Skulls and Coffee

I came across Schindler's List in the donation tub at work-a public library-and grabbed the book. This was months ago if not a year or so. It, like so many others, have stayed on my shelf just waiting for me to pull it down and start reading. I've recently revamped my shelves and created a "read next" shelf with a combination of checked out library books and stuff I've had at home for ages.

I had finished my last book and was waiting for a new book to come in and decided I would read a couple of chapters till the book I wanted to read arrived. Well, there was no reading just a couple of chapters. I was hooked. Completely hooked on the story of industrialist Oskar Schindler and his efforts to save Jews from the Nazis.

I suspect most people know the story of Schindler-maybe through the movie-so I won't rehash the story line. What the book conveyed that I don't remember the movie conveying is the absolute cost to Schindler. Not only did he spend everything he had on the Jews-whether in bribes for the Jews to come to the factory, good food, or medicine-but after the war Schindler lost his factory. Schindler literally gave everything he had to save Jews.

Heartbreaking but necessary work. I can't wait to delve into Schindler's Legacy and Searching for Schindler. Seems I am on a Schindler kick.

Oh, and if you read this, check out Isaac's Army by Matthew Brzezinski. A fantastic look at the Jews in Warsaw Poland from the Jewish perspective. I found that Isaac's Army helped me understand Schindler's List more due to the Nazi's using same progroms in both towns.