Auschwitz

Auschwitz
By Pascal Croci
ISBN: 9780810948310 (Hardcover)

Impressions: I've never read Maus. It's something I've been meaning to remedy for a while, but haven't. I have read other accounts of the Holocaust - both fiction and non-fiction, but not in graphic novel format. The artwork in this is captivating - both horrific and stark, reflecting the subject matter - and it is breathtaking.

To Sum: A couple in Yugoslavia in 1993 take refuge during the ethnic war in Bosnia. The old man says that is it time to remember, and begins to talk about his time in Auschwitz - where he finally got assigned to cleaning out the gas chambers. His wife picks up where he leaves off and tells what happened to her, and their daughter. The final pages brings us back to present day, and the fate of the couple.

One might ask the question - do we really need another graphic novel about the Holocaust? Or another book on it?

This book, in my mind, tells us why we need most of them. Yes, there are a few I can do without, as they over simplify what happened, or give a distorted idea of what went on. (Yes, I'm thinking of a certain book that was written for children/young YA.) This book, however, reminds us that the Holocaust isn't just the past. Events like it are still happening. And we must remember.

Things to watch out for: There's a lot of death. Most of it senseless. There are scenes of mass murder. Of burying the bodies (naked) from the gas chambers. Granted, given the title, most people should know not to expect champagne and roses, but better to err on the side of caution.

Where to shelve: Depending on your library, adult. Some may argue YA, but that will depend on your library. If you have just a high school section, or you are a high school librarian, I think this would be a valuable addition. However, if you are a public library, I would err on the side of caution and put this in the adult section. There is little in the way of nudity, but this is the Holocaust. Croci does not shy away from death and other unpleasant aspects of the Holocaust. And he also raised a lot of ethical dilemmas, and philosophical questions.

Who to recommend this to: People who have read Maus. Depending on the teen/child - those that have read Surviving Hitler. (Which is a far superior book to Boy in the Striped Pajamas, in my opinion.) Those that read Milkweed MAY also like this. This might also be good for adults who may have read Maus, or heard of it. There are a number of graphic novels dealing with the Holocaust, and personal memoirs of that time. This, with its eye-catching cover, is a quick, but deep read. I plan on rereading it a few more times as the end sheds more light on the story.

There is also an interview with the creator and how the story came about. While it is fiction, the author did a lot of research for it.

How I learned of it: Booklist had a review, as did Library Journal. The cover is very, very eye catching.

Other Reviews:
http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d834515c2769e200d835398e1969e2
http://marksarvas.blogs.com/elegvar/2004/04/auschwitz_graph.html
http://catalog.dclibrary.org/vufind/Record/ocm52458976/Reviews
http://www.diamondbookshelf.com/public/default.asp?t=1&m=1&c=20&s=422&ai=66611
http://www.powells.com/biblio?show=HARDCOVER:USED:9780810948310:8.95
http://tickettoanywhere.blogspot.com/2009/02/auschwitz-by-pascal-croci.html