Book Review: The Librarian of Auschwitz by S. Rubio et al.

The Librarian of Auschwitz adapted by by Salva Rubio from the novel by Antonio Iturbe and illustrated by Loreto Aroca

Edita Polachova was a normal girl living in Prague during the years leading up to World War II. She loved books and couldn't read enough to satisfy her. As the Germans moved into Czechoslovakia, her Jewish family was gradually forced out of their homes and into the Nazi death machine that was the concentration camps. Edita and her mother wound up at Auschwitz, though they were put in Camp BIIb, where they kept their clothes and their hair and their family ties. It was a section of the camp designed to fool visitors (like the International Red Cross) into thinking that humane conditions existed there. Even so, conditions were harsh. One prisoner, Fredy Hirsch, helped to organize the Jewish prisoners and managed to get one of the buildings designated as the "children's area" to keep the children out of trouble. But they also provided some education while the prison guards were not looking. A few books were available and entrusted to the care of Edita, who became the "librarian of Auschwitz." Any books were forbidden to the prisoners, so her job was dangerous. The story of her survival is fascinating and provides an extra perspective on life in the camps.

Though this graphic novel is based on a historical novel, Edita Polachova is still alive, having married another survivor, Otto Kraus, and moved to Israel to become a teacher. Artistic license was used in both the novel and this book but the basics of the story are true.

Recommended.

Book Review: Monet: Itinerant of Light by Salva Rubio and Efa

Monet: Itinerant of Light written by Salva Rubio and art by Efa

Claude Monet was one of the founders of the Impressionist movement in the late 1800s. His style focuses on how light reflects off objects, how they appear to the eye. His passion became to paint outdoors whenever he could, to show the effect of the brightest light. Like many revolutionary painters, he struggled for a long time before achieving success. He wanted to work apart from the established classical system and create a new way of painting. He had many sympathetic colleagues (Degas, Renoir, Cezanne, to name a few) who joined him in setting up a rival to the Salon, the main art exhibition in France. Their work was mocked at first but eventually gained acceptance. Monet himself went through a similar arc from rejected outsider to an accepted master.

The book lovingly recreates some paintings of Monet as they tell his life story (occasionally they use other painters as well). The back of the book explains all their cribbing. The notes also say they were a bit loose with the historical details in order to make a compelling story. Even so, they are honest enough to show the unpleasant parts of the man--he was egotistical and in some periods cared much more for his art than his friends and family. The book is an enjoyable and quick read, filling in some detail for the life of the painter. I'd still like to read a more standard biography of the man.

Recommended for art fans or those curious about the lives of artists.