The True Story of Hansel and Gretel by Louise Murphy
The True Story of Hansel and Gretel by Louise Murphy begins in Poland. It’s 1943 and World War II is drawing to a close. A Jewish family escapes the ghetto and are on the run with the Nazi’s close behind them. The father and stepmother must hurriedly make a decision to save their two children and abandon them in a forest in hopes that they will find a farmer to take them in. They are told to never say their Jewish names and are given new German names, that of Hansel and Gretel. Thus begins this haunting tale that ingeniously parallels the Brother’s Grim fairy tale. They make their way through the forest, leaving bread crumbs along the way and are taken in by Magda, the village “witch.” The story switches back and forth between Hansel and Gretel at the village and between their parents who hope to return to find them. Their only thoughts are how to survive the war amidst so much mistrust, destruction, starvation, and despair.
I believe that this is the first Holocaust book that I’ve read that is completely fictionalized. It didn’t feel the same. It took me some time to read and I didn’t devour it like I normally do with Holocaust books. That’s not to say that the story or writing wasn’t great. It was beautifully written and achingly portrayed a awful period of time. I wouldn’t recommend this one for the younger reader as the book was very crude. It had a lot of bad language, graphic scenes, and sexual references. True it was the Holocaust, but this book seemed much worse for some reason.
I loved how Louise Murphy was able to weave in the story of Hansel and Gretel. I thought it was ingenious. But then I came across this review on Amazon that said this:
The Holocaust was not a fairy tale,
September 9, 2007
By Barbara Lipkin “critic” (Naperville, IL USA) The subject of this novel is all too real, and spinning it into a version of a fairy tale is totally inappropriate. The novel is cleverly written, and the author has contrived the facts of the Holocaust to fit into a fairy tale story. This trivializes the actual events, which destroyed millions of lives. The Holocaust was not a story to be cleverly twisted and “spun” into something else. It really happened, and a novelistic treatment of it still needs to respect the tragedy of it, and not use it for a clever exercise. I don’t know what drew the author to write about this subject. Judging by her name, she isn’t Jewish, Polish, or German. She apparently has no first-hand knowledge of the Holocaust, has never been to Poland, and has no other apparent connection to the events of this novel. So creating this novel was just an outlet for her creative talent, without true emotional content. This subject should not have been used that way.
Hmm . . . interesting. If you click through to the actual review you will see two rebuttals against this review. I agree with the rebuttals but also can see this woman’s point about “contriving the facts of the Holocaust to fit into a fairy tale story.” What do you think?
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Category: Adult, Book Reviews, Fiction
Tags: Genocide, Holocaust, M-P Author, Q-T Title, twisted fairy tale, World War II
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I haven’t read the book so it is difficult to give an opinion about it. But I can understand how the reviewer must have felt that Holocaust was ‘used’. My dad recently reviewed Animal’s People on my blog and he had similar sentiments about the author’s writing. Since it was inspired by a true event, which resulted in the suffering of generations and many to come in Bhopal-India, he too felt the author trivialized the tragedy.
on May 13th, 2008 at 12:06 amBut then I wonder if Louise Murphy had not set this book with respect to Holocaust but just given it a background of any war, would it have annoyed the reviewer.
Very interesting, Natasha. I almost bought this book up the other day, but ended up setting it back down. I’m kind of wishing I’d gotten it now. Thanks for the review!
on May 13th, 2008 at 5:20 amThat book sounds fascinating. I’ve added it to my wishlist. It is definitely a very different concept, but I’d like to give it a try.
on May 13th, 2008 at 6:50 amYour review makes this book sound fascinating. But I can absolutely see the point of the the amazon reviewer. Food for thought.
on May 13th, 2008 at 7:53 amI can see and understand the reviewer from amazons point of view. I have actually read similar reviews elsewhere. I have not added this book to my TBR list but that doesn’t meant that I won’t read it some day.
on May 13th, 2008 at 8:11 amWow. What an interesting way of handling a holocaust story. Haven’t read it so don’t really want to comment. I can understand each side of this opinion though.
on May 13th, 2008 at 10:04 amso this story is based on the childhood tale or the tale is based on this???
on May 13th, 2008 at 10:59 amhaven’t read it yet
This sounds like a very interesting book. Aaand this would be a perfect post for the 12th Bookworms Carnival *hint hint*
I haven’t read the book, so there’s only so much I can say, but I don’t think I agree with the principle behind what that Amazon reviewer is saying. I don’t think that “spinning the Holocaust into a version of a fairy tale” is at all inappropriate. I don’t think that all Holocaust stories have to be completely faithful to the facts – when a writer uses his or her imagination, they are not trivializing real experiences, but rather creating a story that, regardless of its veracity, will have an emotional impact on the reader. Will cause them to think and question things. And how can that be a bad thing?
Another example of the combination of the Holocaust and a fairy tale that results in a very powerful and moving story is Jane Yolen’s Briar Rose. Have you read that one?
I have to confess that I am a tad suspicious of that reviewer because I have the impression – and I could be wrong – that the reason why they think that what this book does is “inappropriate” is the fact that they believe that fairy tales are trivial and childish and not at all serious, and therefore shouldn’t be used to tell painful and serious stories.
Also, I don’t think it’s fair to accuse people of having no real emotional reaction to the Holocaust if they have no personal connection with it. Does that mean that once all the survivors and their close descendent are gone we should put this period of history behind us and forget all about it? Telling stories – even if wholly fictional ones – helps us remember. And as it’s often said, remember the past is a first step to ensure the same mistakes are not made again.
on May 13th, 2008 at 11:55 amI can see what the reviewer is saying–the idea of “fairy tale” is quite rosy. But I agree with Nymeth–just because the author used a familiar story line (that of a fairy tale) doesn’t mean there is no seriousness to the story. I seem to recall the original “fairy tales” being quite dark. It sounds like a interesting novel, and I’m going to put it on my to be read list right now.
on May 13th, 2008 at 4:54 pmI’m in the same boat as Chica – I haven’t read this but thought I’d add my two cents.
If the Holocaust is dealt with in a sensitive, serious matter, I see nothing wrong with the book.
But…
It also runs the risk of trivalizing something that should never be trivalized. We cannot allow it to become common place with book after book or movie after movie dealing with it in an inappropriate way. It’s too important that it be remembered and remembered seriously. We cannot afford to forget the horror of what happened when the entire world went mad because if we do, it will surely happen again.
cjh
on May 13th, 2008 at 6:16 pmI think Nymeth said it best, but I’ll add my two cents anyway.
I read The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, a FABLE that is based on the Holocaust. I then read a review by someone who thought the books was not an accurate account of the Holocaust…I tried to explain that it’s a FABLE, that parts of the Holocaust were used to teach a lesson. Obviously you don’t use books like The True Story of Hansel and Gretel OR The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas to find out historic facts on Hitler and Nazi Germany.
In my opinion, anyone who can’t differentiate between events used to tell a story and a book that actually documents history SHOULD NOT READ. In the book The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, the little boy called Hitler ‘The Fury’, a play on ‘Fuhrer’. Is the ‘The Fury’ not an accurate name for Hitler? Does it not by its very nature teach a lesson of what kind of a person Hitler was?
Again, though, I defer to Nymeth who said what I feel much more eloquently.
on May 14th, 2008 at 3:42 pmThis is an interesting debate, and given that this book is one of my favorite recent reads, I feel compelled to stand up for it. I’ve read plenty on the Holocaust fiction, non-fiction, and documentary fiction. I think it’s obvious to most people that know anything about the Holocaust that anything resembling a “fairy tale” ending occurred rarely or not at all. That said, I think that Murphy did a fine job of rising to the enormous challenge that writing fiction about the Holocaust must be. I never felt that the events of the Holocaust were trivialized in this book. If anything, I think that if I hadn’t already had a significant interest in reading about the Holocaust both non-fiction and fiction, this book with its quality of writing and efforts to portray harsh realities of the Holocaust albeit without the “usual” ending would entice me to read more of the non-fiction canon of books about the Holocaust. In my opinion, the purpose (or at least an admirable goal) of Holocaust fiction as well as historical fiction in general is not to simply replicate events just as they happened (we have plenty of non-fiction works to do that!) but to spark readers’ interest in knowing more of the actual historical events. I can credit another well-written novel with piquing my interest in the Holocaust in the first place, and think that this book would have the potential to do the same for other readers.
While the first part of this critic’s argument might be valid, the second is a bit ridiculous. Countless respected writers throughout history have written about subjects to which they had no personal connection or first hand knowledge. As such, maybe Murphy should be commended for her in depth research as opposed to derided for her lack of connection to the historical events of the novel. I never felt that Murphy’s handling of the Holocaust was inappropriate or wildly unrealistic in its efforts to “twist” events into her storyline, but I can’t claim a personal connection to the events of the Holocaust either. I just read books. *shrugs*
on May 14th, 2008 at 6:20 pmUgh! I hate people who can’t get over themselves long enough to appreciate something like this. I haven’t personally read the book, but I sincerely doubt that the author sought to “trivialize” the holocaust. Trivializing the holocaust to me would mean acting as though it wasn’t a huge part of history. Instead, I feel a book like this would only shed light on how difficult the holocaust was for Jewish families (at least from the reviews). What a great topic though! Thanks for bringing it up. And I’m totally adding this book to my reading list. I love to read about WW2. It fascinates me like no other time period.
on May 14th, 2008 at 10:09 pmGreat comments everybody! This is exactly the kind of discussion that I was hoping to get. I will respond in depth more tomorrow. I’ve been blog hopping and it’s now two in the morning. Eeek!
on May 15th, 2008 at 12:48 amI’m behind in my blogging, and I see that Nymeth commented, but I don’t know if she mentioned Briar Rose by Yolen–a type of fairy tale holocaust story she recommended to me (which I haven’t read yet). Wow to what the critic wrote–not having read this story, I’m not sure how well it fits with the book, but it definitely piques my curiosity. Thanks for the review, Natasha (oh ya…still not receiving follow up comments). :/
on May 15th, 2008 at 8:25 pmI read this book several years ago and had a mostly positive reaction to it. As I recall, no trivialization going on at all. In fact, I remember portions of it as pretty tough to get through, too real if anything.
One of the best books to tell a story about the holocaust was a comic story about a family of mice. Why not a fairy tale? The fairy tale, like the mice, is just a way in, a means to get at a much deeper truth.
The True Story of Hansel and Gretel, like Maus I and Maus II, and The Book Thief, and The Boy in the Striped Pajamas make it possible to address the horror that was the holocaust.
I’m glad to see more people reading The True Story of Hansel and Gretel
on May 16th, 2008 at 6:33 pmI’m sure I can’t add anything to an already interesting discussion of this book which I have not read, but I just wanted to say thanks for a great, thoughtful review. I used to read a lot of YA and children’s Holocaust literature, and this one sounds like one I’d want to add to my list. Thanks!
on May 17th, 2008 at 6:15 amI have not read this book in particular, but that comment at the end brought to mind the book “Briar Rose” by Jane Yolen, which is a sort of retelling of Sleeping Beauty, but it is really a Holocaust novel. I see absolutely nothing wrong with intertwining the two, and if only Holocaust survivors could write Holocaust books, we would run out people to write eventually!
I don’t think we should put limits like that on a writer’s creativity just because the topic at hand happens to be the Holocaust.
on May 20th, 2008 at 6:33 pmI agree with all of the comments made thus far. It was an interesting read, harsh and brutal as all Holocaust books are. I love the discussion and opinions given!
I really want to read Briar Rose. I’ll be pushing that to the top of the pile.
Oh and to Amy, this is not a children’s or YA book. It’s adult all the way. A lot of bad language and a few graphic scenes.
on May 27th, 2008 at 10:10 pmThis one looks interesting. I am wondering how it compares to Briar Rose? Another fictionalized account that combines fairy tale elements with the Holocaust…
on June 15th, 2008 at 12:39 pmThis book looks very interesting. Thanks for the great review!
I’ve read a acouple of books about the Holocaust which were totally fictionalized, and I can’t see why this would mean to “trivialize” real facts and so on.
on June 15th, 2008 at 3:07 pmI absolutely love this book, having read it years ago. I’m glad you posted the review from Amazon. I’ve often wondered why the book didn’t get more ‘buzz,’ and perhaps this is the reason. Maybe reviewers/promoters felt that they might be jumping into a hot seat?
I found absolutely nothing disrespectful about the story. I think some people get so caught up in the absolute horror of the holocaust, they forget there were individual stories playing out. In fact, by adding the misty shadow of fairy tale to the horrors of the holocaust, it created an ethereal world of fright so much more intensified. I, too, have read many holocaust stories and this is certainly one of the very best.
(jumped over from Bookworms Carnival)
on June 15th, 2008 at 7:28 pmLots of interesting things going on here!
Like you I can see where the reviewer is coming from. The Holocaust is indeed real, it happened and it was indeed gruesome (an understatement to say the least). But to say that it was inappropriate for anyone for that matter to write a story, a fairy tale even, out of it is a narrow-minded point of view particularly because stories – be they fairy tale or otherwise – mirror something that’s real and emotionally accessible to the reader.
I haven’t read the book but I could easily understand the setting used. I agree with you that the author was ingenious in using them (although hopefully I get to read the book soon). Hansel and Gretel are apt names, the themes on the original tale are equally applicable on the events during the Holocaust so I could say that it didn’t trivialize in any way what people went through.
As I was browsing through the other comments I felt that a handful already expressed things better than what I’m trying to say
So I’ll stop now and add this book to my wishlist.
on June 16th, 2008 at 11:38 amWow this sounds like some book given the amount of debate it’s generated – I might have to check this one out.
on June 17th, 2008 at 12:19 pmWow. Great review! I’ve read about this book before and really want to read it. I love how you inserted the controversy of this book. I guess when I first read about it I didn’t think it was a disrespectful at all. Although I haven’t read the book I do think that she used the story of Hansel and Gretel because it’s one that many of us are familiar with.
But I disagree with the argument of Barbara Lipkin that only Germans, Jews, or Polish she can’t write about the Holocaust. If only those with first-hand knowledge are able to write about the Holocaust, we will soon forget the atrocity happened as the generations who were there are no longer living. I’ll have to read the book to see how I feel about the book though.
Thank you for posting this interesting review!
on June 17th, 2008 at 2:49 pmI hadn’t heard of this book before but I would still read it despite the comment. Very insightful review:)
on June 17th, 2008 at 6:55 pm[...] contributed post to this months carnival is my book review on The True Story of Hansel and Gretel by Louise Murphy. The True Story of Hansel and Gretel is a retelling of the classic tale but set in Poland during the [...]
on June 17th, 2008 at 10:46 pmi really liked the true story off hansel and gretel.
on September 6th, 2008 at 12:19 pm[...] Natasha at Maw Books [...]
on January 13th, 2009 at 7:11 pmI just finished reading this book and used it for my critical analysis paper in my world cultures class and I adored this book. It was a fnatastic book and I would recommend it to anyone looking for something to read.
on March 16th, 2009 at 5:36 pmand to anyone who’s wondering why she used Hansel and Gretel: she used that fairy tale to incorporate it in the novel because it was the one that scared her most as a child and she wanted to try and realte something she found terrifying as a child and relate it to something that was so terrifying to the world like WWII was.
on March 16th, 2009 at 5:39 pmNow that’s a book discussion! Kudo’s to the person who summized by saying that if someone wants facts about the Holocust then a fiction story is not the place. By the same token however, just like in the Red Tent by Anita Diamont, the book is fiction. She did excellent research and was able to recreate a setting that is believable. As a reader, I also trusted the research and if I myself did not actually know places, dates, and historical events, I would be compelled to rely on the author. Similarily, if a reader is uninformed of the Holocust, then this story, though fiction and fable, could lead the reader to believe it as factual. It’s a tough call, but I absolutely love the challenge that Murphy has undertaken. Anyone who tampers with such a controversial and emotional subject such as WWII and the holocost is up for strong opinion. I now know what book I’ll be choosing for my turn in the book club.
on July 12th, 2009 at 11:45 pmin my opinion this is the most amazing book i have ever read . i’m very interested in world war II , and when i read regular books with plain facts i get bored after about 10 pages . this book showed all the things that are not described in the other book . this book makes you fell all the tension that is going on. i respect the author because she wasn’t afraid to describe the sickest thing that were going on. This is the best book i have ever read .my fave .
on July 15th, 2009 at 5:54 pmI LIKE THIS BOOK :*
on July 17th, 2009 at 4:11 amI think it’s good that this type of book are publishing, because many people don’t know how people really suffer during the Second World War.
on July 17th, 2009 at 4:13 amI haven’t finnished book yet, but i found it really interesting. Of Course, there is a lot of horrible things written in there, but that is the war. I’m looking forward the end and i hope that the end will be like in true fairytale: “And they lived happily after”.
on July 17th, 2009 at 4:17 amthe more I read such kind of books the more I like Germans and hate that jewish propoganda.
on July 17th, 2009 at 4:18 amI have already read this book. It was very interesting book. And I would like to recommend it to other readers. I won’t tell it here but it is fascinating story which don’t let you go anywhere until you read it all. This book likes a fairy tale especially the end of the story, but some scenes are real live. I wish others good reading!
on July 17th, 2009 at 4:19 am^ me too ^^
on July 17th, 2009 at 4:19 amI think it’s very good book. A lot of people don’t know what happened in Poland. I think also that kamil’s comment is accurate.
I appreciate the idea of the author.He made a very good job(searching for all these kind of information about war).Also,the language is rich and fascinating.I advice you not to read this book on vacation as it can make you depressed.On the other hand,the story made me
on July 17th, 2009 at 4:20 amthink about my own life..
The book is great i love it. Althoug someparts are very teriefying and horrific. But its a great story.
on July 17th, 2009 at 4:22 amI haven’t read this book till end, yet, but I’m going to do that(I hope).
on July 17th, 2009 at 4:22 amI thing that this book can be understood by almost all people and of different ages, because it’s language is rather easy. Author’s style is very interesting and composition is unusual. I like that each chapter tells about different person and his history.
‘The True Story Of Hansel And Gretel’ is like small History book. :>
I even didn’t started reading the book but who cares…
I also think that it is a sweet book ;>
on July 17th, 2009 at 4:23 amIt is the first book which i am reading in english. It is really gripping and interesting. I even could not expect what will be written there. There are so many different facts and stories of the lives which attract me. It is wonderful book.
on July 17th, 2009 at 4:25 amI’ ve never heard that story. I’m from Poland and it was really a surprise for me. I was very moved by this story and I’d really enjoyed redaing it because of the way in which it was written
on July 17th, 2009 at 4:27 amThe book is a wonderful retelling of a fairytale. I found it realy fascinating because it’s full of facts about Poland occupied by Germans. I also like the way it’s written – historical facts and thoughts ofsubhumans – persecuted Poles and Jews- mesh into spellbinding whole. For me, as I live in Poland, the story was moving and I am glad that thanks to books of this kind the memories of all those cruelties will not die.
on July 17th, 2009 at 4:29 amIt’s a good book but I don’t find it as one of my favourities. I like the fact that it is set in Poland.
on July 17th, 2009 at 5:10 amHello, I am reading this book too and i am interested in it. This book tells us story about what happened in world war , I like books and movies about war, i Have just read half of it, but i know that i will read it all, so good luck for those who are still reading this book!
on July 17th, 2009 at 5:10 amA hint to the olympic games and reassemblence to the fairy tale and their differences and mixture of real facts make this book really fun and worthwhile to read. And the ending is absolutely great.
on July 17th, 2009 at 5:11 amThe best part of the book is the cover. This is the only thing of this book that I have looked in:(
on July 17th, 2009 at 5:12 amI’ve started reading it yesterday. Till yesterday i just listen teacher or friends who read it and it’s quite clear what happened till ~130 page. But i think I will stat reading it from begining because for it’s quite intresting story, quite easy to read it, I like author style and I think this is one of the best retelling stories I have ever heard.
on July 17th, 2009 at 5:15 amI have never read a book like this.It is really intresting.I like reading about real things, real survivals, real characters emotions.This book makes me think that things like that really happened and it isn’t a nonsence at all.It is a really great book and I absolutely suggest everyone to read it!
on July 17th, 2009 at 5:15 amReading what kind of stories it is really hard, because you feel frustraded and you can`t imagine how difficult it was.
on July 17th, 2009 at 5:16 amI like the book very much. I haven’t read this book yet, but I’ll defenitely finish it. There is a lot of themes, on which we can think a lot. So if you want to understand and feel, how difficult it was to survive and stand for all the difficulties (especially for little children)during the war , you should read this book by all means.
on July 17th, 2009 at 5:17 amhmm..this book is ineresting because it reveals a lot of bad thing which are the results of humans violence..i can recomend it for those whose are interesting in history, peoples feelings.
on July 17th, 2009 at 5:17 amits helpful book for young people to understand how world can be.It makes to wake up a believs
I enjoy reading this book because it inserts brother’s and sister’s difficult life story and historical things about The second World War which are really unbelievable. So enjoy reading this book!
on July 17th, 2009 at 5:18 amGreat book for those who enjoy reading on a historical theme and likes social dramas.
on July 17th, 2009 at 5:19 amThe real facts about people behavior during the war vere increadible. The measures taken for survive were realy cruel and unbelievable
on July 17th, 2009 at 5:19 amThe book is really compelling. I couldn’t drag of it! The plot is unpredictible, that’s why you keep reading it for all the time. Some scenes were very shoking to me, truely wheen of them made me feel sick. I’m from Poland, so the history of II World War and holocaust is close to me. Even though, when I was learning about it, I was never thinking about what people have been feeling. Learning is completly different from reading a novel, bacause while reading you’re interpreting with some behaviours or situations. I really recommend this book to everyone!
on July 17th, 2009 at 5:20 amI’ve read more than a half of this book and I like it a lot. I didn’t know about the terrible events in this forest and this book made me search for information! I found it interesting that such terrible events are told taking a fairy tale as a base of the story – that’s why it’s particular. You just start appreciating your own life and everything you have, reading about the sacrifices others had to make or, generally, the cruelties of that period. It isn’t one of those books that you even stop eating to finish reading (it actually requires some mental relax every once in a while
), but nevertheless it’s awesome and absolutely worth reading!!
on July 17th, 2009 at 5:21 amThis book is about losted children during the Second World War. I’m from Lithuania and it this story for me was very interested becouse it was near my country. This book shows me not soldiers’ life, but civil peoples’ life, whose weren’t at the front and how they tried to survive in the Second World War. This book shows me not only violence during the war, but also and love.
on July 17th, 2009 at 5:22 amI realy like, that I had a choise to read this book. It shows us atmosphere of the Second World War. Gives us ability to face all dark and horrible moments of that time. On the other hand it shows us how happy simple things can become. Like oranges for Gretel, love and etc. I advise everyone to strat reading this book. ^____________^
on July 17th, 2009 at 5:22 amWhen I first saw this book, I was a bit disappointed that my teacher choose it as a lecture (it just sounds boring to me). But after reading first 50 pages, it appeared to me that it is quite an interesting novel. Then, after reading the next 100 pages, I thought it is one of the best book I have ever read. And now I feel addicted to it and I believe I will read it once again and again and again…:)
on July 17th, 2009 at 5:23 amGripping plot wich atract readers to read this book. Book is suppoted by real facts. I reccomend to real this book for everyone
on July 17th, 2009 at 5:23 amThis book is a little bit brutal but still very interesting. I don’t really like reading but it is so absorbent that I enjoy this story.
on July 17th, 2009 at 5:25 amThis book is very interesting.After I started to read,only one thing I was thinking about was ‘what will happen in the next chapter’.
I was really shoked and impressed.It is a fantastic book! and it is a true story so everyone should read it!It is amazing!
on July 17th, 2009 at 5:25 amI just love this book! The best in book is that action is situated in Poland, and could know how cruel and bad Germans were.
on July 17th, 2009 at 5:26 amIt’s one of the best books I’ve ever read, and I’m grateful that my teacher chose it for my reading. I recommend that book to anybody who want to read about something touching and interesting as well.
The book gave me more information about WWII. This is the first book that I have been reading which contains so many acts of violence – mutilation of children, killing people in different ways, etc.
on July 17th, 2009 at 5:27 amNow I understand how lucky I am that nowadays there is no war.
I am from Lithuania and read this book. I realized that nothing happens accidentaly. Someone dies, someone survives, but love and memories live forever. So this book talks about it.
on July 17th, 2009 at 6:06 amHello, I’m Tomas from Lithuania. We are reading this book at Summer Language Institute. I like it because of some things. Firstly I like it because it’s a story about World War 2 and I like history. Moreover this storys remake of an old fairy tale and it’s interesting to read it how it will finish. Also the story includes strange and not a traditional which. In the old fairy tale which fed kids only to eat them and here, in this modern story Magda, the which, becomes a friend of kids.
on July 17th, 2009 at 6:07 amFinally, I would like to say that I really like this story a nd I’m looking for more stories like that.
“We have to damage the kids because they are too perfect.” I had to find this book earlier. I am reading this story in English (my second languag, but the story is still catching.
on July 17th, 2009 at 6:08 amthe most thing that i liked in this book, that theres not like everything is good.
on July 17th, 2009 at 6:09 ammy thoughts are:”the real war story”.
there were many good and touching things, but the most I liked, thit consist of really cruel and violent moments too(like raping or Teleks deeds).
Hello,I am from Lithuania. I liked this book, it s fantastic! I am keen on history,so I enjoed it very much. The is a master,she is perfectly tellin us about WWII. Also I liked the nature. But on the other side the book is very brutal and violent.
on July 17th, 2009 at 6:09 amThis book had great parts:thrill,despair.
Not just a bunch of
facts from a history book – it shows feelings of people who went through WWII.Violent fairy tale about Holocaust.
Well written.Worth reading.
on July 17th, 2009 at 6:10 amThe book had some great and not so great parts, but still it gave me a realistic view about WWII. I’m a reader from Lithuania and I liked that the we were mentioned in the book, I liked how the dreamy and magical parts mixed with the horrible scenes. This book is realistic and a bit cruel, but in the same time it’s magical.
Well written, colorful, real – a great book. Read it!
on July 17th, 2009 at 6:12 amHi! I’m from Lithuania. Now I’m reading this book in English and it’s really great. Especially I was amazed, when i found Lithuanians mentioned in this book.
on July 17th, 2009 at 6:14 amI`m from Poland and I really find it essential to look at the WW2 from the other point of view. Some actions described in this book, such as Gretel`s sexual abuse or “making children imperfect” (cutting their fingers off or burning their skin) seems to be too cruel to be true but from what I learned at school I know that it was really common during the war. The book is also a good source of information about some real events during the WW2, for example tragedy of Polish officers killed by Russians in Katyn.
on July 17th, 2009 at 6:14 amI loved how the book displayed the war how it was: horrible and terrifying. A lot of loved ones died, millions of lifes were ruined. the book tolled about it clearly, touching our hearts to depths and reminded us once again what a horrible time it was in our history!
on July 17th, 2009 at 6:15 amWhen I started to read this book I thought that it will be a simple story with happy ending. But I understood that this book is a special one and I have never read something like this. Every day you want to read more, to know what is happening in the next page. Even though the book is like a fairy tale, there are a lot of cruelties, like when Telek has to maime the children, or the partisans cut the heads of the germans, or when Magda dies in the showers.
on July 17th, 2009 at 6:15 amThis book is one of the best books i have read.it so realistic and cruel and makes you think about those awful things that had happened.i really liked the part where Gretel remembers eating oranges because today we can eat oranges everyday without thinking about it..It really makes you realise how important everything is.GREAT BOOK
on July 17th, 2009 at 6:17 amI’m from Lithuania and am reading this book. I was always oriented more towards science, so I studied little history. This book gave better understanding about WW2 in an interesting and not boring way. I really liked the forest which was a magic place, those who managed to survive in it were a little bit safer. One of the most disturbing scenes in the book to me was the SS man taking blood from woman, who just had a baby.
on July 17th, 2009 at 6:17 amI’m from Lithuania. I’m reading this book. I’m really happy that I live today but not in the past. I was surprised when I have read the chapter “Telek”
on July 17th, 2009 at 6:18 amI am in the middle of this book. I am from lithuania and the same stories were happening in my country too so i am very interested in, how this book will end. Maybe happy end? I hope so…
on July 17th, 2009 at 6:20 amIm from Lithuania and reading this book has been a special experience to me. I was really surprised how some situations rolled out because this book is everything but predictable! I just love those coautious, fragile and unreachable wild ponies, I thaught that if I were one of the characters in this book I would definitely have to catch one!))
on July 17th, 2009 at 6:21 amI’m from Lithuania. I’m reading this book. I’m really happy that I live today but not in the past. I was surprised when I have read the chapter “Telek”. There are described lots of methods, how to kill children. I think that it was an awful time.
on July 17th, 2009 at 6:23 amI am from Lithuania and I found it very interesting and unusual that my summer language institute teacher chose “The true story of Hansel and Gretel” as our learning subject. First of all, I was amazed how it is possible to interpretate an old fairy tale for children in such an unique way and combine it with the cruel and dehumanising WW2 (for example, the forest – symbol of life, health, secrets and peace with cuel, wild and remorseless Nazis in it). Despite the fact that the book is shocking at some times I recommend everyone to read it, but only for those who think they are mature enough,who are able to smile while fully understanding that outragerous tragism of meaningless war…
on July 17th, 2009 at 6:27 amStories like this are necessary to make us appreciate those values in life which are usually taken for granted nowadays. People are so busy earning money, getting more and more staff: will there be enough ever? But the most precious things are those we already have: shelter, food, family members, peace, safety, freedom. This story just makes us stop for a while and look around.
on July 17th, 2009 at 6:28 ami see there is a lot of polish people on this blog . i’m polish too . i’m just curious what nationality is GIEDRIUS .
on July 18th, 2009 at 6:43 pmmy sweet baby, I am Lithuanian. The nationality, which adores the Germans, and will never forget what you Poles did to our country.
on July 20th, 2009 at 7:12 ambeing not very interested in such kind of books about wars it was difficult for me to start and keep going. the thing that affected me was the every detail when describing these awful tortures, mockery they did. the thing that sroke my note was the impression that the author had seen or even suffered through it all.
on July 21st, 2009 at 9:45 amAdoring murderers is really admirable feature.
Go k***a hell.
on July 23rd, 2009 at 2:48 am