“Family History of Fear has been in me for years. Along with this secret. From the instant I found out I was not who I thought I was.†Every family has its own history. Many families carry a tragic past. Like the author’s mother; many Poles did not tell their children a complete story of their wartime exploits—of the underground Home Army; the tragedy of the Warsaw Uprising; the civil war against the Communists. Years had to pass before the stories of suffering and heroism could be told.In Family History of Fear; Agata TuszyÅ„ska; one of Poland’s most admired poets and cultural historians; writes of the stories she heard from her mother about her secret past. TuszyÅ„ska; author of Vera Gran (“a book of extraordinary depth and powerâ€â€”Richard Eder; The Boston Globe; “captivatingâ€â€”Newsweek; “darkly absorbing; shrewd; and sharply etchedâ€â€”Publishers Weekly); has written a powerful memoir about growing up after the Second World War in Communist Poland—blonde; blue-eyed; and Catholic.The author was nineteen years old and living in Warsaw when her mother told her the truth—that she was Jewish—and began to tell her stories of the family’s secret past in Poland. TuszyÅ„ska; who grew up in a country beset by anti-Semitism; rarely hearing the word “Jew†(only from her Polish Catholic father; and then; always in derision); was unhinged; ashamed; and humiliated. The author writes of how she skillfully erased the truth within herself; refusing to admit the existence of her other half. In this profoundly moving and resonant book; TuszyÅ„ska investigates her past and writes of her journey to uncover her family’s history during World War II—of her mother at age eight and her mother; entering the Warsaw Ghetto for two years as conditions grew more desperate; and finally escaping just before the uprising; and then living “hidden on the other side.†She writes of her grandfather; one of five thousand Polish soldiers taken prisoner in 1939; becoming; later; the country’s most famous radio sports announcer; and of her relatives and their mysterious pasts; as she tries to make sense of the hatred of Jews in her country. She writes of her discoveries and of her willingness to accept a radically different definition of self; reading the works of Isaac Bashevis Singer; opening up for her a world of Polish Jewry as he became her guide; and then writing about his life and work; circling her Jewish self in Lost Landscapes: In Search of Isaac Bashevis Singer and the Jews of Poland. A beautiful and affecting book of discovery and acceptance; a searing; insightful portrait of Polish Jewish life; lived before and after Hitler’s Third Reich.
#1778254 in Books 2002-02-20Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 1.50 x 5.52 x 8.42l; #File Name: 0374527180448 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Insightful Historical Account of African Americans in Television 1950 - 1999By a2z ConsumerDonald Bogle’s Primetime Blues is may be the most detailed historical accounts of African-American performers on television. Bogle meticulously accounts for television shows featuring African-American performers in lead and supporting roles from 1950 – 1990. Bogle groups the series by themes (often ubiquitous misrepresentations of African-Americans) and provides a synopsis of the series; a few notable or infamous episodes and profiles of actors. I would have preferred more information about the development of the shows. Bogle delved into the development of a few programs including: The Cosby Show; The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air; Roots and The Making of Jane Pittman but I would have provided more insight into the networks thinking about the select programs they did elect to air featuring African-American talent.Primetime Blues is not a completely objective account; Bogle inserts his personal commentary throughout his account. One comment about OJ Simpson in particular stood out for me; “his starring role in the most riveting TV of the 1990s; his trial for the murder of his former wife; Nicole Brown Simpson.†Overall; I enjoyed Primetime Blues. I hope Bogle has plans to update this book to include the Golden Age of TV and highlight African-American acclaimed actors; showrunners and directors including Shonda Rhimes; Ava Duvernay; Lee Daniels; John Ridley; Oprah Winfrey (OWN); Issa Rae; Donald Glover; Angela Bassett; Viola Davis; Regina King; Courtney Vance; Sterling K. Brown.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Outstanding Television History Lesson for All InterestedBy Reginald D. GarrardAlthough I initially intended on simply reviewing Bogle's masterwork; I feel that along with a personal reflection on the book; it is necessary to contradict statements made by an earlier reviewer.Yes; the book is "exhaustive" but never is it boring. Every profile of African-American actors on the tube is carefully detailed and extensively covered; with little asides that make for intriguing reading. To this reader; it is clear that Bogle feels that there have been significant improvements in the representation of Blacks on television; but there are still some significant inroads; in front of and behind the camera; that need to be made. By covering as thoroughly as he has the entirety of those African-American pioneers and trendsetters; the author satisfies those that have longed to see such a mammoth undertaking published.I; for one; savor the profiles of such underrated performers as Rosalind Cash; Joe Morton; Shirley Hemphill; Juano Hernandez; James Edwards; and a slew of others that labored with many less-than-distinguished parts and managed to create something memorable. It is further refreshing to see the author give the backgrounds of the more familiar African-American superstars like Bill Cosby; Cicely Tyson; and Diahann Carroll.While I do not particularly care for the programs that have a "monochromatic cast" (Friends; Martin; and the various UPN "black-block" shows); I understand and appreciate Bogle's belief that television shows have a responsibility to inform and present a realistic portrayal of society; be that program a sitcom or a drama.It is true that television is primarily entertainment; however; in that entertainment; thought-provoking writing and occasional commentary on society is warranted. That is one of Bogle's premises that he eloquently expresses.This is a top-notch historical/editorial reference that makes for great reading and a worthwhile addition to the library of any fan of the "boob tube."0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy BknownGreat History Lesson about the known and unknown pioneers of television.
