5.0 out of 5 based on 12 reviews. – Customer review on 31/07/2006

A disturbing and powerful book which has changed my perception of humanity. This is truly a life-changing book that will show you to what extremes some people are capable of. Some of Elie Wiesel’s descriptions are so graphic that I sometimes momentarily forgot that these were real events, people and emotions. Are humans really capable of such cruelty? These are real stories, not fiction, that must be told so that they will not be easily forgotten.

5.0 out of 5 based on 12 reviews. – Customer review on 20/03/2009

This is a well written small book telling of the authors experiences of the Jewish Holocaust and his time in concentration camps in 1944, mainly Auschwitz.
Some of Elie Wiesel's words really touched me, for example when they first arrive at Auschwitz and all illusions are shattered as to what is really going on. His writing at this time is insightful and profound.
I have read a lot of books on this subject, and I am glad that I read this book and I would say it is one of my favourites, although it does not go deeply into the historical aspect.
However, I think it is a good book for teenagers or people just beginning to read about the Jewish experience of the Holocaust.
For a more comprehensive view, Abraham Biderman's 'World of my Past' is also a good choice for people who's interest goes deeper.

4.0 out of 5 based on 12 reviews. – Customer review on 30/07/2006

night is an emotionally charged book which will haunt you for a while afterwards. it shows the true horrors of life in a concentration camp, and how it had effects on families. this won a high prize, and is world renowned for being a very accurate portrayal of concentration camp life. this will make you think about the horrors of war in a new light.

5.0 out of 5 based on 12 reviews. – Customer review on 15/09/2008

I like most people in New Zealand saw Elie Wiesel on Oprah and that epidsode moved me so much that over the next few months I kept on thinking how much I wanted or more so needed to read Night.

I am so glad I brought this book and as utterly heart breaking as it is, I think it should be a book that every body is made to read. It's moving from the first sentance and shackes you to your core and what makes it a great book is that you'll be still thinking about it for weeks and months after you finish.

We were taught very little about this time period during social studies in high school and I'm glad that I have been enlighted by this book and this man's words.

5.0 out of 5 based on 12 reviews. – Customer review on 13/09/2007

Oprah led me to this book as well. I bought it because I wanted to explore hate, Elie stated he felt none towards their opressors but always anger when he and Oprah visited Auschwitz, in the book he revealed hate towards the Hungarians that stayed with him, so I was confused a little about this.

His writing is truly impressive, some books you read, they wave and wane, but his style holds you until the last page. I found it interesting that the people in the concentration camps were equally as cruel to each other as the death camp rulers, in a fit for survival.

How can you even comprehend what happened there? I wish I could feel how they felt to truly understand, which seems sick, but all I can do is learn and never forget because it is impossible, unimaginable but human. I wish I could get my copy signed, it is a very special book and a memory for all those who had their lives taken from them.

Aaron

5.0 out of 5 based on 12 reviews. – Customer review on 10/07/2007

I have read other works by Wiesel prior to finding this. He is a highly intelligent man and extremely politically aware- super literate and articulate. I love the fact that this book is written without the intellectualisation of his experiences which would have made it easier for readers to cope emotionally with the truth of his story. The sheer poetry of his writing- his powerful, and at times, utterly devastating evocations of camp experiences, and more importantly, of the shifts which occured in his own humanity and consciousness because of them, are impossible to ignore, trivialise or reject.
It is especially important that holocaust literature continues to be read at this time, when there is such a resurrgence of ridiculous anti-semetic conspiracy theories and hatreds. His text is immediate, accessible and would be perfect introductory reading for people discovering the joy of beautiful writing, and for those who read but are unitiated regarding holocaust history and account. Actually, I think that everyone who loves humanity, loves life and loves words should own a copy. Never Forget.

5.0 out of 5 based on 12 reviews. – Customer review on 26/05/2007

Yes I will admit I saw Elie's interview with Oprah and his story intrigued me so I bought the book. This book was moving and sickening at the same time when you realise what the human body and mind can endure. It also made you realise what we as humans are capable of and that atrocities like this are still going on all over the world we might not have death camps or gas chambers but the cruelty and predjudice is still there.

Elie Wiesel is truly amazing and I can not imagine what he must of gone through at the time but also reliving it when writing this book. A must read if you want to be thankful for the life you have now and realise because these people went through this we may never have to.

4.0 out of 5 based on 12 reviews. – Customer review on 10/03/2007

The book was moving and intelligent. It's gripping writing kept me on the edge of my seat though I was unable to read a lot of it at a time due to the serious nature and deep thinking required to make the most of the book.
I really enjoyed it and it gave me a lot to think about . It'd depply moving nature could have a tearful influence on sensitive people but it's well worth the read if you can get through it.

5.0 out of 5 based on 12 reviews. – Customer review on 09/01/2007

A very moving story.Reading this book makes you think about humanity and what hatred can do. A must read!!!

5.0 out of 5 based on 12 reviews. – Customer review on 24/12/2006

Yes, I have to admit that Oprah led me to this book. I was watching her show one day and she interview Elie Wiesel and awarded college scholarships to the winners of her essay competition. (The students were required to write an essay on how 'Night' effected them.

The book is a memoir of Wiesel's time as a Jew in Europe during the second world war. The book follows Wiesel's journey from concentration camp to concentration camp as the end of the war draws near. We learn how Wiesel is unable to be shocked the the atrocities and why he is unable to sleep at night. The book is not a cheerful one, but I emensly enjoyed reading it.

The edition I have has only recently be translated from Yiddish to English by Wiesel's wife Marion. Wiesel tells us in the preface that this translation is much closer to the original text, that that which was translated some 45 years ago.

If I were to enter Oprah's essay compeition, I would write of emptiness that is Elie Wiesel at the time of liberation. He does not provide details of the months between his father's death and his own liberation. Horrors which I can not comprehend become a part of every day life for Wiesel and slowly, camp by camp, Wiesel is reduced to an emotionless human.

I recommend the reading of 'Night' simply for the amazing story of survival. Wiesel himself puts his survival down to chance, but he has used his chance to form some meaning of life.