Alex Gao Gao itibaren Herdwangen-Schönach, Germany itibaren Herdwangen-Schönach, Germany

This book was so interesting to read in that the stories are memories shared by the writer's granmothers. Masha Gessen is a Russian journalist who has been the Russian correspondant to US News and World Report, she took some time from her career to spend with her grand mothers and record their story of living through this time in history.

The mostly unknown author, Ehud Havazelet, writes stories that can't be forgotten. Following the Birnbaum family, and David Birnbaum in large part, this collection centers on the incomprehensible, but undeniable universal conflict between fathers and sons. In it, pain, sorrow, and joy. In it, the willingness to forgive. Recommended to everyone, the stories are almost all written in parts (1, 2, 3...) but climaxes with the powerful "Ruth's Story" which begins with the very beautiful and true: "In a waiting room, you wait." Highly recommended. -C