The Secret Holocaust Diaries

August 31, 2009
Russian refugee Bannister (1927–2004) rarely spoke about her brutal experiences under the regimes of Stalin and Hitler, not even to the American she married after the war. In this memoir, she reveals how a privileged childhood in the 1920s and '30s gave way to horror and loss in the 1940s. Although the sound quality of this production is poor (lots of rustling papers), Rebecca Gallagher does reasonably well with the multiple languages and wisely avoids attempting to replicate European accents. What is irritating, however, is the constant interruption in the form of unnecessary editor's notes, which make the narrative choppy and disjointed. More helpful is the seventh disc, which contains an interview with Bannister's husband and son, a precious audio reminiscence from Nonna herself, recorded in 1993, and abundant PDF materials, including maps, photographs and genealogical data. A Tyndale hardcover.

September 1, 2009
Bannister, the proud daughter of Russian nobility, endured German forced labor camps, the loss of family and friends, and other experiences more commonly associated with the persecution of Jews and other minorities during World War II. Here, more than half a century later, she shares her story through self-translated diary entries and accounts of her family history. The diary text is greatly enhanced by the numerous editorial comments, which provide context, supplemental information, and some chronological orientation. Rebecca Gallagher ("Why I Jumped") adeptly transitions between the diary and editorial text. Though this is a fascinating work, Bannister's Christian proselytizing can be annoying. Recommended for any adult interested in Holocaust materials; too graphic for kids. [Audio clip available through www.oasisaudio.com.Ed.]I. Pour-El, Ames Jewish Congregation, IA

Copyright 2009 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.