Holocaust Stories: Reading, Watching, Writing

There is something so compelling to me about stories from the Holocaust. It was an event that affected millions of lives, and yet every story is different. Some are stories of survival, many are stories of loss, others tell stories of hope and an unexpected spark of kindness encountered during that dark moment in history. I think what draws me most is the intrinsic humanity of these stories. Love is universal. We have mothers, fathers, family, friends. We live in communities that are tenuously bound together by an adherence to certain commonalities, certain common rights; these stories look at what happens when those ties are severed, when rights are revoked, when humanity is lost.

I have been thinking about this a lot lately. Not only am I writing a Holocaust story, but during the past three years I have constantly immersed myself in them in order to research my novel and create a tapestry of life during that period. I go through waves of reading only WWII-era books and watching WWII-era movies. I take a break from time to time since the stories are fraught with emotion, but I still find myself drawn to them. (A good thing since I've invested so much time in this novel!)

Last weekend I finished reading Tatiana de Rosnay's Sarah's Key, which is a beautiful exploration of the importance of remembrance. The novel uses a dual narrative to follow modern day Julia as she uncovers secrets from the past, as well as following young Sarah through her tragic experience of the Holocaust. The aftermath is far-reaching and affects the families of both women. Julia's story could have been a mere sideshow, but she is a fully fleshed character and deals with her own modern issues--a husband gone astray, a pregnancy late in life, and the choices she must make along the way to move forward. I highly recommend it.

And a few weeks ago, we watched Defiance, which is a fascinating look at one small part of Holocaust history. It tells the story of a small partisan group in Poland, which survived the war in hiding, but which also fought back against the Nazis. It is an inspiring story, but I also think it's important to remember that it's one small part of the history. Many people couldn't fight back--children, the elderly--and so many others hoped that it would end soon. They couldn't begin to guess the scale of the Nazi plan or their brutality. However, I definitely recommend the movie.

Next up in the DVD queue: The Reader. I just started reading Sala's Gift, a daughter's true story of the discovery of her mother's Holocaust history. I'm particularly excited about this book because my novel is a mother-daughter story and deals with the daughter's excavation of her mother's hidden past.

To the other writers out there: what stories compel you, and are they the same stories you explore in your own writing?

Score

Although a play on the title of my previous post, this is in no way related to it.

If you are on my facebook, you may already know that I recently scored two pieces of research-related historical memorabilia. While I was traveling, I took my sister up to Washington (the state, not the city), where we found the most wonderful used bookstore (Comstock's Bindery & Bookshop in Auburn, WA, in case you're ever in the area).

Many beautiful old books fought for my attention, but what caught my eye in the end was the collection of old Life Magazines. They are like a time capsule of days gone by. Advertisements for Goodyear Airships, Pond's ("She's Engaged! She's lovely! She uses Pond's!"), and Nescafe instant coffee with added carbohydrates vie for space with the call to buy war bonds and conserve meat, and etc., for the soldiers.

The first one I chose was released October 10, 1938, the week after the Munich Agreement--the catalyst for the opening scene in my novel. It's unbelievable to read articles written at that time, to see pictures of British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain calmly meeting with Hitler and Mussolini, as well as photos of protesters and supporters of the agreement across Europe. Some believed it would bring peace to Europe, others recognized that it would precipitate a second war. No one, of course, could guess the magnitude of that decision.

The other one I chose was dated May 7, 1945, a week after the death of Hitler and the liberation of Dachau, which is also a key moment in my book. It contains some of the first images released to the public showcasing the horrors of the Nazi concentration camps. It also has features on everyday people in post-war Germany and France, as well as coverage of the homage paid to Roosevelt worldwide after his death.


For me, these are priceless artifacts. An illuminating and remarkable peek into the past.

Those Who Save Us

Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum

Stunning, heartrending, and beautiful.

When I was researching my own novel, I found this book, but I didn't want it to influence me, so while I finished my first draft and began the editing, it sat on the shelf beckoning to me. The wait did not disappoint my expectations. Blum handles a most difficult topic with delicacy and care. The ending made me sad, and at first it felt loose and unresolved, but in reality I think it was true to the characters.

I highly recommend this touching debut.

An Organized Mind

Research should help organize your mind and solidify the details of your story and its setting. I spent all day yesterday researching and instead of clarity I end up with this:

Pah! I have enough to do already, thank you very much, and this does not fit into the world of Angie, where everything has its place.

Silly

I'm sitting at a sunny sidewalk cafe in San Francisco, taking a lunch break from my research at the Holocaust Center.

This morning I took the train up to the city. I worried about it all day yesterday because (*whispers*) I've never taken the train up here before. It takes about 30 minutes longer than driving and that's if you don't have many transportation transfers within the city. Luckily I only had one. Anyway, I planned for an early train, but had a backup because I'm almost always late for everything. I arrived in time for the backup, but after I bought my ticket, I ran to put the parking permit in my car window. When I was halfway to my car I noticed that I was supposed to keep the ticket with me. The train arrived, so I turned and ran to it. I was there in time, but they shut the door in my face, so I had to wait 30 minutes for the next train! At this point I regretted leaving my book at home in order to lighten my load (and to assure that I did my homework on the train). Nevertheless, I arrived here without further incident and the sun is shining, so I can't complain.

Husband thought my nervousness yesterday was silly, especially considering I took trains and buses (buses are so much scarier!) alone in Prague and Munich, with only a few phrases of Czech and German at my disposal. I guess it's easier to step outside your comfort zone when you're forced to.

Journey

I love driving up the peninsula and crossing through the foothills as the fog rolls over from the ocean, engulfing you as soon as you breach the hills north of Palo Alto. Yesterday I drove up to San Mateo to spend the afternoon browsing the archives at the Bay Area Holocaust Oral History Project. I left a sunny San Jose and emerged into a foggy, cool San Mateo 30 minutes later, though oddly enough by the time I left San Mateo at 5:00, the sun had reemerged.

The BAHOHP records the testimonies of Holocaust survivors and eyewitnesses in order to preserve them for posterity and to educate future generations about genocide. The women at the BAHOHP office were generous with their time as they helped me sort through scores of records to find testimonies relevant to my research. I ended up with a small mountain of records to sift through, and whittled it down to a (somewhat) manageable number. The amount and quality of material they have is stunning. I'm clearing my schedule (more on that later) so I can volunteer at this organization by helping index and summarize testimonies so future researchers can have access to them. Over the last two years this story has become so personal to me that I want to help any way I can.

Tomorrow I'm taking the train up to San Francisco to continue this research work at the Holocaust Center of Northern California, and I'm looking forward to it.

Yesterday was also an exercise in talking openly (out loud!) about my book to strangers. If I want to pursue publication, I have to get used to doing this. It's nervewracking, but I think I'm getting a little better at it.

Elevated

The temperature rose from a high of 70 degrees on Monday to a boiling 100 degrees today. I could barely sleep last night--and I'm a hot sleeper. I finally gave up and got up slightly early this morning because it was already 70 degrees at 7am. I spent the morning at the library doing more research, then edited a short story in the afternoon, which I'm hoping to send off soon.

Normally, I don't let the heat stop me from enjoying my evening tea, but with my system in shock, I caved in and dragged Husband for a walk to pick up cold drinks. The heat felt nice without the sun beating down, like a sultry July evening when the air is thick and soupy, but even now, at 11:45pm, it's 79 degrees.

I suppose I better get used to scorching steering wheels and my legs sticking to seats if this was caused by global warming. On the plus side, I won't have problems getting up earlier, though I may fall short on sleep.

In other news, California's Supreme Court overturned the ban on gay marriage. All in all it was a productive, smoking hot day in California.

250th post...Going Places

OMG

(omg omg omg omg omg)

*Breathe*

I have exciting news.

Okay, I'll start from the beginning. In October, when I created my new writing plan with a deadline to finish in April, I was worrying a lot about a few chapters, because they are located in places I've never been. I know, "write what you know," but if I did that, I would have a very boring book, or possible a book that exposed things I'd prefer not to be exposed! I once read a quote by a writer (blanking on who, possibly Jodi Piccoult?) who said that you should write what you are willing to learn, which I much prefer. I like learning new things while I write. I find it much more interesting and fulfilling. Anyway. Unfortunately, the places I need to see are in Europe. And I am in California. So. Husband gave me an incentive to finish my book on time. He said if I finish this draft in April, he would send me to Europe to do my research!

Over the past month, we've been discussing this trip more. I'm a little ahead of schedule, and let's face it, Europe is cheaper in the spring than in the summer. Husband has always wanted to go to Germany, so we were going to try to incorporate our vacation this year with the research trip. But. The planning became too difficult. We would not be able to visit all the research spots I need to see, and visit everything he wants to see while staying within our budget and his allotted vacation days. So. I started scouring fares and crunching numbers and came up with a plan B.

I am going on the trip alone. And. We are going to the Caribbean for his vacation! As crazy as it sounds, it ended up being the same price, if not cheaper, for me to do a bare-bones backpacker-style trip to Europe alone and add a week in the Caribbean. He can only travel in April, but one roundtrip ticket to Europe in April costs the same amount as a multi-city ticket to Europe in March (I need to visit both Munich and Prague). As a couple, we wanted to at least have our own room with a private bathroom, but alone I can stay in cheaper hostels. Incidentally, Husband is over the moon because when we went on our last trip in 2006, I promised that the next trip would be tropical and relaxing because that's what he really wants. (I tend to not relax on vacation. I make sure we see everything possible in our allotted time, so he always comes home feeling worn out. We have not had a relaxing vacation since our honeymoon 6.5 years ago.) He was willing to do the Germany trip now so I could do my research, but he's thrilled to push it off for another two years so he can save up enough vacation time to go for two weeks so we can see more sights outside Munich.

So, I am going to Europe alone to research for my book. OMG! Then in April, when I should almost be done with my book (crossing fingers and toes!), I am going to lie on a beach with my hubby, who deserves a vacation so so much for all the overtime he works. I am so excited, and also a little scared, and feeling slightly guilty, and it took me hours to fall asleep last night after I booked the tickets...

And *breathe*

(omg omg omg omg)

Lovely Packages

When we returned from our trip I received an Amazon package with three new research and writing books. Hurrah! I finally caved and bought Stephen King's On Writing because it's supposed to be a classic for writers. Interestingly, it's the first King book I've ever bought (and the first I'll read). I'm not a fan of horror, though I probably would like The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile. I also bought another classic for writers, The Elements of Style. The third book, The Diary of Petr Ginz, is directly related to the research for my novel. I checked it out from the library weeks ago, but after taking pages and pages of notes and fighting off the urge to highlight large sections of the book, I decided to add it to my personal library. Some of the research books for my topic are too expensive to buy (scholarly tomes clocking in at $100/each), so I have to get them from the library, but this one just made sense to purchase.

It's silly how much I love books.

Words written today: 1579 (yay, that makes up for Friday's short count!)

The Holocaust Museum Experience

I promised a post on the Holocaust Memorial Museum, so here it is finally, only a little belated. I've struggled to find the words to describe it. I loved it, but is that the appropriate sentiment for a place that documents one of our darkest moments in history? I can say it was fantastically well put together; and it evoked all the feelings you might expect: sadness, anger, compassion, disbelief, incomprehension, and hope. After awhile I noticed that husband and I were experiencing it in different ways. I would read the long panels of information and look at each artifact and its description carefully, and he would be parked in front of one of many tvs playing historical footage from the event that I was reading about. The genius is that they provided platforms for all different kinds of learners so everyone can have a memorable experience of the exhibit. It was also an interesting experience for me because I have already researched most of the things presented in the museum. I've looked at the archival photographs and videos on their excellent website and read as much information as I can. The crux of my novel revolves around the Holocaust, so it felt very personal to me. I didn't necessarily go to learn new information (though of course I did pick up some new details), I went to see this monument to the survivors and to those departed. I also went to see the artifacts with my own eyes. A room full of shoes. Bunkbeds from Auschwitz, with the smell of wood so strong, you could almost imagine the rest of the room. A train car from the transports. It's hard to describe all the feelings this museum inspires, but I think it's a place everyone should see if they have the chance. It's so important to remember.

Bangkok Charades

Nothing much to say today. I'm stuck deep into research since I keep finding holes in my research for every new chapter I work on. I'm crafting a new opening scene for chapter three, which alleviates some 'show vs. tell' problems, and it seems to be working, which is exciting.

I'll leave you with a great naughty comic for the day, which JJ should especially love since she lives in Bangkok. Enjoy!