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Lauren Grodstein, the Author of “We Must Not Think of Ourselves,” has written a memorable and thought-provoking novel. The Genres for this novel are Historical Fiction, World War Two, Holocaust, and Adult Fiction. One of the first thoughts and questions I asked myself while reading this novel was, “Is the pen mightier than the sword?”. In this well-documented and extremely well-written novel, the story’s protagonist, Adam Paskow, is asked if he will join a group of writers to archive, interview, and detail the thoughts of people who lived in the Warsaw Ghetto during World War Two. The author vividly describes the depressing living conditions and the dramatic characters.
Adam Paskow describes the horrific living conditions and the diseases and filth that these imprisoned people have to endure. He also discusses the past and describes the former lives of many characters. There have been betrayals and the loss of everything that many of the Jewish prisoners have held dear to their hearts. With anti-semitism and imprisonment, the author discusses how the children are often forced to steal and scrounge around for necessities to live. Survival seems to have a price for those who can pay, and some find freedom. Adam’s neighbors and students are forced to make tragic choices.
Lauren Grodstein has written a significant, heartfelt book that I highly recommend to other readers. The archivists were courageous and risked their lives to ensure that this devasting time in history would survive, even if the people didn’t.
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