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Thomas's Reviews > Cilka's Journey
Cilka's Journey
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4.5 stars rounded down. This is a book of historical fiction. Cilka Klein was a real life person who was taken by Germans in WWII to Auschwitz and then Birkenau concentration camps when she was only 16.
The author confirmed that Cilka was a real person, but many events in the book are her own interpretation of Cilka's experiences.
The German camp commandant notices her beauty and takes for his personal sex slave in 1942. She survives because of this. The Soviet Army liberates the camp in 1945. They decide that she was a collaborator because she slept with the enemy. They sentence her to 15 years hard labor. She is sent to another concentration camp, Vorkuta, in the far north of the USSR. She is taken under the wing of the camp doctor, who recognizes her extraordinary abilities. Cilka trains to be a nurse and survives 10 years in Vorkuta before being released.
This is an inspiring story of courage and the will to survive in the face of terrible, life threatening conditions. I became invested in Cilka's story and thoroughly enjoyed this book. I recommend it to fans of Lilac Girls.
Thank You St. Martin's Press and Heather Morris for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.
The author confirmed that Cilka was a real person, but many events in the book are her own interpretation of Cilka's experiences.
The German camp commandant notices her beauty and takes for his personal sex slave in 1942. She survives because of this. The Soviet Army liberates the camp in 1945. They decide that she was a collaborator because she slept with the enemy. They sentence her to 15 years hard labor. She is sent to another concentration camp, Vorkuta, in the far north of the USSR. She is taken under the wing of the camp doctor, who recognizes her extraordinary abilities. Cilka trains to be a nurse and survives 10 years in Vorkuta before being released.
This is an inspiring story of courage and the will to survive in the face of terrible, life threatening conditions. I became invested in Cilka's story and thoroughly enjoyed this book. I recommend it to fans of Lilac Girls.
Thank You St. Martin's Press and Heather Morris for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.
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Reading Progress
September 23, 2019
–
Started Reading
September 23, 2019
– Shelved
September 25, 2019
–
27.0%
September 27, 2019
–
32.0%
September 28, 2019
–
60.0%
September 28, 2019
–
Finished Reading
September 29, 2019
– Shelved as:
historical-fiction
September 29, 2019
– Shelved as:
netgalley
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Angela M is taking a break.
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rated it 5 stars
Sep 29, 2019 05:49PM
Fantastic review, Thomas. A moving story!
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Angela M wrote: "Fantastic review, Thomas. A moving story!"Thanks Angela
Great review, Thomas! I think Cilka's story is important for us to realize that for many, their battle continued long after WW2 ended.
Paige wrote: "Great review, Thomas! I think Cilka's story is important for us to realize that for many, their battle continued long after WW2 ended."Thanks Paige.
Holly wrote: "Nice review Thomas!"Thanks Holly
Great review. I didn't think I could handle the subject matter and after reading your review, I think made the right choice.
Susan wrote: "Great review. I didn't think I could handle the subject matter and after reading your review, I think made the right choice."Thanks Susan. Liz might read it.
Great Review. What a tough time she had - man's inhumanity
Ilana wrote: "https://www.theguardian.com/books/201..."Very interesting and disappointing. Thanks for this.
Trudy wrote: "Nice review. Love that it's not a blow by blow book report, that, if read before reading the actual book, would be a real spoiler."Thanks Trudy
Thomas wrote: "Ilana wrote: "https://www.theguardian.com/books/201..."Very interesting and disappointing. Thanks for this."
I'm can't imagine not posting this, but a prior post may've been my public service advisory related to Morris. At any rate, the reality of (some of) what Morris disregarded in her quest for more $$ and fame is far worse. A taste of it in this limited scope piece:
https://www.themonthly.com.au/issue/2....
I've read both Lilac Girls and Lost Roses and found them both quite informative regarding both WWI and WWII. Thanks to your positive review, I have added this one to m TBR list.
Marlene wrote: "I've read both Lilac Girls and Lost Roses and found them both quite informative regarding both WWI and WWII. Thanks to your positive review, I have added this one to m TBR list."You are Welcome.
Wonderful review, Thomas! I loved this story as well! It was so disheartening that Cilka's "liberators" sentenced her to a much longer and harsher camp for something that wasn't her fault.
Debbie wrote: "Wonderful review, Thomas! I loved this story as well! It was so disheartening that Cilka's "liberators" sentenced her to a much longer and harsher camp for something that wasn't her fault."Thanks Debbie.
