I Have Lived a Thousand Years

Growing Up in the Holocaust

By: Livia Bitton-Jackson

Narrated by: Christine Williams

Length: 6 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's summary

Imagine being a 13-year-old girl in love with boys, school, family - life itself. Then suddenly, in a matter of hours, your life is shattered by the arrival of a foreign army. You can no longer attend school, have possessions, talk to your neighbors. One day your family has to leave your house behind and move into a crowded ghetto, where you lose all privacy and there isn’t enough food to eat. Still you manage, somehow, to adjust. But there is much, much worse to come...

This is the memoir of Elli Friedmann, who was 13 years old in March 1944, when the Nazis invaded Hungary. It describes her descent into the hell of Auschwitz, a concentration camp where, because of her golden braids, she was selected for work instead of extermination. In intimate, excruciating details she recounts what it was like to be one of the few teenage camp inmates, and the tiny but miraculous twists of fate that helped her survive against all odds. I Have Lived a Thousand Years is a searing story of cruelty and suffering, but at the same time it is a story of hope, faith, perseverance, and love. It will make you see the world in a new way - and it will make you want to change what you see.

©1997 Livia Jackson (P)2013 AudioGO

Touching and Important Story - Terrible Audio Performance

This is a truly well written personal account of life prior to and during the author's detention in multiple concentration camps. Imagine being a preteen and watching your entire world crumble. Her survival is nothing short of a miracle.

The only issue was the off-putting audio performance.

The actress' voice is nice but her "dramatic" tone comes off as "melodramatic". I did not think that was possible for such a serious topic but that is the only way I can describe it. Unfortunately she leans heavily on this tone throughout the entire recording. I do not understand why they chose this style because the words have enough impact on their own so the "dinner show theater" flair was unnecessary.

If I could go back in time I would just buy the digital book instead of the audiobook.
If you don't have time to commit to reading the story *please do not allow the acting to stop you from purchasing it.*
It's bad, but not bad enough to miss out on a really compelling and touching story.

Good book poor production

Would you try another book from Livia Bitton-Jackson and/or Christine Williams?

The narrator isn't too bad, but she has Whiny voice and speaks way too fast. So no.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

It was too abrupt

What didn’t you like about Christine Williams’s performance?

Too fast and whiny

Did I Have Lived a Thousand Years inspire you to do anything?

Be more careful of narrators

Any additional comments?

This is a good book on surving the Holocaust, but not as good as others. Could have been the narrator though.

starts out slo

started out really slow was hard to get into at first. hang in there it gets better

"My God, My God"

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

I did not really enjoy this book at all. I felt like the story was very vague and all I can remember is her saying "My God, My God" through the whole thing. I did not get emotionally attached to the characters and therefore found it hard to enjoy.

Has I Have Lived a Thousand Years turned you off from other books in this genre?

No, I like this part of history and will continue to read and listen to books about it.

Would you be willing to try another one of Christine Williams’s performances?

No. I did not like her voice.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Slightly disappointed.

How much is real?

Yes, of course this happened. But this was written 50-years after the fact, and contains a ton of dialogue, that tends to track with a b-grade melodrama. I've listened to literally dozens of other holocaust memoirs, and this was one of my least favorite as I just do not believe any of those conversations happened. Really, after years in the camp, seeing everyone around her dying, she's in disbelief when told that it's unlikely her entire family was alive, and has a big dramatic scene? I don't think so. Also, she details how the Germans disguised themselves as being in the Red Cross, then mowed down the Jews while they are locked inside box cars? I had never heard of that happening and tried looking it up, and there's no such event documented. There's just a ton of those moments all throughout the story. It's not consistent with other books I've read, but the big thing is the obviously made up dialogue. I can't stand that, and it really takes away from the rest of the book since it makes you question everything.

People in the reviews are attacking the reader -- well listen to what she's reading, how else are you supposed to read that? While I don't think the reader is any good, it's not like she has much to work with.

no regret

I loved this book. The struggle and heartache make you want to keep listening to see if they will survive. who will survive? it breaks my heart to read about things like this, but I am so greatful for these stories to be published. so generations can be made aware of such horrific events that were allowed to take place.

First person read

It was interesting to listen to this first person story. It was painful at times to listen to their sad journey, but also told well.

Annoying performance

I really wanted to like this book. The subject matter is serious but the reader is annoying. I’m mad that I wasted a credit— I would rather have read the book.

Good book bad narrator

This narrator made me want to shove pencils in my ears. She was either being overly dramatic or doing some sort of sultry voice. I had to stop listening even though the story was good.

Gripping story of bravery and hope

This book is well written and engulfs the reader immediately. You will be inspired and moved but the author’s courage and hope through the darkest of times.

Good book in spite of horrific story

Riveting book and the story teller was great,the right person for the telling of a awful story The narrator sounded young and it worked perfectly to narrate a young girl telling of unbelievable horror!!!

good book, not so good reader

I was impressed with the close to accurate pronunciation of Hungarian names. However the reading made the story not so easy to listen to. But the story was interesting.

Heart wrenching story

Heart breaking story. Well written but I didn't enjoy the narrator's monotone voice and couldn't wait to finish which is a shame because it is an amazing story.

Lived a thousand years

I found this book very informative and yet harrowing. It was beautifully written and narrated well especially the last chapter, which I won’t spoil but I felt every word I was almost there. The horrors of this must never be forgotten

Riveting

Horrendous subject matter but told though the eyes of a young girl made it even more real and riveting

A very....

heart-wrenching and moving memoir. Thank you for sharing your story. The narrator was very good.

Captivating story. Odd voicing

For me this story was incredible but overall marred at times by the odd voice intonation and style of presentation which seemed out of place when rather grim passages were being read.

a moving account

a very moving account of a young girls survival of the holocaust
very thought provoking
narrator was marvellous.

A 13 yr olds fight for survivol with her family!

Quite a difficult listen at times! unbelievable how this extraordinary 13yr old managed to survive something so horrific while fighting for survival for and with her family! one story you will not forget and you will need your tissues!

I have to listen.

We should all listen to all these stories, they are harrowing and should be beyond belief but they are true and not even long ago. It must never never happen again.