[.ca] The Bielski Brothers: The True Story of Three Men Who ... (ISBN 0066210747)

Very accurate depiction.:
My mother and brother spent some time in the Bielski brothers camp after escaping a "selection" in the Lida Ghetto. My mother just finished reading this book and remarked that all of the details are amazingly accurate. Obviously Peter Duffy verified and cross-referenced all of the stories he heard from the various survivors, even after so many years have passed. Duffy glorifies no one, but depicts the situation, the conflicts, the characters just as they were. This is really a more miraculous story than "Shindler's List".

Timely and Appropriate:
At this time when Mel Gibson's "Passion" is being studied for anti-semitism, it is timely and appropriate for the Bielski Brothers to be on the world stage. Peter Duffy's book does not do what the current movie does. Duffy doesn't depend on emotion or violence to manipulate a concept. He delivers the story --objectively from a humanitarian perspective. The Bielski strength, courage and compassion speak volumes on the Jewish resistence to Naziism at its ugliest. Peter Duffy's writing style is quite in line with this message of sacrifice and survival.

Inspiring Courage - but Disappointing Writing Style:
Very seldom in my avid reading, biblioholic years do I experience a boring read - this is one of the nth degree of boring reads. And, very seldom do I write a negative review. Considering the magnitude of the subject matter and content, expectations were high; the more I read, the more disillusioned I became. It is the writing style of author Peter Duffy which left me with descending hope of reading enjoyment as the book progressed. And, yes, I "stuck it out" to the end. Duffy's manner of "handling" the subject matter distorts and disrupts the reader's enjoyment of THE BIELSKI BROTHERS. Too many menial descriptions covering up what should be valuable, in-depth, intellectual writing. Details of trivial matters applied too often without zest. As presented, the story is slow treading in movement and progressive reporting. The author states on page 207, "...But the work proceeded slowly, with everyone worn out from months of living like nomads." As in the latter statement, Duffy's fails to write with enthusiasm, upbeat phrasing and non-contributive descriptions to add to the reader's enjoyment of serious material. For instance, by page 207 - three-quarters of the book is complete, but Duffy is no farther ahead in describing Bielski accomplishments than at the halfway mark. The reader is still searching for the "vim and vigor" writing of an important part of history. In each chapter, repetitive action scenes, reporting of too many trivial movements and scenes repeated over and over leaves the reader with "stilted" thinking -- "...it's got to get better in reporting events..."; it doesn't; the reporting remains weak. The two-star rating I've assigned to the book is in honor of the BIELSKI family and their peers, for the courage and determination in a time of horrendous, heinous, anti-Semitism, with one part of Hitler's determination to destruct a race and culture. With any book, a reader gains "something" - that something for me is the discovery of the existence of the BIELSKI family. THE BIELSKI BROTHERS determinedly performed a courageous fete to help their country men, women and children. Dear reader, in Duffy's debut, you are in for a dry run of disappointing reporting of information and writing style to the approach of important subject matter. I do honor the author's quotation from The Talmud: "Whoever saves one life saves the world entire." Mr. Duffy, do try again and I wish you well in your future endeavors. (...)

An Uplifting Book:
As with all books that touch on the holocaust in any way this is a hard boook to read. It is the story of three Jewish brothers from Belorus who determine to resist the Nazis and save as many Jews as they can. The oldest brother, Tuvia, is adamant that it isn't enough to fight the Nazis but it's more important to protect all the jews he can, regardless of their fighting ability "I'd rather save one old Jewish woman than kill ten Nazis". The beginning of the book deals with the early lives of the brothers. Right from the start these brothers refuse to conform the sterotype of the cowed, passive European Jew. They challenge anti-semitism wherever they come across it. At the start of the 2nd World War Belorus is occupied by the Russians and the Jews are relatively safe. The Nazi invasion brings the relentless persecution and murder of the Jewish population that is always so harrowing to read about. I never stop marvelling at how merciless the killers are when faced with defenceless Jewish civilians. I never stop wondering how these fathers and husbands and sons gunned down old men and women, mothers clinging to their babies, children clinging to their parents; that they were apparently unmoved and didn't see the faces of their own loved ones being herded towards death pits. How does one lock down one's humanity so completely? Whilst I believe it is important to know about the Holocaust and remember what human beings are capable of I find books on the subject depressing. There is no hope in these books. From the start the reader knows that only a handful of people will survive the chillingly efficient murder of a whole race of people. This book was different. There was hope for the lives I was reading about. Incredibly the brothers brought almost 1200 Jews safely through the war, the great majority of those were non-combatants. Whilst there were losses along the way they were remarkably few. This is an extraordinary story. I think we all need to know that there is hope against even the most overwhelming odds, sometimes we just need to dare to fight back.

A Story of Survival!:
The Bielski Brothers is a fascinating, unblelievably true account during the time of World War Two. After the second chapter i was hooked. The three brothers: Tuvia, Zus, and Asael demonstrate courage and defeat after escaping from the horrors of the Nazis. An outrage grew amongst the three brothers after their parents and loved ones were involved in a mass murder by the anti-seminists, causing them to hide within the trees,build a villiage in the forest, and save nearly 1,200 Jews (as much as Oskar Schindler) Making the woods a safe haven for Jews. The escapees are separated into groups of fighting men and non-fighting men, As they battle it out against the Nazis. Coming to the end, i would say The Bielski Brothers is a very good book. I strongly recommend it!!! ;)