Elfflame

This book pulls you in. It is not a light book. It is not a happy book. But it is a true book. It is one everyone should read, if they can. Especially in the world of today, where people are believing it's truth less and less. This book is part of my attempt this year to understand better the people my paternal grandfather came from, and to understand what their people were put through during the Reich's reign in Germany.

As Elie says: “...Without this testimony, my life as a writer—or my life, period—would not have become what it is: that of a witness who believes he has a moral obligation to try to prevent the enemy from enjoying one last victory by allowing his crimes to be erased from human memory.” Through his words, I begin to understand my need to read these stories, despite the pain they bring. This needs to be remembered. To be understood. For people to stand witness, now that the survivors are fading. We need to take their places, to remind the world what happened, and why it was a horrific thing, the evils of humans who think themselves otherwise good. We need to know these things. And I am glad for the courage of people like Elie, who survived, who told their stories, despite the pain it must have caused them to remember.

If you can, read this book. It deserves to be read and understood and remembered, as does Elie and his suffering, and his courage. I only wish he were here today to speak out against what is currently happening in the US. I know he would have words to say. Thank you, Elie, for your words, and for your memories.

I was worried this was going to be a hard book to read, given how the last one ended. It was, but it was very much worth the read. I highly recommend the entire series to anyone who likes YA distopias.

I miss Carrie Fisher. I miss her sarcasm, her willingness to stand up in a fight, her constant talk about her real problems, not a one of which she ever blamed on anyone else. This book isn't a love story about Carrie and Harrison. It is, however, in some ways, a love letter to the character who took over Carrie's life. To Leia's affect on her in all ways.

For a fan who was there from the beginning, this book is a reminder of life before, and life during the uproar that was Star Wars. It reminds me of who she and Mark and Harrison became, and how fresh and new they were in that first film. We all owe them so much.

Read this if you love Carrie Fisher. Read this if you love Star Wars. Read this if you're curious about the affair (but don't expect a grand, sweeping love story). But most of all read this if you are a fan who grew up during this time, who remembers that time before, who loves the characters, who loves Carrie.

I love Leia. I love Carrie. And I'm so grateful she got to share this with us before the end. I miss her every day.

I don't remember a time before Star Trek. I was born the year it was cancelled. I grew up in a time of syndicated episodes, and always hurried to watch in my grandfather's den every time I visited them. It was just something I loved. I watched every episode faithfully. And when the movies were released, I watched them, too.

And I loved Spock. I don't recall the exact moment, but I know I had several times where I identified with Spock. Quiet, introverted, fascinated by information. If I had been part of that crew, his was the role I most wanted to take. His people the people I wanted to be a part of. I remember running upstairs after we got home from Wrath of Khan and being horrified that I couldn't watch a new episode, proving to me that Spock wasn't dead at all. That he would never really be gone, so long as we had the show. Unfortunately, Sports won out that day over Star Trek, and the usual syndicated slot was taken by an extended baseball game.

So by extension, I loved Leonard Nimoy. How could I not love the man who created a character I loved so much? And the more I knew about him, the more I adored him. He put his passion into everything he did. Spoke out about things that truly mattered to him. So much so that many things were released that might never have seen the light of day, like Never Forget, which spoke about the Jewish experience in a way that had not been done before.

When I got a twitter account, his was one of the first celebrities I added. His posts about life always made me smile. His memories of his Star Trek companions even more so. And too, he spoke out about his illness, the one that took him from us. I will always admire him for his courage and generosity. I only hope he and DeForrest Kelly and James Doohan are up there smiling down on us.

It has always been in the back of my mind that I should read his books, but I'd never gotten around to it. Not until someone gifted this one to me for my birthday. I loved it from the first page. Nimoy shines out of the page, his voice so clear in my ear it is as though I am hearing it on tape. But too, it only makes me wish for more. I will be tracking down his first book, because I want to read more. I do hope, though, that someone who knew him well finds a way to write a final book about his life, covering all that this book stops before. Because I would read it. In a heartbeat.

I highly recommend this to any Star Trek fan. There is simply so much that goes on behind the scenes that you can't tell from the finished product. Nimoy's narration never drags down, but pushes you along, curious as to what will happen next, even when you know.

And one final word; to quote Nimoy: LLAP.

I don't think I can be cogent at the moment, but when I got to the moment just before the truth is revealed and my bus rolled up, I almost stayed behind to finish...

Is it October yet?