The Only Hope Audiobook
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Only Hope is now available as an audiobook, as well as a paperback or Kindle download. Audiobook listeners will hear three voices:
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An Excerpt from the Foreword to "Only Hope," written and read by the author's son, Irving Lubliner
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An Excerpt from "Follow Me Into Auschwitz," the introduction to the audiobook
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After having read Only Hope, I assumed that listening to the audiobook version would be a nice way to revisit Felicia’s stories, but that I wouldn’t necessarily learn anything new. Boy, was I wrong. When a story is read by the narrator, with the proper pauses and inflections, the stories come to life. And then to actually be able to listen to a recording of Felicia personally recount her journey to Auschwitz… that was so impactful. I came away with a renewed awe of her ability to recall everything in such detail and her mastery of English, which was not her first language. She helps us see, hear and smell everything that she saw, heard and smelled, so that we can imagine being there with her. Please, if you’ve read the book, listen to this audio version, and if you’ve never read it, then may this audiobook give you a glimpse into the experiences and strength of character of an Auschwitz survivor.
-M.D., Ashland, OR
Three voices evocatively describe life in a Polish ghetto and in Auschwitz during WWII. Christine Williams narrates the majority of the audiobook, skillfully juggling the diverse timeframes and details of the memoir published in print. Felicia Lubliner's son, Irving, incorporates excerpts of 1960s recordings of programs she gave about her horrific experiences and clarifies his mother's words. Her vivid memories keep listeners riveted as she recounts such memories as each prisoner having to control how much they ate from a communal bowl and an artist saving precious bread to create her brilliant sculptures. Lubliner's words, in her own voice and through Williams's, are a testament to her resilience after losing her parents and nine siblings.
S.G.B. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2024]
"This is such a beautiful book to listen to. Christine Williams managed to make the stories come alive (as if I was watching them happen or even present during the scenes.) I was moved by hearing Felicia’s own voice, recorded over 50 years ago. I believe she came to this country in 1949 and didn't know the English language, but she wrote her stories in English, and I noticed her mastery of both the language and the craft of writing a short story. Her son’s voice in the afterword is so heartwarming. All three voices (Christine's, Felicia’s and her son’s) combine to make this a unique audiobook."
-Carrie Delanty
"I wasn't prepared for this. The difference between reading "Only Hope" and listening to the audio version is like comparing a map to the actual experience of travel. In reality, though, both are necessary to produce an unforgettable experience. While the book brings the reader to many uncomfortable places, the combined voices of Christine Williams (superbly narrating the gut-wrenching words of Felicia), Irving Lubliner (sharing candid childhood memories of his parents), and Felicia herself (lecturing at a local college) bring the listener into the ghoulish world of hatred, abject evil, and the residual effects of trauma in a searing and unforgettable true-life story. As I read the book, I was forced to stop and reflect on humanity's penchant for inhumanity, but as I listened to the audio version I was transported to Auschwitz to witness firsthand the cruelty that Felicia and others endured. Frankly, listening to this and imagining the horror took my breath away. I frankly believe you should own the book as well as the audio version of these memoirs, if for no other reason than to draw inspiration from Felicia Lubliner's indomitable spirit when challenges beset you. Aside from this, these serve as reminders that evil does exist and we must vigorously fight against it, particularly when a growing number of people doubt the Holocaust ever happened. Read, listen, and weep. Go to Auschwitz with Felicia. Let these written and spoken words seep into your spirit. You will not be disappointed and you will most certainly be changed for the better. Highly recommended."
-Todd Peterson