I just received notification that my book The Seven Year Dress has been reviewed by the Reader’s Favorite site. I’m thrilled to start my day with this great review from such a prestigious site.
https://readersfavorite.com/authors-area
Completed on:
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12/08/2016 | |
Review Rating:
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5 stars! | |
Reviewed By Raanan Geberer for Readers’ Favorite
The Seven Year Dress by Paulette Mahurin tells of the rise of Nazism in Germany and the concentration camps, as related by aged survivor to a young nursing student who rents a room in her apartment. There have been numerous holocaust memoirs, but most deal with the Jews of Eastern Europe, while this one focuses on Germany itself. Through Helen’s eyes, we see the progression of anti-Semitism throughout the 1930s, from harassment of Jewish businesses to the prohibition against Jews working in certain professions, from racial laws prohibiting marriage or sexual relationships between Jews and non-Jews to the seizure of radios and firearms from Jews. Like many older Jews, Helen’s father takes a “wait-and-see” attitude toward Nazism, but the young Helen almost immediately sees Nazism for what it is. After the violence of Kristallnacht, a non-Jewish friend secretly offers Helen and her brother, Ben, a hiding place in the basement of an old farmhouse, but their troubles have just begun. Paulette Mahurin’s The Seven Year Dress is well written — as a journalism graduate, I was pleased to see that she uses short paragraphs, a minimum of adjectives and adverbs, and so on. It doesn’t shy away from difficult topics, such as Helen’s and Ben’s separate sexual fantasies while they are hiding in the basement. Perhaps more than in most such memoirs, you can vividly feel the tragedy of the holocaust; Helen is the only one of four siblings who survives the war. It’s also inspirational how Helen still clings to humanity, as witnessed when the non-Jewish friend (who joins the SS, but mainly as a “cover”), brings Helen some of her favorite books that he has salvaged from their family home (all of them American novels, by the way). All in all, I heartily recommend The Seven Year Dress. And what of the dress itself? You’ll have to read the book to find out. |
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For clarification: I was the nursing student who rented a room from the real Helen, the aged survivor. I made mention of this at the bottom of the review at the Reader’s Favorite site. |
congrats on the review! I would love to read this, I am definitely going to try and hunt it down to read during this holiday break!
Hi and thank you Nicole. Here’s wishing you a great holiday break. 🙂
Great review. And from a journalist graduate!
I love these wake up to surprises. Starting off the day with a big smile. ❤
Lovely review…and from such a source!
I know, I was so happy to see she had a journalist degree and approved of my grammar and short paragraphs. You know the pains we writers take to avoid someone commenting on those things! But truth be told from my experience the job of the editor and picking up grammar errors is endless. The rules of writing are so varied and annoying. Who talks like that anyway?!! Happy morning to you and hope your day is a good one, for both you and Leo. ❤
Nice review 👍👍👍
Thank you so much for stopping by and your kind words. 🙂
How wonderful Paulette!
Thanks so much, Colleen. It was a nice treat to start this Saturday off with. ❤
You keep getting these accolades, for a very good and obvious reason, that of being the author you are with a style that invites a readership of all tastes. As a humble scribbler, it is indeed a pleasure to witness your well deserved escalating success. Bravo again, Paulette!
Ah, thank you for your kind and most generous words, my dear talented poet friend. I’m truly grateful for your support and our friendship. ❤
Great review!!
Thanks so much S & C. Happy to share it with ya’ll. ❤
This is awesome awesomeness, right? I’m speechless with congratulations. 😀 😀 ❤
Awesome awesomeness said it! Thanks Tess! ❤
Well deserved. Happy Xmas ❤
Thank you so much my talented friend. Happy holidays to you, Ryan, and the girls. ❤
Great revieuw Paulette.Wish you all the best
Ah Lou, so nice to receive this from you on this festive day. Bless you and may the holiday time be filled with many joyful moments. Looking forward to more with you in 2017. Love, Paulette