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Hanna and Walter
Hanna and Walter: A Love Story | Frederick Kohner, Hanna Kohner, Walter Kohner
4 posts | 1 read | 3 to read
"One of the happiest of the few happy endings the Holocaust allowed. Their extraordinary story [is told] in alternating first-person chapters that create suspense grim authenticity and impact." -Los Angeles Times "This incredible true-life story is simply but compellingly written and so intriguing it has to be read in one sitting." -Booklist Hanna Bloch and Walter Kohner met in a small Czech town in 1935. She was fifteen, a romantic who planned to move to the big city. He was twenty and dreamed of being an actor. They ice skated; they danced; they hiked in the mountains; they fell in love. The political climate was rapidly changing and they had heard stories about the Nazis, but Hanna and Walter believed that Czechoslovakia was safe. They didn't realize just how invasive the Nazi command could be or how deeply it would change their lives. Eventually they fled. Walter immigrated to the United States and joined the U.S. military. Initially, Hanna worked in Amsterdam, but she was later rounded up by the Nazis and shuffled to four different concentration camps. Hanna and Walter not only preserves one couple's memories, but also delivers a powerful personal account of the Holocaust and its atrocities. And it serves as testament that love can prevail over seemingly impossible odds.
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Cinfhen
Hanna and Walter: A Love Story | Frederick Kohner, Hanna Kohner, Walter Kohner
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#ReadWithMrBook #TearJerker I read a lot of SAD, HEAVY books this month but these two really stood out. Interestingly, both are NF and deal with migration, otherness, survival and finding your way home. Sadly the words of George Santayana echo in my mind “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Walter & Hannah‘s story took place in 1940‘s Europe/ Aida‘s story in more recent years on the US/Mexico border 😔

Nute We must retell these stories over and over again so that we do not repeat the past! Thank you for your thoughtful post.💕 5y
Cinfhen And thank you for your thoughtful comment ♥️🙏🏼 @Nute (edited) 5y
88 likes2 comments
review
Cinfhen
Hanna and Walter: A Love Story | Frederick Kohner, Hanna Kohner, Walter Kohner
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A perfect combination of detailed World History and personal experience. Some Holocaust memoirs are either written poorly or presented in a detached, clinical manner but this account was so well done. Told in alternate chapters, the reader gets a well balanced account of life during WWII from those living in Europe and the US. I highly recommend this slim but powerful story. Challenge Prompts #ReadingEurope2020 #Czechoslovakia 👇🏼

TrishB Got that tear jerker in quick 😁👍🏻 5y
Cinfhen That I did!!! @TrishB 😉 5y
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BarbaraBB Two countries in one go, smart! You are preparing so intensely for your upcoming trip. When are you going? 5y
Cinfhen I‘m leaving for Poland Feb 12 @BarbaraBB but first I‘m meeting Niki in London (Feb 9-11) ❤️ Did u start Trust Exercise yet?? I‘m thinking of reading it this week. 5y
Librarybelle You‘ve been doing well with the Europe challenge! 5y
Cinfhen I am @Librarybelle but it‘s going to get a lot harder with the more obscure countries. I‘m trying to read only books I own or I can borrow 💟 5y
BarbaraBB London too, nice! I am about to start Trust Exercise, so let‘s #buddyread 💙 5y
Cinfhen I‘m wrapping up a book or two but I can start tomorrow or Monday @BarbaraBB I‘m also buddyreading with @TrishB & @rubyslippersreads a slim book this week but it shouldn‘t interfere 😄🙏🏻 5y
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blurb
Cinfhen
Hanna and Walter: A Love Story | Frederick Kohner, Hanna Kohner, Walter Kohner
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“As a Second Generation Survivor, I have struggled with the questions: Who will bear witness to the atrocities of the Holocaust in the future? How will we teach children about this historical period without the immediacy of personal experience?” Continuing my WWII reading, as I prepare for my upcoming trip to Poland next week. So far this NF narrative is filling in the gaps yet tearing my heart apart. #VoicesOfTheGenerations

Suet624 💔💔 5y
Cinfhen @Suet624 😭😭😭😭😭😭send tissues 5y
Hooked_on_books I worry about the loss of the immediacy of WWII realities. Both my grandfathers fought in the war and one had a German last name and was discriminated against for it. I know how impactful their experiences were to our family, but the next generation won‘t know those men. Hopefully the lessons won‘t all be lost. 5y
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Reviewsbylola G is just now starting to ask about the Holocaust. It just sounds so unbelievable when we try to explain it to her. 😞 5y
Cinfhen How do you even start to explain @Reviewsbylola 😥😥😥the fact that she‘s asking means she‘s learning, which is incredible. 5y
Cinfhen I heard a US serviceman recently share his story surrounding the Liberation of one of the camps (not Auschwitz) @Hooked_on_books and I thought “wow, we NEED more of these stories too!!” I never thought about discrimination after WWII for those with German names😢The reaches from that war affected millions of lives. War is a terrible thing 💔 5y
Hooked_on_books His discrimination was actually during. The other guys on his ship (he was in the Pacific) gave him trouble over his name while he was fighting for the US. It‘s part of what made him an ardent American for his life—he always bought American and was upset when others didn‘t. War is truly terrible. But we don‘t ever seem to learn, do we? (edited) 5y
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blurb
Cinfhen
Hanna and Walter: A Love Story | Frederick Kohner, Hanna Kohner, Walter Kohner
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My friend said I NEED to read this book...so it‘s been added to this week‘s TBR.

rubyslippersreads I thought this author‘s name sounded familiar; apparently he wrote 5y
Cinfhen Oh wow!! How interesting @rubyslippersreads that‘s impressive memory !!!! (edited) 5y
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