This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Free Book Program, which is open to all readers and is completely free. The author will provide you with a free copy of their book in exchange for an honest review. You and the author will discuss what sites you will post your review to and what kind of copy of the book you would like to receive (eBook, PDF, Word, paperback, etc.). To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Review Exchange Program, which is open to all authors and is completely free. Simply put, you agree to provide an honest review an author's book in exchange for the author doing the same for you. What sites your reviews are posted on (B&N, Amazon, etc.) and whether you send digital (eBook, PDF, Word, etc.) or hard copies of your books to each other for review is up to you. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email, and be sure to describe your book or include a link to your Readers' Favorite review page or Amazon page.
This author participates in the Readers' Favorite Book Donation Program, which was created to help nonprofit and charitable organizations (schools, libraries, convalescent homes, soldier donation programs, etc.) by providing them with free books and to help authors garner more exposure for their work. This author is willing to donate free copies of their book in exchange for reviews (if circumstances allow) and the knowledge that their book is being read and enjoyed. To begin, click the purple email icon to send this author a private email. Be sure to tell the author who you are, what organization you are with, how many books you need, how they will be used, and the number of reviews, if any, you would be able to provide.
Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite
Hymie Anisman’s Before the Beginning and After the End: Holocaust Survivor True Stories is a unique addition to Holocaust literature, bridging personal trauma and collective memory through the stories of survivors. Anisman creates a narrative that is both intimate and illuminating, grounding his reflection in the lived experiences of his forebears and other Holocaust survivors. The book examines the devastating impact of Nazi ideology on the Jewish population, underlining the horror of the Holocaust while highlighting the enduring resilience of those who survived. The narrative is structured as a chronological retelling, beginning with the pre-war lives of Anisman’s parents in Poland and Ukraine, through the unimaginable atrocities they faced, to their eventual attempts at rebuilding their lives in the aftermath of the Holocaust. The reader is confronted with the duality of existence—before the Holocaust and after, a compelling revelation of how the trauma reverberates across generations.
The depth of Anisman’s writing lies in his ability to blend personal anecdotes with broader historical contexts. These stories and the characters presented in the book illustrate how the Jews came to believe — after the Holocaust — that it was more important not to rely on others but to take control of their destiny. The narrative explores the fragile threads that bound the victims of the Holocaust, their fears, and the bonds that keep them together. Before the Beginning and After the End features heartbreaking stories, including the author's father’s time in work camps and his mother’s harrowing experiences. Hymie Anisman’s work transports readers to an era of horror that should never happen again. The descriptions are terrific, and the author excels in exploring the inner worlds and the psyches of the characters.
