The Secret Holocaust Diaries cover art

The Secret Holocaust Diaries

The Untold Story of Nonna Bannister

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The Secret Holocaust Diaries

By: Nonna Bannister, Denise George, Carolyn Tomlin
Narrated by: Rebecca Gallagher
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About this listen

 For half a century, a terrible secret lay hidden, locked in a trunk in an attic... photos, official documents, and scraps of a diary written by a young girl. "The time has come when I must share my life story... some facts from the past that could make a contribution, however small it may be, to the history of mankind."

The Secret Holocaust Diaries is a haunting eyewitness account of Nonna Lisowskaja Bannister, a remarkable Russian-American woman who saw and survived unspeakable evils as a young girl.

For half a century, she kept her story secret while living a normal American life. She locked all her photos, documents, diaries, and dark memories from World War II in a trunk. Late in life, she unlocked the trunk, first for herself, then for her husband, and now for the rest of the world. Nonna's story is one of suffering, torture, and death - but also of incredible acts of kindness that show the ultimate triumph of faith and love over despair and evil.

The Secret Holocaust Diaries is in part a tragedy, yet it's also an unforgettable true story about forgiveness, courage, and hope.

©2009 Nonna Bannister (P)2009 Oasis 20th Century Military Modern War Inspiring Holocaust Russia

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All stars
Most relevant  
A loooong preamble, constant intrusive editorial comments and too much detail of family names and inconsequential events. For the authors descendants this detail would be wonderful - oh that my grandmother had written her story in such detail for us - but slows the narrative down to anecdotes about a past time. I’ve given up at chapter 12. Too little related to the title.

Repetitive

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I feel privelaged to have had access to Nonna's life story. An important account of the second world war atrocoties that should never be forgotten.

Heart-rending true story.

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This one was difficult to listen to because of all the editors notes in between various sections throughout the book. I found it almost impossible to keep up with at first but once I got used to the style in which the book was put together and reminded myself that the entire text was put together from various bits of paper with scribbles on in five different languages compiled over several years mainly during Nona's childhood, it all came together and I was able to get through it. So glad I did as I learnt a great deal from this one.

Some parts of the book are quite graphic depicting first hand eye witness accounts of atrocities seen through the eyes of a child, a young Nona fighting to stay alive herself. So keep that in mind when listening through speakers if there are any young children within earshot.

Strength and courage, the will to survive, its all there in this one which leaves little to the imagination.

Three out of five stars because there are some very long winded descriptions of past pre-war family times together and the editors notes scattered throughout. Aside from those two issues, the book is well worth the listen, it gives a good insight into what it was like to be living in Russia during the invasion, the deportations of Jews and how Nona survived and went on to live the life she had in the end.

Seen Through The Eyes of a Child

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