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)

Excellent!!

A really great listen. Initially I feared the subject would be to grim to have in my ears for 10 hours. But the optimism and determination for survival that defined Sara made me not want it to end. She was a remarkable woman to say the least. The narration is perfectly suited to her character and the story.

Wonderful book

I loved this story - Sara’s tenacity, stubbornness, will to live and desire not to let her experience define who she would become. The narration also added to my enjoyment of the book. I recommend this book. If you enjoy stories of the Holocaust or stories where people triumph in spite of their past circumstances, you will like this book.

Impactful

Unfortunately there can be many atrocities and tragedies in this world, on our various journeys. However we have few, or at least heard of, such examples of bright, noble spirits whose lights remain undimmed, lighting the way to others. I cried at the loss of Sarah. And yet is one lost to the world when instead of leaving sticks in place of bones upon death, we leave instead something bright and wonderful, of which others can continue to partake, which is the substance of a life fully and truly well lived? A very rich experience.

New insghts

Couldn't stop listening. It was great to hear story in first person and know it is true.

the seamstress

Being a true story which are the best one , we must hear, believe and live to NEVER have anything like this happen again .
Thank God she lived to tell it, everyone should hear, or read it.

Beautiful, heartbreaking, heartwarming

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed this very much. The narration and story immerse you in another, different world. It is hard to fathom how difficult life was when this story developed, but the authors place you there through their details of the smaller, and the larger, picture.

Open your eyes America!!

Nice story. However I think it's an injustice slightly because a lot was withheld on what they were put through and how badly the suffering really was. I think this was due to the author being severely haunted by the memory of it all and couldn't discuss it because it brought it all flooding back giving her nightmares. Her being a positive person in the face of death to keep herself and loved ones alive prevented her from being truly honest and telling a full account about the whole event. It was engrained in her to survive and got in the way. A Lovely woman. How sad to think she couldn't talk about the holocaust because of the horrors and murderous losses and living in fear for the little bit of family to survive. She had to be strong so others wouldn't give in and die. People are already forgetting what happened. We cannot forget because if we do, it will happen again! They are already prepping for it. This time a plan is in effect so the outcome is in their favor this time. The control won't be lost. We need to open our eyes and see the obvious and prepare! Take your head out of the sand it doesn't go away just because you choose to live in ignorance. Doing this only makes it a death penalty for your grandchildren and a future of slavery for their children.

Absolutely inspiring, revealing and incredible!

What made the experience of listening to The Seamstress the most enjoyable?

So many things...Sara was such an incredible woman and the narration couldn't have been better.

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

None

What about Wanda McCaddon’s performance did you like?

It seemed as though Sara was telling the story.

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

Her strength and courage throughout.

Any additional comments?

Thank you so much to the family for writing this book and having it available on Audible!

Amazing story of survival

I read lots of stories about the both WWI and WWII and quite a few about the holocaust. This one in particular was so well written. I like true stories because you get a greater sense of what it was really like. Saran’s basic optimism and will to survive was amazing and is what kept her alive. Aside from the atrocities of the camps I was amazed at her will.

Also I haven’t read many books about the Jewish people in Romania or Transylvania as it was called then. Very interesting.

The narrator did a fantastic job too with her careful and heartfelt reading.

This book left me with the need to learn more about Saran but I haven’t found anything.

Excellent book for all to read.

Uplifting story!

What did you love best about The Seamstress?

The very matter of fact way the Seren Tuval told her story.

What did you like best about this story?

Seren Tuval was a remarkable young woman who saved not only herself but two others from certain death. Her resourcefulness,survival skills, and refusal to give up were inspirational. Also fascinating were the attitudes and thoughts of the Hungarian people who couldn't really believe what was happening. It was eye opening for me how people continue to believe the best about society in the face of facts and experiences to the contrary.

Any additional comments?

I also enjoyed the comments from her daughter about her life after the war. Although I don't usually "enjoy" or read Holocaust books this one was special.