The Librarian of Auschwitz

By: Antonio Iturbe, Lilit Thwaites - translator, Dita Kraus - prologue

Narrated by: Marisa Calin

Length: 13 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's Summary

This program features a prologue read by Dita Kraus.

Based on the experience of real-life Auschwitz prisoner Dita Kraus, The Librarian of Auschwitz is the incredible story of a girl who risked her life to keep the magic of books alive during the Holocaust. Written with touching sensitivity by Antonio Iturbe, and translated by Lilit Thwaites, this audiobook provokes every emotional response and will not be forgotten.

Fourteen-year-old Dita is one of the many imprisoned by the Nazis at Auschwitz. Taken, along with her mother and father, from the Terezín ghetto in Prague, Dita is adjusting to the constant terror that is life in the camp. When Jewish leader Freddy Hirsch asks Dita to take charge of the eight precious volumes the prisoners have managed to sneak past the guards, she agrees. And so Dita becomes the librarian of Auschwitz. Out of one of the darkest chapters of human history comes this extraordinary story of courage and hope.

This title has Common Core connections.

©2012, 2017 Text copyright Antonio Iturbe; translation copyright Lilit Žekulin Thwaites (P)2017 Macmillan Audio

The Librarian of Auschwitz

The only way to improve on this story would be if it were not based on the unbearable suffering of real people. Carefully told and beautifully read, the characters reveal strength and weaknesses in the worst circumstances. You hold your breath as Mengele passes by, you worry about discovery and betrayal and you hope against hope that all will survive, when you know they can't. Well researched, you are taken back in time to witness the horror for yourself and find the humanity and strength of character that seems impossible.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Wow

This is an amazing book that tells an incredible story but the author is all over the place with the story. I Think this book is too long and even though the book seems to focus on the main character Dita the author talks about soooo many characters that its hard to keep track. I had to switch to the audiobook after the first couple of chapter because I was struggling to keep up with all the stories.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Great Narration and Story

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

High

Who was your favorite character and why?

Dita

Have you listened to any of Marisa Calin’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

When it was time to die, one young girl decided it was time to learn instead

Any additional comments?

This is a great read for young and old

4 of 5 people found this review helpful

A little hope

It is crucial we never forget what the Nazis did. This is a great historical fiction book that tells the story of a just a few of the million that crossed the archway. This story though shows hope and just one the many ways the prisoners, the Jews, fought back.

Read, or listen but have tissue on hand.

Moving story

The story behind the book was amazing but the book did not read as a novel. There were times the author seemed to jump out of the story to relate historical facts. I would have enjoyed the book more if it was always told from the main characters point of view.

Spectacular Research

Wonderful literature, and fantastic research. Even after reading/listening to many WW2, Holocaust stories, they continue to break my heart. So many brave, beautiful souls lost to such evil, yet so many went on with their lives even after enduring it.

Captivating

I became completely enthralled in this book. I listened on my commute to work and made myself late a couple times because I sat in my car unable to turn it off.

Couldn't finish this

I wanted to love this story, but it was so disjointed and awkward. The narration was harsh and distracting with constant changes in volume and emphasis. After a couple of hours I just couldn't force myself to go on.

A Must Read

For anyone who wants to know and understand more of the horrors that the Jewish and others dealt with during the Holocaust and how they were able to survive and live on, this is a must read. Standing in a place like Auschwitz, one can simply not grasp the entire reality of what went on - this book, unfortunately, made the place come alive and you understood better and it infuriates you even more on how people can treat people so terribly. For us readers, it helps us explain how books can save a soul. I will recommend this to anyone asking for a great, life changing book!

Great read

This book was so very sad and depressing to know what these people went through. Book was slow in beginning but better later on. Good author in explaining in detail all the heartache

Amazing!!

One of the best books I have ever read. A must read for any booklover. Engaging and well written the compelling story keeps the reader on the edge throughout the whole read. The address from "Dita Adler" in the opening was especially compelling. I loved it! Wish I could translate it into Icelandic, my native language.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

The Librarian

Such a touching and an emotional book.
She will be in my thoughts and prayers forever never to be forgotten.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

The book that Tattooist of Auschwitz wishes it was

This is a fantastic piece of historical literature that neither pulls punches in regards what happened at Auschwitz-Birkenau nor spares the emotions of a teen girl and her observations of what happened to her and around her.

From the Prologue by Dita Kraus, our Librarian and now obviously an elderly lady, to the handling of the after math of the death camps this book flows with information and has a tidal wave of emotion to deal with.

If you have read/listened to The Tattooist of Auschwitz, you may feel, like I did, heartily disappointed in the gaps and quality of writing in the story or if indeed you may be holding the novel up high as a must read - either way, read / listen to The Librarian of Auschwitz and you will not be disappointed.

I wasn't sure about the narration at the start, very slow and methodical, within 15 minutes this is forgotten as Marisa pulls you into Dita's world and you don't want to leave her side until it is all over.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

So moving...

A truly heart wrenching story based on fact that everyone should hear about in their lifetime. Amazing listen.