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The Family
The Family: A Journey into the Heart of the Twentieth Century | David Laskin
8 posts | 6 read | 24 to read
The author of the The Childrens Blizzard delivers an epic work of twentieth century history through the riveting story of one extraordinary Jewish family In tracing the roots of this familyhis own familyLaskin captures the epic sweep of the twentieth century. A modern-day scribe, Laskin honors the traditions, the lives, and the choices of his ancestors: revolutionaries and entrepreneurs, scholars and farmers, tycoons and truck drivers. The Family is a deeply personal, dramatic, and emotional account of people caught in a cataclysmic time in world history. A century and a half ago, a Torah scribe and his wife raised six children in a yeshivatown at the western fringe of the Russian empire. Bound by their customs and ancient faith, the pious couple expected their sons and daughter to carry family traditions into future generations. But the social and political crises of our time decreed otherwise. The torrent of history took the scribes family down three very different roads. One branch immigrated to America and founded the fabulously successful Maidenform Bra Company; another went to Palestine as pioneers and participated in the contentious birth of the state of Israel; the third branch remained in Europe and suffered the onslaught of the Nazi occupation. With cinematic power and beauty, bestselling author David Laskin brings to life the upheavals of the twentieth century through the story of one family, three continents, two world wars, and the rise and fall of nations.
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Cinfhen
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Holocaust Martyrs‘ and Heroes‘ Remembrance Day is observed today in Israel. Yad Vashem has created special mini-sites dedicated to Holocaust Remembrance Day, containing information about the events and ceremonies taking place throughout the day. Also included in the mini-sites are relevant educational materials and a new online exhibition. Please take a moment and visit YadVashem.org #NeverAgain #WeRemember

Cinfhen Tagged book is one of the best books I‘ve ever read regarding the trajectory of Eastern European Jews told through the journey of one family. 3y
wanderinglynn At work, we had a Holocaust Days of Remembrance Special Observation yesterday. 3y
TrishB Have stacked for a later read. 3y
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Cinfhen I loaned my copy and never got it back @TrishB it‘s one of the few books I really wanted to have on my shelf!! That‘s lovely @wanderinglynn what did you do, I‘m curious how companies mark the day? 3y
squirrelbrain Have also stacked the book. 3y
wanderinglynn It‘s a commemoration established by Congress in collaboration with the US Holocaust Museum – https://www.ushmm.org/remember/days-of-remembrance (edited) 3y
TheAromaofBooks Thank you for sharing ❤ I've added this one to my TBR!! 3y
Cinfhen So glad you‘ve both stacked @TheAromaofBooks @squirrelbrain thanks for sharing @wanderinglynn 3y
75 likes2 stack adds8 comments
review
Amiable
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I don't quite have the right words to recommend this book as highly as it should be, so I will use the author's own words: "The pulse of history beats in every family. All of our lives are engraved with epics of love and death. War has touched all of us. Fate and chance and character make and break every generation. ... Open the book of your family and you will be amazed, as I was, at what you will find."

45 likes1 stack add
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Amiable
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Sadness. Grief. Heartache.

23 likes1 stack add
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Amiable
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I keep reading this paragraph over and over again. It's like a sucker punch right to the soul.

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Amiable
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A sobering reminder that so many of us who live a life of relative privilege and safety in the U.S. today are able to do so thanks to our immigrant ancestors who made the often painful decision to leave their native countries and come here to start anew. I think about what would have happened if my Jewish great-great grandparents hadn't chosen to leave Russia (now Latvia) in 1889. Where would my family be? Or rather, would we BE at all?

BookNerd9906 ❤️❤️❤️ 6y
26 likes1 comment
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Cinfhen
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Congrats @LaurenReads on your Litsy Milestone 🎉🎉🎉 I chose an obscure NF title because it deserves lots more #LitsyLove🙌🏻 A fascinating journey of three branches from one family tree, covering plenty of riveting world history and the sheer randomness of life choices that can alter lives. It‘s a truly powerful read.
Thanks for the #giveaway #HundredGrand

Amiable I just started reading this book yesterday! 👍🏼 6y
Cinfhen Ohh, that's awesome @Amiable please let me know how you liked it! I thought it was so interesting & well written 6y
Amiable @Cinfhen I read his earlier book "The Children's Blizzard" and was enthralled by his writing, so when I saw this one I knew I had to pick it up! So far I really like it. 6y
Cinfhen I heard that book is great!!! I NEED to pick it up @Reviewsbylola put it on my radar last year!!! 6y
Reviewsbylola Yes, and likewise I need to pick this one up! 6y
80 likes4 stack adds5 comments
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Cinfhen
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#GetMovin I‘m a big #believer in NF is more interesting than fiction. This memoir was a fascinating story of 3 branches from the same family tree who chose 3 separate paths. Beginning in late 1700s Russia, we follow the journey of siblings to Poland, The United States and Palestine as they each strive to make their mark through the 20th Century. Amazing story, full of history. My copy has been in circulation since 2015, as people keep sharing it.

Itchyfeetreader This sounds fascinating 6y
TrishB That must be a good recommendation if people keep sharing! 6y
Cathythoughts I love family sagas ! Stacking 6y
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Cinfhen Honest, I keep hearing “would U mind if I loaned this book to...” EVERYONE has loved it @TrishB @Itchyfeetreader 6y
Cinfhen It‘s such a saga and it‘s ALL TRUE @Cathythoughts which makes it even more remarkable 6y
GatheringBooks oh gosh! sounds perfect for our memoirs reading theme! 6y
Centique This sounds AMAZING! Stacked 🙌 6y
Reviewsbylola I have this stacked because I enjoyed a book of his I‘d read earlier. 6y
ValerieAndBooks I have this in my TBR— I think now I‘ll move it up closer to the top!! 6y
Cinfhen I hope you all love this book, I was so riveted by the story @ValerieAndBooks @Reviewsbylola @Centique @GatheringBooks 6y
SledgeReader @Reviewsbylola @Cinfhen So glad to know about this one. Riveted by The Children's Blizzard. Refer to it all the time when working with new NF readers. 6y
Cinfhen I am 100% reading that one because both you & @Reviewsbylola just mentioned it @SledgeReader I love the way Laskin writes! 6y
109 likes10 stack adds12 comments
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Cinfhen
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#photoadaynov16 #setineasterneurope I REALLY enjoyed each of these books, as I discovered more about history, people, places and cultures. I especially loved the two non fiction reads THE FAMILY & THE LADY IN GOLD. I'm always blown away by the endurance of humans to survive such arduous journeys and circumstance.

Sapphire People of the book is my favorite Geraldine Brooks. 8y
Cinfhen @Sapphire me too ❤️😍 8y
drokka Same here. I also really liked City of Thieves. I haven't read any of the others. Must add them to my list. 8y
Cinfhen @drokka I REALLY LOVED the other reads💘I've loaned the books many times and everyone ends up buying their own copies 😊 8y
56 likes4 comments