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Book review: The Thirty Six

Thoughts on holocaust writers and a review of The Thirty Six by Siegmund Siegrich

Something that fascinates me about first-hand accounts of the holocaust is the tone used by the narrators. It may be due to the fact that most stories have needed to be translated, but I have found all I have read on this topic to be quite blunt and spare. It is minimalist writing; the kind where the facts are told without much added description and the narrative moves from event to event with little reflection. Perhaps this is because many of the tellers of these stories were not writers by profession, but I think it is also a product of that specific kind of experience.

Being subjected routinely to acts of incredible cruelty, living on adrenaline and having to endure unthinkable suffering, there is little time for introspection. Every day of having survived might come as a surprise, nothing is taken for granted and allowing emotions to surface could potentially destroy a person. The way these people write reflects that mentality, as though their experiences seem surreal to them or as though it happened to someone else.

The Thirty Six is a wonderful story due to the positivity of Siegrich in spite of the appalling nature of what he endured. I couldn’t stop reading it, fascinated by the insanity of it all and disgusted by the fact that it was a true story. Mr Siegrich I have a lot of respect for, and I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to know more about what people are capable of, in both survival and cruelty. This is a profoundly affecting book. I am still upset reflecting on the fact that these things happened to such a lovely gentleman, and so many others did not make it out of the death camps.

Amy



Read All the Magazines!

I'm not suggesting you take us literally- but if you've ever forked out for a some magazine fun on a bus ride, you'll appreciate that you can simply pop in to your local library and grab the goss for free. Here are some of our titles- we'll post more over the next month. Just click to find out more about our holdings.

A fine and Private Place by Christobel Kent

An Italian murder mystery to rival the best atmospheric crime stories coming out of Scandinavia. A grim and brooding remote castle houses a collection of artists on retreat. The director of the retreat is killed in a car accident, or is it murder? Sandro Cellini, a former police officer now dealing with life as a PI enlists the help of a sensitive young woman working at the castle to solve the riddle of the director’s life and death. The emotions and egos swirl like the falling snowflakes as the soft snow blankets the countryside and covers up the clues. The investigators learn as much about themselves as they do about their suspects and the truth is finally laid bare. Recommended reading.

Snappy Short Stories: A Booklist

Prefer your fiction in bite-size portions? There's nothing like a good short story to pour over in your coffee break or just before bed. Try these short story compilations available at Camden and Narellan libraries.

The Best Australian Stories 2011

Maeve Binchy's Treasury

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Burning Your Boats: Collected Short Stories by Angela Carter

Dreaming Again edited by Jack Dann

The Girl in the Mirror by Cecelia Ahern