A Boring Evening at Home

The third book written by Gerda Weissman Klein, A Boring Evening At Home, chronicles her life in America after the Holocaust. Her first book, All But My Life, is the classic story of her survival during World War II. The Hours After: Letters of Love and Longing in War's Aftermath is her own love story with Kurt Klein, a German born American soldier who liberated her from a concentration camp. This book, a collection of vignettes, delves into the complex and contrasting emotions Klein experiences at different points throughout her life as a result of her Holocaust survival. At times she feels guilt about her survival, yet Klein is gifted with the ability to find beauty and delight in simple daily activities such as buying bread, and celebrating New Years' Eve. Family weaves her stories together; she speaks of ones lost and also found after the war. She reminisces about her childhood in Poland and the family that did not survive. Klein's relationship with her uncle, her last living relative and a man with a flair for life, makes a particularly amusing narrative. Despite huge tragedy in her life, Gerda Weissman Klein took hope and inspiration from being able to lead a normal life. It is an uplifting story of life after a dark period in history, and a woman who bore no resentment, but learned to appreciate even A Boring Evening At Home. I recommend this book for everyone; it has a universal message that is uplifting and will make you take an extra moment to appreciate the small joys of everyday life and family.

After reading Gerda Weissmann Klein's classic All But My Life, I couldn't wait to dig into A Boring Evening at Home. It came as no surprise that this collection of stories is equally as moving and inspiring, and each memory uniquely shares Klein's reflections and thoughts on her life post-Holocaust. In this uplifting work, Klein's words bring appreciation to even the smallest things in life, whether it be a loaf of bread or a simple evening spent at home with the family.

Gerda Klein has the ability to put together stories that pull fromher historic past, yet identify with everyone who reads them. In a collection of very well written stories, Klein reminds readers what the important things in life are: love, family, honesty, loyalty, and friendship. This book can be read and enjouyed by people of all ages.