Broken Birds, The Story of My Momila

I'm not entirely sure where to begin in my review for this book. Broken Birds is the story of a family growing up in the aftermath of the Holocaust. This story is dark, but what makes it so much more difficult to read is knowing that it is truth. Jaclyn, one of the five Poltzer children, is the narrator of the book and following her through her memories is heart wrenching to say the least.

A little bit of back story for you. Channa, the mother of these children, was a survivor of the Holocaust. Despite everything she managed to escape, and even made it to America to marry a decent man. However she cannot seem to let go of the images and memories that have become a part of her. She just can't seem to make the switch to loving mother and parent.

What I enjoyed most about reading this memoir was honesty that brims off of every page. There is no screen here. Nothing to separate the reader from the atrocities that are being remembered on every page. However even when things seem bleak, there is always that glimmer of hope that the family might persevere. I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll end here. Still it's a definite truth that this is a book well worth your time.

Broken Birds was definitely not a book that was an easy read. It is filled with anguish, deceit, and horrific acts that are burned into the memories of the people within it. However, in terms of memoirs, this is definitely one of the most intriguing ones that I have ever read. Under all the pain and darkness, Jeanette Katzir shares with us the power of human survival and understanding. I know that this isn't something I would have normally read on my own, and so I thank Katzir for offering it to me for review. A tough read definitely, but one that is well worth it.