Schindler\

Oskar Schindler: The Untold Account of His Life, Wartime Activites, and the True Story Behind the List
$22.00
For anyone interested in the historical Oskar Schindler, this is an exhaustively researched account of the life and death of the man,focused around his WWII-related activities.

While the subject matter is of huge interest it is quite tiresome. The author goes into tremendous detail in everything that touches Schindler, directly or indirectly, and there are chapters where Oskar is not even mentioned! It would make a much more interesting, easy and focused reading if he didn't explain the whole Sudetan history and politics, for instance: sure, it is of historical interest, and sure, Oskar came from that background, but so much detail is simply off topic...

The problem is that the author felt compelled to include, in the book, all the research that he did, along with extensive introductions about diverse matters - like state policy against mentally ill people etc. All this halts the narrative and really destroys any sense of continuity.

What's more, for some reason the author has obviously set out to destroy the 'myth of Oskar Schindler". While, of course, the movie was not 100% historically accurate I really see no reason for the author to feel like 'debunking it'. The title of one chapter, "The beginning of the Schindler Myth" really got to my nerves.

All in all, a lost opportunity...

Searching for Schindler: A memoir
$25.00
Enjoyable book about the meeting between the author and the former Jewish
prisoner who settled in the US and was determined to have his experiences
about being saved by Schlinder published.

Schindler's List (Full Screen Edition)
$19.98
Schindler's List effectively captures on film, the depiction of one of the most horrific and unconscionable events of all time - the Holocaust. Even through one of the darkest eras in human history, there are those who lifted their hands in quiet, skillful defiance and offered a glimmer of hope and pockets of goodness that continue to reverberate from generation to generation. Oskar Schindler was one of those people.

Based on a true story and shot entirely in black and white, Stephen Spielberg shows his brilliance in directing this dark and moving classic starring Liam Neeson, Ben Kingsley, Ralph Fiennes, and Caroline Goodall.

The story begins with Oskar Schindler, a penniless Nazi, and his dream of making a fortune from cheap labor found in the Ghetto - a place where Polish Jews were exiled by Nazi Germany. There they were placed into poverty after being ripped from their homes and stripped of their possessions.

As time goes by, Oskar Schindler begins to see a different side of things and finds himself deeply affected by the unjust torment and murderous acts carried out against these innocent people. Incrementally and progressively, he steps out onto a path to save as many people as he can, but must find a way to avoid the cruel and unforgiving transgressions of the German army, else death will come to him as well.

Judaism is the central religion of the Jewish people. It is derived from Hebrew beliefs and practices set forth in the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), also known to many Christians as the Old Testament. Their ancestry stems from the tribes of the Children of Israel. Being one of the oldest surviving monotheistic (one God) religions, Judaism considers divine covenants as their foundation. With a covenant being a contract between the Jewish people and God, many felt betrayed and abandoned during the Holocaust.

This film is equally inspiring and disturbing. Spielberg has accomplished another masterpiece and forever etched the tragic images into our minds, lest we shall never forget, and nor should we. This movie is highly recommended and should be viewed by all mature audiences everywhere. With great confidence, I can easily say Schindler's List is the best movie I hope to never see again.

Schindler's List
$26.00
This is the most important book I've read so far this decade. The author Thomas Keneally writes extremely well and even if you know quite a bit about the Holocaust, you will learn more as a result of reading this book. Characters of all varieties are brought to life here and force you to consider ethical principles and the nature of human behavior.

I watched only part of the movie of this book as it made me nauseous. For those who may have avoided the movie for similar reasons, I can highly recommend the book. You can read it slowly, taking in all the historical facts, and though the brutality is described, you do not have to witness it with your eyes. It is still difficult but leads you more to an interior exploration of your own ethics and opinions about society.

One of the important aspects of the book is that Schindler was no angel. He had many character flaws. But he attempted to save as many victims of the Nazis as he could despite the danger. Therefore, the book though depicting the worst kind of brutality can give us hope. I urge you to read this book.