"Surviving The Forest"--A WW2 Historical Novel--based on the true story of a Jewish Holocaust Survivor

Surviving The Forest

Five shots on Saturday morning changed their fate …

She was a beautiful and happy young woman who lived a fairytale life. Shurka, her beloved husband and their two small children lived in a pretty house in a village in Poland, surrounded by a little garden with lilies. This was their life and nothing could harm it, or so they thought…

WWII broke out and though the happy family thought the Germans would never reach their idyllic village, they quickly understood they were wrong and their happiness came to a brutal end. The family had to flee their house and find shelter in a neighboring Ghetto where they realized that the Gestapo was taking Jews away on trucks every night, and they were never seen again.

The family decided to escape into the deep dark forest. There, surrounded by animals, they knew that this was their only chance to get away from the real beasts. They had no idea what would await them, but they knew that doing nothing was not an option if they wanted to survive.

MY REVIEW: Author Adiva Geffen's remarkable storytelling skills do justice to the the life story of an amazing woman, a WWII survivor whose family suffered many torments and tragedies, as well as unthinkable deprivation. Sarah, known as "Shurka", was a beautiful and happy child who lived an idyllic life on a farm outside a small village in Poland. As the wisps of smoke from Hitler's hellish genocide began to make their way through the winds of war, Jews who lived in remote, rural areas at first paid little heed, thinking that they were immune, and the trouble would soon be over. How wrong they were, and they became hunted by a monster with an unquenchable thirst for Jewish blood. Shurka married and started a family of her own--but no one was safe. Soon they would all flee for their lives, eventually living undercover in the deep, dark woods of the Parczew Forest. They became experts at living in hand-dug underground bunkers--surviving with whatever food and resources came their way. There natural dangers in the woods, and there were also traitors and informants. Along the way, many of those who fled lost their lives, and their loved ones lost hope with each passing. The forest was not a safe haven, and eventually they moved from hiding place to hiding place--always at a great personal cost. The loss of the naivete of an entire populace was horrific, and it left lasting effects from which the whole world has never recovered. Shurka survived, living to tell her story to the generations who would come later--the ones who needed to hear such a story from one who actually survived it--someone who survived the forest.

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Reviews

"A powerful book, you must read this amazing story in order to appreciate the life that has been given to us and to hang on to what we have." - Radio New Delhi

"In Sahitia Academy Conference I met the author ADIVA GEFFEN. She gave us to read parts of her new book. After reading it we implored her to read the whole book and so we did. Starting reading, you can't let it go,it is a story about an exceptional woman who knew to choose. Life and love. It is a story about people, Jewish people, who survived the dark yet live saving forest, while escaping from Nazi soldiers and their dogs. it is about victory of Jews who survived the holocaust, each of them in its own way." - Time of India 2016

 

From the Author

 

I first heard the story of Shurka when I was 20 years old. She was a childhood friend of my mother, and when she immigrated to Israel, she sat and told us her story and we all listened. I remember telling myself, this story is a masterpiece. This is a story worthy of a book that must be written. This is a story of a simple,regular woman who lived in some Polish village, whose whole dream was to raise her babies, milk the cows, and curl up under a heavy quilt with her husband in their little hut. The war came and destroyed everything, the Germans came and she understood that it was all over, but she did not let her spirit wither, the war did not destroy that strongest instinct of all, the love of life that pulsed within her.


Adiva Geffen

 

Adiva Geffen is a prolific writer and playwright. She lectures and leads many writing workshops, and she's a board member of the Israeli writers Association. Adiva has published 21 books, including children's stories, reference books and, most famously, suspense novels; most of which were best-sellers. In fact, Adiva is widely regarded as the best suspense writer in Israel. Her plays have appeared on major stages in Israel.

Drawing from rich life experience and pure imaginative force, Adiva Geffen creates compelling characters and captivating scenarios in which suspense, humor, passion and joy are woven into an almost addicting emotional thrill-ride. Her latest duo, detectives Sami and Dikla, have become staples in Israel's literary community.

Geffen began her career as a special-ed teacher. After leaving the education field, she served as the spokesperson for the Habima National Theater for more than a decade. She founded and subsequently led the Israeli Theater Award for 10 years.

Born in Haifa and the mother of three sons, Geffen now lives in Tel Aviv, Israel, with her partner Aharon Meidan.  
http://110277.livecity.com/110277/Adiva-Geffen