Reviews: The Choice (23)

The Choice is one of those books that stands out in your mind from everything you have read. Edith Eger's story of survival, trauma and recovery is gripping and inspiring in equal measure. In dealing with very difficult topics it offers honesty, humanity and hope.

“Our painful experiences aren’t a liability—they’re a gift. They give us perspective and meaning, an opportunity to find our unique purpose and our strength.” ― Edith Eger, The Choice

Oh my goodness, I can't even begin to tell you how good this book is. It's not just another Holocaust survivors life-story, it's so much more than that ... it's extraordinary!

Dr Eger is now 90 years old and what an amazing woman she is ... this book tells the story of being a teenager and her relationship with her parents and sisters, the truly horrific time she spent being a prisoner of the Nazis, her astonishing strength and bravery before, during and after the war and of her life once freedom had been achieved.

Once again, I can't tell you how good this book is. It's beautifully written and flows exceptionally well. Highly recommended.

My thanks go to the publisher, Penguin Random House UK, Ebury Publishing via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.

Recommend 100%

I have never read a book from a Holocaust survivor. My knowledge was based purely on history books at school. This doesn't fully show the horror of war nor the hell of a concentration camp. Dr Edith Eger shows the human consequence of the second world war but this book is more than a book on the war, this book is also the story of one woman's fight, hope and forgiveness. Dr Edith takes you along the path of her life, losing her parents and grandparents in the gas chambers,dancing for Mengele as a prisoner in Auschwitz- the choice death or bread and how her life continued after. She weaves stories of her patients into her own story bringing the past into the present, using her own life experiences to help others. Her story leaves you heartbroken and hopeful in equal measure. It makes you re-evaluate your own 'prison of the mind' and her story lingers on long after you finish. It was an honour to read this book and feel this needs to be read by everyone. She really is a marvelous woman, even after losing everything several times she had the fight to continue on. She shows us both her strong and weak moments, her own guilt and how her strength wavered, but shows that even in the worst moments of her life she still had the strength to continue on. Dr Edith, thank you for your book and thank you for sharing your life.

I was sent a copy of The Choice by Edith Eger to read and review by NetGalley.
This is an amazing book which I believe should be part of the national curriculum in every school in the land. Apart from being a first-hand account of the terror and horror of war and of being interned in Auschwitz, an event that should never ever be forgotten however many years have passed, it is also an amazing insight into the strength of the human mind and how freedom can be obtained by acceptance and forgiveness. This is a very simplified way of explaining this premise, what the author actually does is to give examples of very different situations where people have attended her clinic for psychiatric help and she explains her treatment and the results she achieves in gently helping to turn their lives around, learning more about herself and her own healing in the process. I believe that if teenagers were to read this book they may better understand how to cope with their own feelings and what they may do to prevent certain situations or conditions within themselves from happening or find the strength to cope with their own healing.
Edith Eger eloquently tells the amazing and truly heart wrenching and astonishing story of her life. I have so much admiration for her, what she has been through and what she has achieved. I was totally engrossed throughout the whole book and I admit I went straight into the author’s writing, as I always do, leaving any forwards or introductions by others until the end as first and foremost I want to hear what the author has to say. I would not necessarily say that this is an easy read but it is easily read, if you can understand what I mean. The subject is harrowing but also insightful and inspirational and in my opinion an absolute must read.

Overall opinion of the book:

The Choice was both an inspiring and equally heartbreaking to read. I would encourage everyone to read Edith's story of how she conquered Auschwitz and the preying eyes of the infamous Doctor Mengele, better known as 'the angel of death'. The main focus of Edith's story is that, to quote, "even in hell, hope can flower". Years after Edith was rescued from a pile of corpses, barely alive, and liberated from Dachau extermination camp; she chose to train as a physiologist. Having experienced PTSD for many years as a result of the horrific things she witnessed during World War II, Edith chose this career to help other people.


There's nothing I could possibly say in this review that would fully do Edith's story and this book justice. Edith truly is a remarkable and strong person that has taken the most inhumane treatment and experiences and used them as a vessel to help other people. Words cannot fully describe her remarkable strength and determination.
The Choice certainly is a must read, especially if you would like to better understand what trauma and ill treatment millions of people were subject to under the Nazi regime. Although this book only covers Edith's personal experiences, it gives much insight into how other people were treated at Auschwitz and Dachau, but also in general. It explains how the experiences people had in concentration camps and under the Nazi rule changed people's lives forever.


When thinking about and discussing the Holocaust, often we tend to focus on the vast amount of people who tragically lost their lives. While this is of utmost importance, it's also important to remember those who survived and listen to their stories, to educate people to have a clearer understanding of what happened. Many books associated with the Holocaust that I've read tend to discuss the events and people's experiences at the time, but do not continue to follow the survivor's story after the war. That's what's so great about The Choice, it emphasises that Edith's life continued after the war ended, although it affected her in many ways, what happened didn't completely define her as a person. So many other things happened in her life.


The Choice discusses the after affects of trauma and PTSD. Having read many books discussing World War Two the majority of the books I have come across do not really discuss this. Many survivors did not feel comfortable to share their experiences, which is completely understandable. This is what makes The Choice such a powerful book. Edith did not discuss her experiences for many years because it was too painful to do so. To then write a book talking so explicitly about what happened and how it affected her life after the war emphasises how strong and remarkable she truly is. Her courage to share her innermost feelings should certainly be recognised.


The spelling, punctuation and grammar in the book is impeccable. Edith has a natural flair for writing and her story was easy to follow. She explains things readers may be confused by well and is concise in her explanations. Although many parts of The Choice were harrowing to read, I thoroughly enjoyed reading about Edith's strength and determination. Her kind and compassionate personality, and her ability to have a positive outlook on life shines through so strongly and is inspiring to read.


As the title suggests and Edith explains, at many points in our life we are presented with a choice. In Edith's case, it was whether she chose to survive the atrocities she faced at Auschwitz and Dachau, or not. The choices we are faced with, whether they are big or small, have the capability to make or break us. Edith emphasises to readers and her patients that even in the horrific of situations and "hope can flower". In every situation, life provides us with multiple choices and it's up to us to choose the option we want to take the most. This is definitely a powerful thought and one that will forever stick with me after reading Edith's story.



Final thoughts:


I would certainly recommend reading The Choice. There is so much depth to this book and it truly is a remarkable and thought provoking read. You do not necessarily need to have an interest in the war to be moved by this book. It also focuses on many aspects of Edith's life, such as her relationships, family, friends, jobs, money and moving countries.


Edith discusses PTSD in a lot of detail, specifically how she has helped many people to overcome and accept the different types of trauma they have experienced. Throughout the novel, and particularly towards the end, Edith discusses some of the conversations and scenarios she has had being a psychologist. I found these parts of the book particularly interesting to read, especially when she discusses the minor tweaks and changes she makes to help each client with their treatment. She emphasises that everyone's recovery and trauma is different and no one will react to it in the same way. This is why she adapts her tone of voice and sessions to best suit each client.


Edith explains that many of her clients have attempted to disregard their own trauma when they learn about her own experiences. She explains to them that everyone's trauma is valid and shouldn't be disregarded or compared to anyone else's. I think this is such an important and powerful thing to remember when talking about mental health in general as we do tend to compare our situations to others when we shouldn't.


The Choice is definitely one of my favourite reads of 2018. It was one of the most powerful and moving books I've read this year and Edith's story, strength and experiences will stay with me forever.


To read any story about the holocaust is always painful. How can a country under the leadership of a dictator perpetuate such horrendous crimes against fellow human beings in the name of a misconceived ideology; the creation of a master Aryan race.

Edith Eger lived with her mother, father and two sisters Magda and Klara in Kosice Slovakia. One morning in May 1944 she and her family (minus Klara who successfully managed to hide from the jack booted thugs) together with a great number of fellow Slovak residents were arrested and bundled into animal transporters then taken to Auschwitz birkenau extermination camp. What followed was one of the greatest acts of mass genocide ever committed. On arrival at Auschwitz the new residents would be greeted by the quietly spoken Dr. Mengele...."I recognize the uniformed officer from the selection line. I know it's him, the way he smiles with his lips parted, the gap between his front teeth. Dr. Mengele, we learn. He is a refined killer and a lover of the arts".......The good doctor gives directions either to the left or right. Those who went left, children and those over 40 received an immediate death sentence under the guise of a communal shower. This was the last time that Edith ever saw her parents again. Edith and Magda survived, Edith being discovered discarded and naked barely alive hidden beneath a pile of bodies.

The Choice is a story of survival. It is the account of a woman badly traumatized by inhuman treatment yet able to use this terror and in a positive way help others address their own issues and grief...."Just remember, no one can take away from you, what you've put in your mind. We can't choose to vanish the dark, but we can choose to kindle the light.".......In life there is always a choice and by sharing openly our greatest fear, and with the help and guidance of professional psychologists living can be worthwhile and meaningful again. Many thanks to the good people of netgalley for a gratis copy in exchange for an honest review and that is what I have written.

It's quite a statement to say that The Choice in one the most important Holocaust memoirs ever published, but with echoes of Mans Search for Meaning, Edith Eger's unique ability to reflect on her experience with eloquence and unique psychological analysis of her and those around her sets The Choice apart. The book is divided into four sections, including her captivity in the concentration camps and her continued struggle for survival. Eger may have survived the experiences and horrors of death marches and concentration camps, but only to then find herself escaping from the communist party. Eger had so many chances to escape the terrors but her loyalty and dedication to her family kept her by her sister and husbands side, ultimately saving all three lives. The book is truly life changing and Egers ability to reflect on her own experiences whilst giving not dwelling on her own suffering is truly selfless. This extraordinary lady has provided the world with a unique gift, let us use it wisely as if there is one thing that we have learnt from history, it is that we have not learnt from history.

I won't lie, this book is a challenging read, and at some points, you may need to put it in the fridge, but somehow Edith Eger has enabled herself to transcend her own nightmares and experiences for the benefit of we, the readers and our futures.

In 1944, at the age of 16, Edith Eger and her family were sent to Auschwitz. Her parents were killed there but Edith and her sister survived.
Edith went on to become Dr Edith Eger, a prominent psychologist who helped many survivors of abuse and those suffering from PTSD.
The Choice is her story told in 4 parts -
Part 1 - Prison.
Part 2 - Escape.
Part 3 - Freedom.
Part 4 - Healing.
This is an extraordinary book where Dr Eger explains that by confronting our suffering, this can lead to freedom from imprisonment of our past.
This is an inspirational story which I would recommend.

It's not often you come across a book has moving has this.
Amongst the cruelty, heartache and sadness, it if full of inspiration, strength and hope to move on after trauma and shows you are once again able to flourish and prosper in day to day life.

Thank you Edith Egar for sharing your story.

Thank you netgalley and Ebury digital for allowing me to read and review this book.

The Choice is one of the most important accounts of the Holocaust that have been published, with echoes of Mans Search for Meaning (Another incredible read), it offers a unique insight into not only the horrors of the concentration camps but also the psychological effects of experiencing the horrors of Auschwitz. Edith Eger provides an incredible piece of literature that not only focusses on her time in the camp but her recovery, which is rarely mentioned in other accounts. Her ability, provided by her training as a psychologist, to dig deeper into not only her actions but those of the SS and the infamous, Angel of Death, Josef Mengele provides fresh insight into the atrocities endured by the victims. This is a must read for anyone with even a slight interest in the Holocaust or psychology.

A truly heartfelt book about the before, during and after of captivity in Auschwitz. It is deeply moving and contains an important message to everyone. What a wonderful lady Edith Enger is.To survive what she and her sister Magda did and go on to help so many people. It just cannot warrant less than 5 stars.