This book is a memoir by Dr. Edith Eger, Holocaust and Second World War survivor. That sentence alone is one to awaken the senses and calls for attention. In her memoir, Dr Eger tells her story, and some of her families, on what they experienced during the war, what happened afterwards and in my opinion, how her life began at 50.

This is a carefully crafted story not only of survival but how to overcome trauma and embrace life. Even these words now feel so mediocre when thinking about what Eger endured. As the title suggests, the main message of the book is that in life, we all have a choice. This is also quite ironic as during the time of the war and when Eger was sent to the concentration camp, Auschwitz, she was not allowed any choice. However, she explains that during this time, she had a choice to free her mind, which is what she did numerous times in order to survive.

What struck me in this book the most, aside from the atrocities and even small fragments of some humanity that was shown in a time of complete lack of humanity, was the huge emptiness and gapping hole that was left of people once they were liberated. It is as if being in the camp at least gave people a purpose, to survive, to keep your head down, to go unnoticed, but after liberation, there was nothing to return too, no hope of reconciling with family members because they were probably dead. This term “liberation” in the book is anything but liberating. Now, survivors had to endure a second round of war trying to rebuild, repurpose and reestablish their lives with no hope or means. I find myself returning to one of the closing scenes on Schindler’s List when the solider approached the Jews at the factory and told them they were liberated, the one Jewish prisoner said, “what do we do now” – this is not the feeling of liberation.

The type of narration is also interesting and I like how Eger says one thing and then says something like “but I did not know that yet” so the reader knows that more is to come in the story about that topic. The book of course switches between past and present where Eger recalls what happens from when she was 16 years old, right up until the present day when she is well into her late 80’s! This in itself is remarkable and so precious.

The Choice is truly a beautiful book about love, hope, determination, taking a chance, the value of life and of course, survival – in every form.

Praise to Dr Edith Eger as indicated by Bishop Desmond Tutu.