The Invisible Wall

A Love Story That Broke Barriers

By: Harry Bernstein

Narrated by: John Lee

Length: 9 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's summary

This enchanting true story, written when the author was 93, is a moving tale of working-class life, the social divide, and forbidden love on the eve of the first World War.

The narrow street on which Harry grew up appeared identical to countless other working-class English neighborhoods, except for the invisible wall that ran down the center of the street, dividing the Jewish families on one side from the Christians on the other. The geographical distance may have been yards, but socially, it was miles. Families on either side did not speak or meet. But when Harry's older sister fell for the boy across the street, Harry became a go-between for the lovers, crossing the great divide to hide their secret. When the truth inevitably came out, Harry had to decide, at a very young age, what he believed was morally right.

©2007 Harry Bernstein (P)2007 Blackstone Audio Inc.

Critic reviews

"Young Harry serves as a wide-eyed guide to a world since dismantled....True to a child's experience, it is the details of domestic life that illuminate the tale." (Publishers Weekly)
"A groundbreaking story of family secrets and forbidden love told in plain, beautiful prose through the eyes of a young Jewish boy....the chapters are tense with danger and with tenderness." (Booklist)
"In Mr. Bernstein's hands, the small events of family life and the daily dramas on the street take on a shimmering, timeless quality." (The New York Times)

A must read

What made the experience of listening to The Invisible Wall the most enjoyable?

Beautifully written story about a boy growing up in Northern England.

What did you like best about this story?

Through Harry's eyes I could see the daily lives of his family and the street where he lived. He told me about his mother and her struggles to raise a family with no help from the children's father or any other family member. It was a difficult life, but Harry's normal.

Which character – as performed by John Lee – was your favorite?

Harry was the hero of the story. It was his story, and he interacted with the family members as a very young child, growing through the years to his early teens.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The story was beautifully crafted and brought us to the crossing of the street when families celebrate the birth of the child.

great story

If you could sum up The Invisible Wall in three words, what would they be?

A poignant glimpse into the real world of people living in England in war time and before

What did you like best about this story?

I loved the honesty and simplicty as told by the author. His admiration and love for his family, especailly his mother was so uplifting. In the midst of extreme poverty they lived, loved and died. It must have been a bleak life, but through the eyes of the child/author it still held joy and love. I also appreciated the fact that even though the father was an alcoholic, abusive person he does not use the book to tear him down. I found this book to be uplifting and wonderfully read. I would listen to it again and again.

Wonderful Characters

This is a wonderful story with colorful ethnic characters. The narrator is terrific in interpreting an elderly man's memory of pre World War I living as a child and all that he, his relatives and in particular his mother and sister had to endure. The characters and the events they lived through were eventful making this a first rate listen. I listen to at least two audio books a month and this is one of the best

moderately interesting

What did you like best about The Invisible Wall? What did you like least?

The division between the Christians and the Jews was not surprising. The story has been told many time. The story was moderately interesting.

wonderful!

You will not be disappointed with this one! The narrator was great. The characters were well developed and interesting.

an amazing story beautifuuly told

I can't believe this was written when the author was in his 90s! Such a personal account of an important time in our history. And a reminder that one is never too old to realize his dream...

invisible wall

great book, great narrator

Audio Ruined by Mispronunciations

Virtually every Hebrew and Yiddish word in this book (of which there are many) is mispronounced. The narrator just didn't care about preparing. Read it. don't listen to -- this wonderful book.

Frank McCourt you're NOT!

Anyone who read Angela's Ashes can tell you that this book is nowhere near as interesting or engaging. The story is more about what the author overheard while sitting in his mother's shop, bits of gossip and other people's conversation. I don't feel like I learned much about the author, he had plenty to say about his sister's love life, though.

There is so much usless information in there I often wondered off and completely forgot what he was talking about and had to rewind several times just to keep up with the story. I'm an avid listenner, this is by far one of the most tedious books I've had to deal with.

Honestly, I don't see how anyone would even compare the two. Comparing to what the McCourts went through, seems to me that this kid had it pretty easy.

tedious

I was hoping for an Angela's Ashes-type experience, but the main character was not as engaging. The writing was "ehh" so I abandoned the book.