What They Didn't Burn

What they didn't burn is really a fitting name for the journey tell in this book. As a complete outsider from the events narrated, was very interesting to see the POV from a son of an holocaust surviver specially about how difficult can be to navigate the topic when it brings such hard memories to their loved ones, and about how they identify their parents story effect or lack of in their life. It was a very powerful thing to be able to go through this journey with the author and one that we all can learn about how generally speaking, we as younger generations often forget to appreciate the life's and stories of our parents and grandparents and I shared the sentiment of regret of not listening enough of my grandma's stories even worse not caring enough.

A fascinating perspective on a time of our history which must keep being discussed so we can continue to learn from the past. Reminiscent of some aspects of the Tattooist of Auschwitz, this book calls the reader to consider the perspectives of people who did what they must to survive against all odds.

This book is meticulously researched and incredibly well-written. It is not easy to read due to the content, but easy to read due to fantastic writing. I find it difficult to describe how the book left me feeling after finishing reading...It reads like a good memoir: enough detail and description where warranted, brief mentions or skipping of irrelevant information. I can only describe it as it feels 'light' to read. I started the book and time flew by, I was absorbed a bubble of images created in my mind by the words I read. When I say it felt 'light' to read, it's the only word I can find to describe how I experience the best written books. I don't read words on a page anymore, instead I am transported into a movie created by my mind. I am in a bubble,and the real world fades.
There is nothing light about this book though. The content is dark, disturbing, frightening, horrific, and 100% true. It's factual, but evokes strong emotions. It's not dry and dusty, instead reads like fiction through good writing. It doesn't dramatize or become hyper emotional for effect. It's just so real. So frighteningly real and true.

This is one of those really important books that everyone should read. Let these stories never be forgotten. I admire the author for the years of work and effort put into this project and produce this truly important testament of the strength, endurance and resilience of surviving unimaginable cruelty inflicted by people onto people.
This book will stay with me forever, same as "Prisoner 88", who guest lectured once when I was in university.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an ARC for review purposes. I am grateful for the opportunity.

This incredible, personal journey of a son walking through the roughest years of his father's life. Laytner only discovers the terrors of his father after the father passes. History will never share the full story of what occurred during WW2 because the horrors couldn't be expressed or communicated fully to those who didn't share the experiences.

Thankfully, this son decided it was important enough to dig deeper. Mel turns his journalistic knowledge towards the subject and does a thorough investigation of a terrible time. Pulling threads from many different directions, he recreates a tapestry to share with the world of lives that survived and succeeded. Mel Laytner traveled the globe to look at crumbling documents and find answers to how his father survived the Holocaust.

It's an informative read that History students will enjoy and the world must not forget!

I really enjoyed this book :) sometimes it went to detailed for me but I can appreciate the research that went into creating this book :) adding in the photos of evidence and facts was a beautiful touch and nice to reference to :) also adding in ‘where everyone ended up’ was great too, knowing where their lives took them was good to know . Loved this book and learning more about history :)

This book was amazing and inspiring! I was drawn in from the first page and couldn’t stop. There are certain times in life and history that shouldn’t be erased or forgotten and this is one of them. I cannot imagine finding out things the author did about someone you thought you knew. But really he was so much more!!

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.