of Latvians deported and the lack of smooth transitions in time, he found this book a valuable addition to the small collection of English-language books regarding such a turmoil period of time as World War II.

I too feel that this book is a very valuable addition to help children, grand-children, and friends of those who experienced the life of a refugee and the displaced persons camps after WWII to understand the traumas that molded each person.

It's hard to relate to someone who has life experiences that are so alien to the average person. The pain, the fear, the depravation, the loss of identity and the humiliation that so many of the refugees experienced, impacted each and every refugee in ways that most never even recognized. One cannot survive such horrors and come out as the same person or even a whole person. There are no words adequate to convey some of the experiences.

Aurora accurately speaks of the feeling of betrayal by the Big Three after the war. Countries that were promised free elections if they backed the allies were just handed over to Russia. That move dashed any hope most refugees had of returning to their homes and forced them to scramble for alternatives.

I do hope that anyone who wants a better understanding of what life was like for refugees, will read this book. For accurate dates and a more researched historical version of the time, read Mark Wyman's DPs: Europe's Displaced Persons 1945-1951.

My problem with this book was that perhaps the author unintentionally in many passages made Aurora appear as a somewhat dense and daffy person.

Page 17: "I'd like a church wedding with six bridesmaids," I told Alfreds. (the Russians were occuping Latvia at this time) "A church wedding!" he exclaimed... "Surely you know such a ceremony isn't considered legal by the new order..." "Almost every married couple I know had a church wedding," I pouted.

With the Russians invading, people being killed, life turned upside down, in some passages Aurora appears totally oblivious to her surrounding and seems self absorbed.

Page 51: "There's no motion" the attending nurse said. (This was at the birth of Aurora's still born first child) "What do you mean?" I asked. "I can move." I wiggled my arms and feet to prove it.

Page 74: I was too overcome by my own grief to be aware Ralphs had delivered a similar message to Tina. ( They were both to leave without their husbands) I remember her tears mixing with mine, but I thought it was in sympathy for Alfreds and me.

Perhaps there was a problem in translating thoughts, perhaps there was a problem with poor editing. I would like to give Aurora the benefit of doubt.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars me too.., October 10, 2000

By A Customer

I must agree with "a reader from Riga" - although an interesting story, I was very disappointed with the level of English. It did indeed read like a high-school essay which is such a shame - the story of Aurora and Alfreds deserves better! I would have liked to recommend the book to non-Latvian friends but was embarrassed, due to the poor language. I did lend it to my mother, without divulging my thoughts, and having read it, she said the same thing.