tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4734590638266769310.post3814439936708336619..comments2023-09-16T09:33:11.757-04:00Comments on Diary of an Eccentric: The Apple by Penelope J. HoltAnnahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08046635675540466183noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4734590638266769310.post-4638752846840847432010-02-08T13:02:58.605-05:002010-02-08T13:02:58.605-05:00Anonymous: I had no idea Angel at the Fence was r...Anonymous: I had no idea Angel at the Fence was released in any format.Annahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08046635675540466183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4734590638266769310.post-54023133140875176342010-01-31T00:25:38.055-05:002010-01-31T00:25:38.055-05:00"angel at the fence" was a terrific book..."angel at the fence" was a terrific book. i loved this book. the author did a wonderful job. found the book online.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4734590638266769310.post-3056412807652696412009-10-10T20:28:46.639-04:002009-10-10T20:28:46.639-04:00look at this. this is the last gawker.com article...look at this. this is the last gawker.com article with video of this rosenblat guy and ms. holt his accomplice. shame on them both. profiting off the death of 6 million.<br /><br />gawker link:<br /><br />http://gawker.com/5330138/lying-holocaust-author-recounts-tale-of-thing-that-never-happenedAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4734590638266769310.post-63869042140910597782009-10-05T13:18:15.298-04:002009-10-05T13:18:15.298-04:00Thank you all for your comments. This definitely ...Thank you all for your comments. This definitely was a difficult one to review, and I appreciate Penelope taking the time to clarify a few points. I think it took me a week to process this one to the point where I could write about it. And I'm thankful all the comments have been respectful. You guys are awesome!Annahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08046635675540466183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4734590638266769310.post-82050871751700932072009-10-02T22:17:21.277-04:002009-10-02T22:17:21.277-04:00This must have been a tough book to review, Anna. ...This must have been a tough book to review, Anna. Between the history of Rosenblat's story and the misunderstanding with Holt's retelling (confusion over fiction vs. creative nonfiction) ... you really presented a fair and balanced review.<br /><br />And it's a shame that people used your giveaway post to rant! I hope that doesn't happen here :)Dawn @ sheIsTooFondOfBookshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09285873722005594325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4734590638266769310.post-80374606905415872702009-09-29T12:40:29.689-04:002009-09-29T12:40:29.689-04:00This is a very balanced review of the controversy....This is a very balanced review of the controversy. He certainly seems a lot more sympathetic than the Million Little Pieces author. Still the problem with getting caught in deceit is it then casts doubt on his veracity as a whole. However, I agree with the point that given that he is a Holocaust survivor no one except other survivors can fully appreciate the impact such trauma has on a person.DCMetroreaderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02229456529059098518noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4734590638266769310.post-84157445514851706752009-09-28T10:18:27.556-04:002009-09-28T10:18:27.556-04:00It is a very controversial issue but it doesn'...It is a very controversial issue but it doesn't diminish Herman's Holocaust survival story in my eyes at all. And I won't judge him either for what he did. But I will certainly put The Apple on my wish list.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07127042690689033583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4734590638266769310.post-26550493379168323112009-09-26T19:40:47.829-04:002009-09-26T19:40:47.829-04:00I absolutely agree with everything you said about ...I absolutely agree with everything you said about using the apple story as a coping mechanism. I don't want to judge anyone either. I do wish he had been truthful but the reason why he wasn't is probably an answer we'll never find out. I "hopefully" will never have to experience all that these survivors and victims had to endure and for that reason alone I believe we should forgive and move on.Stacihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07600979915661464945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4734590638266769310.post-91236969656091502142009-09-25T17:37:42.414-04:002009-09-25T17:37:42.414-04:00wonderful penelope holt and herman rosenblat pictu...wonderful penelope holt and herman rosenblat pictures on youtube link:<br /><br />http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aju4dybTZscAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4734590638266769310.post-57317667425056738592009-09-25T15:33:33.501-04:002009-09-25T15:33:33.501-04:00A touchy subject for sure.A touchy subject for sure.Lenore Appelhanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16664671644163369772noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4734590638266769310.post-8853851984853993322009-09-25T12:49:14.378-04:002009-09-25T12:49:14.378-04:00I should have mentioned that the reason the book w...<b>I should have mentioned that the reason the book was relabeled as creative nonfiction, according to Holt, is that the story does not deviate much from Rosenblat's authentic Holocaust story.</b>Annahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08046635675540466183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4734590638266769310.post-83531144518106014822009-09-25T12:43:13.288-04:002009-09-25T12:43:13.288-04:00I received an email from the author of The Apple, ...<b>I received an email from the author of <i>The Apple</i>, Penelope Holt, asking me to clarify something. The ARC I received labeled the book as a novel, but it is in fact creative nonfiction. This answers my question about why she chose to write a novel instead of a biography.</b><br /><br />Thanks to everyone who commented on my review. I've enjoyed reading your thoughts on the topic.Annahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08046635675540466183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4734590638266769310.post-54688537636090765152009-09-25T11:43:07.859-04:002009-09-25T11:43:07.859-04:00I do think it's kind of odd that Holt chose to...I do think it's kind of odd that Holt chose to write a fictionalized version of Herman's story, when the problem with his original story was that it was fiction he passed off as fact. Especially when it's not clear in Holt's book what is truly fiction and what isn't. I think I'll be passing on the book.<br /><br />That being said, I agree with you that we can never really understand what the survivor's went through, how they individually managed to live day after day. And even later, the memories and dreams must have haunted them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4734590638266769310.post-73816438315502569382009-09-24T23:39:01.319-04:002009-09-24T23:39:01.319-04:00It is unfortunate he lied. Even if it was a mechan...It is unfortunate he lied. Even if it was a mechanism to help him cope, initially selling it to the public as a true story is where he crossed the line from coping mechanism to dishonest marketing.<br /><br />Unfortunately, this does give the Holocast deniers ammo for their slander.MIchael Peepleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03105721106202167856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4734590638266769310.post-81557571350321676552009-09-24T22:25:04.128-04:002009-09-24T22:25:04.128-04:00It is really sad that whenever a story comes out a...It is really sad that whenever a story comes out as being false, I can't help wondering how many other memoirs I've read were partly or mostly made up? I never came across one where the author wrote to tell the truth of his lie. I haven't read it, but I think it was brave of him to do that. Not many people would admit it, much less write a book about it.Jeanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02270303640902731044noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4734590638266769310.post-63427591580230263012009-09-24T21:29:52.812-04:002009-09-24T21:29:52.812-04:00It just sucks, though, when things like this happe...It just sucks, though, when things like this happen. I was reading "Night" awhile back, and a friend of mine said "wasn't that the one that was a hoax?". What? Are you kidding me? Night, a hoax? It gives everything in the genre a bad name. The story would have been able to stand on its own for crying out loud.Sandy Nawrothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00564390728106776030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4734590638266769310.post-19558960508734545932009-09-24T20:58:29.122-04:002009-09-24T20:58:29.122-04:00I've never heard about this book or the story ...I've never heard about this book or the story it was based on at all -- and I find it very intriguing. It saddens me that you were forced to close comments on your giveaway because of hateful and negative comments. Have we not learned anything yet????<br /><br />I can see that this would be controversial ... but I think you make some very very good points. It is one thing to say "What he did was wrong" but we didn't live through what he did. We don't know why he created this story or felt the need to. I don't think anyone wants to "walk a mile in his shoes" ... but I do think you need to do that before being so harsh and critical of someone. I imagine his decision to misrepresent his experiences didn't exactly help him out. It is sad really. <br /><br />And I do find it interesting that the author would make this a novel and not a biography. That seems to mix things up even more.<br /><br />All that being said, it sounds like a fascinating story that is very thought-provoking. Fantastic review and I wish you luck with this post!!!!Jennershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08044537551139633301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4734590638266769310.post-59395564637060490782009-09-24T19:24:56.025-04:002009-09-24T19:24:56.025-04:00The Apple sounds like a worthwhile read, Anna. He...The Apple sounds like a worthwhile read, Anna. Herman went through so much, as did so many others during the Holocaust. It's heartbreaking. I hadn't really heard much about Herman's memoir until the controversy broke, and there were a couple of others that were suddenly being revealed as fake during that time too. I always wonder what was running through a person's mind when he or she decided to lie like that.Literary Felinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13079276242303738719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4734590638266769310.post-9957737254426875132009-09-24T19:20:12.835-04:002009-09-24T19:20:12.835-04:00I'm sorry that happened with the giveaway - th...I'm sorry that happened with the giveaway - things like that are totally uncalled for. I remember when Herman was telling that story and always felt like it was too much of a coincidence to be true. It sure did make a great story, though!bermudaonionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10726401178972099557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4734590638266769310.post-81939384896704364722009-09-24T18:26:19.800-04:002009-09-24T18:26:19.800-04:00I remember this story vividly, but I think its fan...I remember this story vividly, but I think its fantastic that she went through the trouble to understand his point of view. I wish he had just wrote a fiction book.Serenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04745809545249574387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4734590638266769310.post-76807189099376735822009-09-24T18:18:21.151-04:002009-09-24T18:18:21.151-04:00Wow, I remember reading about this love story on C...Wow, I remember reading about this love story on CNN, I think. But I didn't know that it was fake! How sad. What a great, objective review you managed. Thanks!Aartihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02354873119188597611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4734590638266769310.post-52021158574266874242009-09-24T16:33:25.915-04:002009-09-24T16:33:25.915-04:00I can see why this would have been an interesting ...I can see why this would have been an interesting story. And I have heard of instances where people would keep telling the same fictionalized story so much that eventually they honestly believe it as truth. Thanks for the review Anna.Jo-Johttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12529212026658169288noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4734590638266769310.post-58210995318442980802009-09-24T16:15:11.235-04:002009-09-24T16:15:11.235-04:00Sounds like an interesting read, and I remember se...Sounds like an interesting read, and I remember seeing them on Oprah. Should not have lied, he still had a great story to tellBlodeueddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03435479623560871881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4734590638266769310.post-58816182765962739192009-09-24T15:36:46.339-04:002009-09-24T15:36:46.339-04:00Very interesting review. And I'm intrigued ab...Very interesting review. And I'm intrigued about the book, although I think I'd agree that a bio version might have been better, particularly to overcome the apple debacle.Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05554217416500328610noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4734590638266769310.post-5254068703372668772009-09-24T14:36:17.353-04:002009-09-24T14:36:17.353-04:00I'm not sure I realized this was a novelizatio...I'm not sure I realized this was a novelization of the whole debacle. That said, whatever his motivations were in creating the story, he obviously did indeed endure a terrible amount of hardship and tragedy and it's sad that he was driven to create something so that his story would have hope and something positive in it (in his eyes) rather than relying on his perseverance and survival to provide that hope.Kristenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07651401312450990123noreply@blogger.com