The Story of Blima: A Holocaust Survivor Paperback – May 1, 2005

The Story of Blima: A Holocaust Survivor, by Shirley Russak Wachtel"The Story of Blima" is a very slim book, weighing in at 133 pages. But the subject matter is heavy, and while you'll likely read the book quickly, Blima and her story will stay in your mind for a while.The book takes place between the years of 1936 and 1947 and covers Blima's life before, during, and after the Holocaust. Captured off the street of her hometown by the Nazis, Blima is imprisoned in a forced labor camp for the majority of the war. The recollections of camp life are short but harrowing; instead the book mainly focuses on Blima's attempts to rebuild her life after being freed. The difficulty and tragedy of attempting to find surviving family members is heartbreaking to read.A note in the book says that "The Story of Blima" is taken from a larger work, "My Mother's Shoes", which I am now trying to find. The story and book are written by Blima's daughter.4/5.

Having read hundreds of survivor stories I am always amazed that in each one there is something new I have never heard before. This little books packs a hug story. It is written as if Blima herslef is talking to you and telling the story but it is infact her daughter who wrote the book. It is so well done I didn't realize it until the end.One event of that was so mean done in one of the camps Blima was in really shocked me. The Nazi guard would nightly come into the barracks and eat and apple. She would peel it and let the skin fall to the floor then her guard dog would get the core and the peel. Now consider these poor women and girls where starving to death...the sound of her eating a sweet crisp apple. I know a lot of horrid things happened but that was just one salt in the wound I had not heard before.Blima is such a strong woman and I am so glad that she survived. I thank her daughter for getting her story into print so that we may never forget. I must read.

A quick read. I have read many books about the holocaust. Sometimes the names are familiar from one book to another or town to town. Common thread to theses stories are the facts about their ordeals. They are ALL alike and are true accounts of their days in the different camps sad as it may be. The Holocaust DID exist.

This summer my 11-year-old daughter became very interested in the Holocaust & learning more about what happened. She read over 20 autobiographies written by Holocaust survivors, and this book was one of them. I didn't read the entire book; instead I skim-read portions to make sure it was appropriate. She absolutely loved it! She read it in 1 day because she couldn't stop turning pages! She was really enthusiastic about it after she finished and talked to my wife and I about the story. It seemed perfect for her reading/ grade level (6th grade).

I read a lot of holocaust stories, I think because I am trying to understand how so many people participated in genocide. This story was good in that it gave a realistic and non- dramatized account of a young woman surviving and then going on to live a life despite her loss.The humanity of some, despite the inhumanity of it all was well illustrated.

This was a fast read on the life of Blima during the Holocaust. I am very interested in this topic and loved reading her story. My only problem was that I learned this was a condensed version of more involved novel and when I tried to find the full book, it is nowhere to be found. I will keep searching, great book and I really want to read the entire story. Great book if you are teaching this subject matter in school. Kids like a fast read and this is just that.

I have read many survivor of the Holocaust books and this was not among the better written ones in my opinion. What I did like, though I did not find it well-written, was how Blima's life was before she was taken to the labor camp. Maybe I didn't feel it as well written as others as it seemed geared to teens and not as much to adults. The prologue was very repetitious in telling the history of the Holocaust and in such a small book was perhaps not necessary unless you were a first time reader of a survivor account.

I have been a reader of books on the holocaust for over 40 years and this is one book that I would recommend to anyone of any age. Blima's story is told beautifully and she just comes to life on it's pages. My only wish would be that the story went on in detail and told of she and her husbands life in the US? Her daughter did a wonderful job in sharing her mother with the world.

This is another very individual testimony of a lady who somehow survived the nightmare of being taken from her family. Just as she was returning from her work in her Aunts bakery.Her crime? Tragically of being born a Jew. One of the many many, who was pulled from her life., Her home and family, everything dear to herShe survived as a semptress, initially taught by a sympathetic guard, of all people.Eventually moved to a death camp, where the end of war meant survival. Just.A testimony to the.human spirit remaining human and some kindness.Each and every person so afflicted, has an individual testimony to tell.

It seems incredible that a girl is snatched by men who were allowed to take anyone off the street and send them to death or a labour camp.This is a wonderful account of life from the day the legal kidnapping occurred.And among the sadistic guards was one good woman.Blima and her Angel must never be forgotten.

Unbelievable story that I was shocked.The way it was written and detailed was amazing and good in the way the author remembers all that terror

Very well written and would recommend this book to anyone who likes a straight forward read. I found it so interesting.

This is a harrowing and yet remarkable account from a young teenager who far from enjoying her teens is instead fighting for survival and having to try and cope with her own changes. It is incredible what the human spirit can overcome. There was no self pity just a wonderment and questioning that other people could behave so cruelly towards a race. I think this book is a must read for younger readers .