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)

A good read

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

I did not read print version.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Sara Tuval

Would you listen to another book narrated by Wanda McCaddon?

Probably not...her accent was a little heavy for my liking.

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

The struggle to become well again when she was in hospital.

Uplifting Read

This was an example of a woman who, despite the grimmest circumstances imaginable, always looked at the possibility of and for goodness. Well written, well narrated. I loved it.

Incredible story of inner strength

This is an absolutely incredible book about a young woman who didn't let go of her will to live and was able to save a few lives along the way. It is so well written and tugs at the heart strings.

Courage as a life

The story was strong and while I was listening to it I was also read another book about another Hungarian Jewish family torn apart by war. The stories were not meant to be read together, but what they did was to elevate my understanding of war and hate and desire to live.
These people survived on courage, on need to be on the very essence of winning their place on this planet. I loved Sarin the main character...the oldest sister. And of course I could not help wondering if I too could have survived. it was a good good listen. I suggest it to anyone who is willing to struggle through all the inhumanity.

Good read

Starts slow but I gave it a chance and glad I did. If you are into WWII and holocaust history you should read it.

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.