As a child of 4 or 5 yrs old in 1948 or 49, living in Pasadena, California my family took in a young woman and her daughter about my same age. Their attire was quite different from mine or my mothers, as their clothes look like the pictures of European peasant women heavy with beautiful embroidery. They spoke almost no English. I noticed a tattoo on the woman’s arm and asked where she got it she said “camp, when I went to camp”. I was perplexed thinking of church camp I said I want to go to camp but I don’t want to go to THAT camp pointing at her arm. She replied “no one wanted to go to that camp”. Over my many years, I am 78 now, I have read several books by survivors and their relatives. The Dressmakers of Auschwitz has had a profound affect on me. I got to know these young women, they became my friends in a way. I felt their innocence, their shock upon arriving the camp. I cried with them, I laughed with them, I cheered them on when they were liberated from the camp. I was so pleased to read of their lives and measure of “normalcy” of their lives after their horrific experience of Auschwitz. I thank you for this book, this historical and intimate look at the lives of these women. How I wish I knew what happened to the young woman and child that my family took in so many years ago that started me on this journey of trying to understand why…
I just finished listening to the book. It was very interesting to me, not just because I love vintage dresses and historical fiction...but also because when I was 18yrs old in 1979 I worked at Harborview Mental Health Center in Seattle, WA with a Black lady named "Mancy". Her name was sooo very different that I asked her the history of her name. She said her mother had been best friends with a Holocaust survivor named Mancy Birnbaum and that she had been named after her. I'm 61 now, and life happens, so I'd forgotten all about it. Literally last week my son asked me about my life back then because he'd been born a year later. I told him about Mancy and Benesther, two lovely Black ladies I'd worked with back then. I've always been a history nut (did integration myself back in the 1960s) and have had a fascination with names, their meanings, cultural and historical references, alternate spellings, etc. Can you imagine my surprise to hear a name that sounded familiar in your story? I thought, surely it can't be the same Mancy Birnbaum, but at the end of the book, you said she moved to the United States. Maybe, just maybe, it's the same "Mancy". The Mancy I knew was in her mid2late 30s. I don't remember where she said she was from at the time...lol, it's been over 40 years ago that I heard the story. But, what if?🤔 Wow, anyways, great story!! Blessings
As a child of 4 or 5 yrs old in 1948 or 49, living in Pasadena, California my family took in a young woman and her daughter about my same age. Their attire was quite different from mine or my mothers, as their clothes look like the pictures of European peasant women heavy with beautiful embroidery. They spoke almost no English. I noticed a tattoo on the woman’s arm and asked where she got it she said “camp, when I went to camp”. I was perplexed thinking of church camp I said I want to go to camp but I don’t want to go to THAT camp pointing at her arm. She replied “no one wanted to go to that camp”. Over my many years, I am 78 now, I have read several books by survivors and their relatives. The Dressmakers of Auschwitz has had a profound affect on me. I got to know these young women, they became my friends in a way. I felt their innocence, their shock upon arriving the camp. I cried with them, I laughed with them, I cheered them on when they were liberated from the camp. I was so pleased to read of their lives and measure of “normalcy” of their lives after their horrific experience of Auschwitz. I thank you for this book, this historical and intimate look at the lives of these women. How I wish I knew what happened to the young woman and child that my family took in so many years ago that started me on this journey of trying to understand why…
Beautiful. I could listen to you forever. Every word was said with love and respect. Ireland 🙏🌹
I just ordered the book online and can't wait to receive it. My mother was also a seamstress. Greetings from the Netherlands
I just finished listening to the book. It was very interesting to me, not just because I love vintage dresses and historical fiction...but also because when I was 18yrs old in 1979 I worked at Harborview Mental Health Center in Seattle, WA with a Black lady named "Mancy". Her name was sooo very different that I asked her the history of her name. She said her mother had been best friends with a Holocaust survivor named Mancy Birnbaum and that she had been named after her. I'm 61 now, and life happens, so I'd forgotten all about it. Literally last week my son asked me about my life back then because he'd been born a year later. I told him about Mancy and Benesther, two lovely Black ladies I'd worked with back then. I've always been a history nut (did integration myself back in the 1960s) and have had a fascination with names, their meanings, cultural and historical references, alternate spellings, etc. Can you imagine my surprise to hear a name that sounded familiar in your story? I thought, surely it can't be the same Mancy Birnbaum, but at the end of the book, you said she moved to the United States. Maybe, just maybe, it's the same "Mancy". The Mancy I knew was in her mid2late 30s. I don't remember where she said she was from at the time...lol, it's been over 40 years ago that I heard the story. But, what if?🤔 Wow, anyways, great story!! Blessings
Amazing. I would love to read the Book. It is too hard because of my stroke. Thank You.😘🌹💐🌻👼👏
You could get the audiobook and listen to it instead.
What a wonderful speaker, I’m looking forward to reading her full book.
What style of clothes did the woman make
Rip Bracha Kohut
Rip Bracha Kohut