Night by Elie Wiesel (originally published in 1958; translation by Marion Wiesel published 2006, with a new preface by the author), 120 pages
Night describes Wiesel’s experience during the Holocaust and being imprisoned in several concentration camps. The book opens Wiesel’s hometown of Sighet, Transylvania.
A very quick read.
This book had been on my shelf for months and months. I knew I wanted to read it, but I had delayed digging in.
It was not as bad as I expected, somehow.
Although I hadn’t read Night before, I was certainly familiar with what it contained. I toured the Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC in 1999. I remember the 2006 Oprah episode showing Wiesel revising Auschwitz. I’ve read other books about the war and its atrocities.
While it is not a fun book, it is an essential read.
Night is the first in a trilogy, and now I want to read Dawn and Day.
I was at least in part prompted to read this book because it appears on the Image Journal list, which I’m still intent on completing, some day.
Wiesel is prolific; he’s written 57 books. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986.
Other reviews:
Trish’s Reading Nook
Grasping for the Wind
Things Mean a Lot
Semicolon
Book Addiction
The Written World
Bogormen
ReadingAdventures
Book Nook Club
If you’ve reviewed this book, let me know and I’ll add your link here.
What’s your — favorite I hesitate to call it favorite, but I’m not coming up with a better word choice and anyway, hopefully you know what I mean — Holocaust book?
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June 9, 2009 at 9:05 am
Ronnica
This is high on my to-read list. Our Book Nook Club reviewed it:
http://booknookclub.blogspot.com/2008/06/night-by-elie-wiesel.html
June 9, 2009 at 9:32 am
Amanda
I read this book in middle school. It was the first book that ever made me cry.
June 9, 2009 at 9:45 am
Lily
Night is by far my favorite (yeah, for lack of a better word) Holocaust book. Wiesel’s imagery, especially towards the end of the book, punched me in the guts when I first read it.
June 9, 2009 at 10:41 am
bermudaonion
My son read this in high school and has told me several times that I need to read it. I haven’t done it yet, though – it really sounds like I should.
June 9, 2009 at 10:49 am
Mrs. Chili
Lily, I have to say that I’m surprised you’d not read this yet (in fact, I’m surprised to hear of anyone over the age of 14 who’s not read it yet). I agree; it’s not a FUN read, but it is essential.
I’ve done a lot of Holocaust-themed reading (“Gee, Chili, really?!). I was absolutely enamored of The Book Thief – a novel aimed at young adults – and A Scrap of Time – an anthology of short stories – holds some real gems.
June 9, 2009 at 11:09 am
wordlily
Yeah, I know you’ve done a ton of Holocaust-themed reading, Mrs. Chili. I really want to read The Book Thief; I started it during the June read-a-thon last year, but it wasn’t great middle-of-the-night reading for me and I haven’t gone back to it yet.
And yes, it’s a bit embarrassed to admit having not read this until now, but I’m OK with that. I have read it now, and I’m clearly not the only reader who hasn’t read it yet.
June 9, 2009 at 4:27 pm
Eva
My “favorite(s)” would be Art Spiegelman’s Maus-books. I haven’t read Night yet, but it’s definitely in the TBR-pile!
June 10, 2009 at 8:33 am
Nymeth
I’m with Eva – Maus.
June 10, 2009 at 1:12 pm
wordlily
Eva, Nymeth:
Yes, Maus is one I definitely want to read.
June 18, 2009 at 8:38 am
Dawn
I’ve been avoiding this, too. It sounds so powerful, I really should.
Thanks for the great review; and the encouragement to move NIGHT from “maybe someday” to wish list!
June 19, 2009 at 8:54 pm
Saturday Review of Books: June 13, 2009 at Semicolon
[...] Heart Kit)87. ChristineMM (An Undivided Life)88. Phyllis (Dakota: A Spiritual Geography)89. Word Lily (Night)90. Mindy Withrow (Something Rising Light and Swift)91. Word Lily (The Wish Maker)92. Florinda [...]
June 25, 2009 at 12:05 am
Natasha @ Maw Books
I read this book before my blogging days and it was amazing. Like you, I’ve always intended to read the other two books as well. It’s been years and I still haven’t gotten to them yet.