Rainy Day Reads

This is a non-fiction account detailing how three brothers built an entire Jewish community under the noses of the Nazi invaders in the Belorussian area during World War II.   I had never heard of this story before, and I doubt many people have, even though this group of Jewish people was one of the largest to be saved during the war. The story itself is fascinating. We follow the Bielski family, as they endure a number of discriminatory acts from diverse governments and the civilian population in their area, even before the arrival of the Nazis. When the Nazis come the family first try to tough it out, but after the death of the parents and the many mass killings three of the brothers decide to make a run for the forest to try and bring their family through the war in hiding. At first it is only extended family, and the small group manages to hide somewhat easily in the massive woods, but soon hundreds of escapees from the ghettos in surrounding cities join the group. H...

I picked this one up randomly at my library because I liked the cover and the promise of a carnival setting.   It details the story of Julia Pastrana, a young woman in the 19th century freak show scene. Julia was born in Mexico an abandoned by her mother due to her excessive hair growth. She was taken in by the local governor, but when propositioned by a showman to be his main attraction she leaves Mexico and starts a touring life that continued until her death.  The book is based on the true story of Julia Pastrana, a so-called “bearded woman”. In reality she was probably suffering from what we now know as hypertrichosis, a condition that left her entire body and face covered with hair.  In the book we follow her as she tours the world becoming a major attraction wherever she goes. But in reality she longs for a quiet family life and hopes to achieve this one day. The dream seems about to come true when her manager decides to propose marriage to her ...