#TheChoice #NetGalley A heartbreaking story of horror and tragedy that turned into an uplifting and inspiring book about someone who saw a reason to live in the most terrifying and desperate circumstances. It was hard to imagine at times that this was the true life story of the author rather than a gruesome horror story. For someone who was left to die in a pile of bodies, to then rebuild not only her body but her mind and to become the woman she is today is a remarkable story and a testament to the sheer determination she had and still has and for her to then use her suffering to help others is truly incredible. A few too many stories about her patients in my opinion although I appreciate that she continued to heal herself through healing others. A truly amazing lady.

A haunting novel of perseverance, courage, and triumph. Edith's brave words will stay with me for quite some time.

I’ve read an awful lot of holocaust books but I think because I knew this was a true story it made it much more harrowing. Hard to read in parts but compelling

Tragic, sad, heart breaking but compelling reading . Hard to read in places, massively upsetting. Life in a concentration camp and life afterwards. How people deal with, and learn to live with, traumatic experiences.

Truly the most inspirational book I've ever read dealing with the horrors that man inflicts on fellow man, and of survival all and growth. You'll learn a lot about themself reading this book.

Thank you for the advance copy of 'The Choice'.

This was an insightful memoir and I found it very moving and an excellent record of a young girl's experience of Auschwitz. It was fascinating to learn of Edith's life after the war and how her teenage experiences clearly shaped the rest of her life and her approach to counselling others.

I wanted to learn more about Edith and am impressed that she is still giving lectures and advising others today. She has obviously helped so many people throughout her life and should be much admired.

Thank you to netgalley.co.uk for giving me a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

As soon as I received the email from netgalley.co.uk advertising this book, I clicked on the link to request it as fast as I can, and I'm so glad I did.

The Choice is a beautifully written, heart-wrenching and an emotional memoir written by a beautiful, brave person Dr Edith Eger. When I first started this book, I assumed that it would be wholly about Dr Eger's experience in Auschwitz concentration camp, I was confused when this part of the novel was a quarter of the book. However, I quickly noticed that this book had four sections; Prison, Escape, Freedom and Healing. Despite having a good knowledge of the concentration camps, I never learned about life after liberation for these prisoners; I was aware that life for these prisoners after the war was not comfortable. Many were left as refugees turned away by countries who were left bankrupt after the war. I found it interesting to learn more about life after the second world war in this memoir as it made me more aware of this issue.

I was hooked to this book from the first word; I wanted to take my time with the novel and absorb every single word that was written, at the same time, I could not put the book down, and I wanted for Dr Eger to write that she was able to get revenge on her captors. Sadly, I know this was not the case, but I admire Dr Eger so much for taking her experience and helping other people, which she includes towards the end of the novel. I strongly urge everyone to read this novel.

A heartbreaking book that filled me with a mixture of horror, sadness but also awe. That the author would be able to move on and not only help herself but also spend her life helping others is inspiring to say the least.

As a young girl the author and her family were living in Hungary when the Nazi's put into force their horrific plans for the Jewish families living in Europe, first by excluding them from activities and locations and then segregation, herding them like animals into secure locations. What happened thereafter is a well documented crime against humanity.

The authors heart-wrenching and horrific portrayal of the day to day life for both her and her sister inside Auschwitz/Birkenau the most notorious of the death camps is harrowing to say the least. Following on from there they were force marched to a labour camp where on liberation they were both pulled from a pile of bodies barely able to make it known they were still alive.

Even after liberation it still wasn't over for them, they were weak and ill, they faced accusing looks and survivors guilt for making it when so many had perished.

The second part of the book shows how the author went on to make a home, have a family, an inspiring and successful career as a trauma specialist and to gain acceptance.

I get the feeling we could all learn a lot from this book.

I would say this book is beautifully written but that seems to be an inadequate disservice to Edith Eger who opens up her heart and soul to tell the story of her life. Not only does she survive Auschwitz, but she goes on to create a stable life in America for herself and her family, achieving world recognition in her career dedicated to helping others overcome trauma. What an incredible inspirational woman and what a triumph over evil. Her book has helped me through my own difficult period in mourning the recent loss of my husband. It has made me realise I can continue to dwell on his last difficult months, or I can focus on all the beautiful times we had together and the memories and love he has left me. Thank you Edith.

A very deep and intense book that I feel that any review won't do it justice. The author is a holocaust survivor and obviously survived unspeakable and harrowing horror in her young life. As with any traumatic experiences there is a fall out and it is how Edith manages to deal with this in her later life that is not only interesting but how such experiences can be used in every day life coming to terms with general living. She becomes a very successful world renowned psychologist but needs every ounce of her strength to come to terms with her own past in her own way.

An amazing powerful read which quite honestly will affect every reader differently and, as I mentioned earlier, no words can do it justice, but read it and be inspired at what the human spirit can endure, survive and flourish.

It would be impossible to read this book and not be moved by its honesty, depth of understanding and its range of experience. The author reveals the shocking events of her youth during the Second World War and gradually applies her strength of will and analysis to her experiences. She details living through the consequences of her subsequent refusal to acknowledge her imprisonment both mentally and physically, and eventually comes to an acceptance of her reactions and herself through her work with others in her psychotherapy practice.

I found the descriptions of her time in the concentration camp gruelling but moving in their starkness and simplicity. They show her humanity in the face of atrocious treatment and I expected this to form the body of the work. However what makes this book unusual and ultimately inspiring is the importance placed on working through the trauma in later years, often through the problems faced by those she is helping after the war, and striving to triumph over her experiences. A fascinating and uplifting book, which I found absolutely riveting.

Edith Eger is a stunning example of what a person can do when desperate and also determined. I would have liked a bit more of the book to be devoted to life in the POW camp and a little less about the psychiatric information but I did find the book very inspiring. I cannot imagine what Edith went through in that camp and the horrors she saw. The fact that she has become such a respected Psychologist is a testament to her strength and willpower. Reading about her patients in later life was extremely interesting to me and I found I could identify with some of them.
All in all, a fantastic read by an extremely strong lady who, in my opinion, deserves recognition for her work.

In a word: life-changing. This is a memoir I can't believe hasn't been written before; the 90 year old author may have needed her whole life to get to the point where she could tell her story, but it sends chills down my spine to think how close we might have come to never hearing it.
I've read quite a few books about Auschwitz - novels, biographies, survivors' accounts - but there was material here so harrowing that I had to put the Kindle down and go do something else before I could continue. That isn't the whole story however - Dr Eger spends the bulk of this work on the aftermath of the war and how she made her life anew. She writes with humour and heart about herself, her patients and graciously thanks the people who filled her life with hope and joy, rather than dwelling on the monsters who took so much from her. She doesn't shy away from suffering, but refuses to let it be the only side of the coin. Nor does she flit blithely from horror to healing, which could leave a reader feeling inadequate; she shows us the sheer graft of reshaping one's life, so that we can learn that joy is within our grasp, no matter how weak we feel, if we are willing to work and progress and backslide and work some more.

I was fascinated by her refusal to use the D in PTSD, because pain and rage and despair are surely the normal response to trauma, not a disorder.

When I finished 'The Choice, I looked the author up online and was moved to tears when I found an old black and white photograph of her doing the splits in the sunshine, a photo she referenced in the book. Dr Edith Eger is a rare spirit it seems and I feel my life is better for having found this book and shared her story. Please read this; it's a gift to all of us.

A wonderful, moving and inspiring book. A story of true courage and compassion, offering hope and light amongst the darkest days of history. Although some of the things contained within are difficult to read the overall message is one of triumph. This book is well worth the time it takes to read

I can not describe this book.

YOU *need* to discover this book for yourself; it's visceral.

I would have given it 7 stars if I could.

Amazing story that broke my heart to read but these stories need to told. I don't know why but I have a real fascination with these stories but I'm so glad I didn't live then

Psychologist Dr Edith Eger's memoir 'The Choice' is the extraordinary story of her survival from Auschwitz alongside her sister, and how these experiences crafted the rest of her life. This book is as much about psychology as it is about the Holocaust, and Dr Eger weaves in stories from those that have come for treatment with her, beside the horrific Auschwitz narrative. The psychology facet interested me immensely and this book will stay with me a long time, an important read from an incredible lady.

In her profound and moving book, Edith Eger talks of how nobody ‘heals in a straight line.’ This is more than just a memoir- Dr Eger is a passionate chronicler of the human condition, and generously shares her insights throughout this moving text.

What a truly inspirational read, Edie shares her story with bravery and truth, a very emotional read, loved it

The Choice by Edith Eger is the true story of a concentration camp survivor who uses her experiences to help others. It is a painful read but one that also gives hope. We cannot stop the bad things from happening but "I can choose how to respond to the past."
Our outlook to our circumstances will determine whether we survive or perish. "No one can make you a victim but you." In the camps Edith Eger chose to focus on the good times. Her mind took her to places her body could not go. "We can't choose to vanish the dark, but we can choose to kindle the light."
Edith Eger survived because she held on to the positive. Her mindset was to survive today because tomorrow she would be free. Edith Eger survived Auschwitz, death marches and more camps. She clung on to hope.
Freedom did not come with liberation. Freedom came with facing her past and talking about it. For years Edith Eger locked her memories away and imprisoned herself. Only when she spoke out about the horrors did she begin to heal.
Returning to Auschwitz years later, Edith Eger laid her ghosts to rest. She released her guilt. Earlier, staying at Hitler's Berghof, she forgave him. This did not mean forgetting or letting Hitler off the hook but it did bring freedom for Edith Eger. "I lived to see freedom because I learned to forgive."
Edith Eger quotes Corrie ten Boom forgiving the concentration camp guard in God's strength. She believes we can choose to live out our Hitler side or our ten Boom side.
The Choice is powerful and heart wrenching. There are lessons for us all to learn. The main one being that forgiveness is freeing. Holding a grudge and seeking revenge imprisons us and weighs us down. Choose to forgive and live free. Survival and freedom have much to do with our state of mind as well as our external circumstances. Edith Eger is a brave woman.
May we never forget the six million innocents who perished in the Holocaust.
I received this book for free from Net Galley. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.