The Seamstress

By: Sara Tuvel Bernstein, Louise Loots Thornton, Marlene Bernstein Samuels

Narrated by: Wanda McCaddon

Length: 12 hrs and 19 mins

Publisher's summary

Audie Award Winner, Biography and Memoir, 2013

Told with the same old-fashioned narrative power as the novels of Herman Wouk, The Seamstress is the true story of Seren (Sara) Tuvel Bernstein and her survival during wartime. This powerful eyewitness account of survival, told with power and grace, will stay with listeners for years to come.

©1999 Sara Tuvel Bernstein (P)2011 Tantor

Critic reviews

"There are many recent accounts of Holocaust victims, but this work stands alone as a testimony to personal strength and an independent spirit." ( Library Journal)

outstanding!

Where does The Seamstress rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

in the top five

What other book might you compare The Seamstress to and why?

this is the first story I have listened to about survivors of the holocaust so I cannot compare to any other book.

What about Wanda McCaddon’s performance did you like?

for me she captured the moments of Sarah's life in good times and in terrible times as well

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

there were several but I literally cried after Sarah was rescued and weighed. it broke my heart

Any additional comments?

This book moved me so much. Nothing in my life can never be so terrible compared to what all of these women went through. this book did change my life. I recommend it to anyone.

Heartwrenching story

Any additional comments?

Wow! It's amazing what this woman went through. I was profoundly touched by this story. I cried often hearing of the suffering; yet, I was overjoyed at her strength and will to survive.

I read alot of historical fiction and especially WW II historical novels. I still find it so hard to believe that any group of people could be so cold and cruel to their fellow human beings. This is probably one of the best WW II historical novels I have ever read. This book is not a fictional novel, rather a true story - a memoir of Sara Tuvel.

The narration was excellent as well. I felt like I was listening to Sara Tuvel herself telling me her story. If you like this genre, other great books are Winter Garden, The Book Thief, City of Thieves, and the Nazi Officer's Wife. Nazi Officer's Wife is also a true story, while the others are fictional, but based on historical events. The Winter Garden and The Seamstress are my two favorites so far.

Don't miss this read/listen. You'll love it.

Unbelievable great story

Would you consider the audio edition of The Seamstress to be better than the print version?

Don't know. I am an audio book fan

Who was your favorite character and why?

Who else but Sarah. She is the story.

What about Wanda McCaddon’s performance did you like?

Her voice portrayed the strength and emotion of the main character. One of my favorite reads of all time.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I did have a reaction to this book and so this is why I am writing this review. Yes, it made me cry and I mean big ole tears.

Any additional comments?

I love books that bring strong, warm characters, historical perspectives and facts. This book had it all. One of my all time favorites, can't be missed.

The Seamstress

A wonderful story of survival,strength and determination
It allows you to understand what the mind is capable of under grave circumstances .
A remarkable story

Lovely, amazing, wonderful, thought provoking

Sara is an outstanding example of not allowing the incredible horrors of her experience to cloud the rest of her life. She chose love, kindness, caring, instead of constant fear and distrust.

another great account!

What did you love best about The Seamstress?

It's hard to love a story about the holocaust. So much stress and depression the reader has to endure, one has only the imagination to figure out what it really must have felt like. Wth every story of this massacre i read, my love only grows for the strength that the writer had to of had to get through it. In that sense, i love how this book reminded me of tye things that matter in life, and how it reminded me that my probelems are mere ant hills compaired to those that had to live years like this.

Who was your favorite character and why?

My favorite character, of course, is sara. She may have been tried to the very end, but she didn't loose who she was; keeping her personality and morals strong until the very end, not afraid to atand up for the truth in what she believed, and didn't succumb to what the nazi's wanted her to become.

Which scene was your favorite?

I loved her flashbacks to her child hood. The moments in life she could remember to keep her going.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I had my happy moments and sad momeits throughout the book, but the strongest was that mokent when it ended and i was reminded of all the little good things in ky life. These stories never fail to make me count my blessings, no matter how smll.

Any additional comments?

Highly recomended! The narriation is great, althoufh sometimes hard to decipher between the haracters, her accents made the story more believeabl and

Minor Flaws

This story is important and told with a surprisingly straightforward honesty. The narrator was fine though the east European accent was a bit flawed - there seemed to be hint of Irish brogue that was a little distracting.

The afterword was not the strongest part of the book. The perceptions and experiences of the children of Holocaust survivors is interesting and perhaps important. It might even be worth a sequel. Co-opting Sara's story was not the place for Sara's daughter to talk about herself

Another Riveting Holocaust Memoir

How many books like this have I read? They are always good. Human resilience is amazing… and sadly, so is cruelty.

This recollection of suffering and surviving through hard times was just as riveting as the others, and therefore another must-read.

Sara was a True Hero

The narration of this book made it so captivating and Wanda McCaddon made you feel you were right there with Sara in the Concentration Camps. This made me cry at the end and it was full of emotion, reality and horror.
I give this 4 stars only because it had a slow start, but keeping on with it I couldn't put it down.
Sara's Bravery and her ability to take care of her sister and friends in the concentration camp was so amazing. How she survived those horrible years, I can't imagine.
Don't miss this book.

Exceeded my expectations

This is one of those audio books that will stay with me for a long time. I found myself quite emotional at different passages. I agree with others about this being a required read ( or listen) for middle or high school students.