I have finally completed this slim novel. I began reading it a long time ago, perhaps even last year. It is a retelling of a childhood spent in the deathcamps of Auschwitz and Buchenwald. It was very intense to read. I have no concept of how he survived. This book won the 1986 Nobel Peace Prize. It’s one of the texts for year 11 students at our school.
The part of the book that lingers with me, was when he was in hospital and conversing with a fellow patient about rumours of Hitler annihilating all the Jews:
“I burst out:
‘What does it matter to you? Do we have to regard Hitler as a prophet?’
His glazed, faded eyes looked at me. At last he said in a weary voice:
‘I’ve got more faith in Hitler than in anyone else. He’s the only one who’s kept his promises, all his promises, to the Jewish people.’ ” (p92)
What a frightening reality to only trust the person responsible for putting you in hell. It’s haunted me, this book. The internal crimes Elie Wiesel recounts, stripping them of beliefs, character and values, freshly impacted on me the horror and inhumanity of WWII.
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5 responses so far ↓
1 nunyaa // Jun 1, 2008 at 11:37 am
I am going to see if this book is available on amazon. Sounds like compelling reading.
2 Joh // Jun 4, 2008 at 10:30 pm
It’s a really haunting book nunyaa. Thanks for dropping by.
3 SSQuo (1 comments.) // Jun 15, 2008 at 10:56 am
Loved this book.
4 dave (2 comments.) // Sep 10, 2008 at 5:02 pm
great read.
5 dave (2 comments.) // Sep 10, 2008 at 5:09 pm
night is not just a novel about man’s inhumanity to man, but also the questioning of faith and self doubt that occurs as a result.
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