I Live A Thousand Years Book Reflection

The narrative of the Holocaust is a familiar one for me. Books such as Elie Wiesel's Night and Anne Frank's The Diary of a Young Girl were additions to my bookshelf during my eighth grade year. Not to mention the countless documentaries the History Channel cranks out each year detailing the horrid details of the genocide. Because of all of the media I have taken in over the years, I went into reading this book with few expectations of being introduced to something I hadn't already been told. I Have Lived a Thousand Years did just that. The book singled itself out to me as an insightful and fresh perspective of the Holocaust in a strong way.
The story starts with Bitton-Jackson's reflection of Seeshaupt and the dark past of the small resort town's train tracks as she is called back to be honored alongside seventeen other Holocaust survivors. This pensive look back to her past ends with a quote that encapsulates the ensuing story: “Never give up.” This quote followed me as I read
In the beginning, Elli introduces us to her mother, whom she describes as unaffectionate towards her. This frustrates her, and she feels as if her mother views her brother, Bubi, with more favor. But after their relocation to the ghetto and her father being taken away to a work camp, their seemingly distant relationship slowly transforms.This is most apparent when, after being trapped under a broken bed frame, Elli's mother becomes paralyzed. It is clear from the moment the bed frame collapses that there is a good chance her mother will be killed if she does not recuperate, or at least appear to. Though Elli's mother later regains some ability to move on her own, Elli takes it upon herself to care for and watch over her mother. This act of familial love results in not only both of them living, but her mother's view of her daughter being forever