Do you think she'll remember?
 

About 7-8 years ago one of my teachers recommend that I read a book. I remember the main concept of the book being a guy in a concentration camp during/after WW2. I remember it being a pretty religious book(christian school) about 200 pages long. It is was good and wish I could read it again without it being a chore but I have no idea it's name. I've tried looking for it but it's impossible because there are tons of books matching that description, so I'm not even going to ask if anyone just happened to know the name.

I've been thinking about tracking my old teacher down and asking if she remembers it, but I think she's moved out of state and It seems like alot of work just to know a title of a book that she may or may not remember. So do you think there is a pretty good chance that she'll remember it? I think I was a pretty stand-out kinda student so I'm sure she'll remember me, but the name of the book is a different story :)

She's probably had 100's of students after me, so I dunno... What do you think?

It wouldn't surprise me if she recommended the same book to a lot of those other students too. And yeah, teachers remember stuff like that.

The most recommended is usually "Night" by Elie Weisel.

Failing that, look her up. It will definitely be an adventure!

Good Luck!

Erm... well, I dont know if I can help, but I have read a lot of survivor literature and stuff, so if you could say everything you remember about it I might be able to help?

Re: Do you think she'll remember?
 

Ask her and you will find that she is both flattered and amazed that as a teacher she had that kind of impact on you. She will likely also remember the name of the book if it is indeed one that she recommended to you outright. :) I think you'll make her day if you reach out to her and ask her if she remembers this title.

Look her up, thank her for taking the time to be the kind of teacher that makes a difference in young peoples lives, and ask her the title of the book.

Yes your teacher probably could remember. The books that I recommended to my students were books that I had read and that I admired. They weren't just paperback romance quality books. They are the kind that stand out in your memory.

Could it be (I know the book is probably a bit over 8th grade in depth but I read it in jr high or highschool) "The Gulag Archipelago" by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. His books tended to have a religious flavor to them. This particular one was about time he spent in a concentration camp himself. Even if it's not the one she recommended I would recommend it as one you might find just as interesting.

I'll second it being "Night". I read that in HS too.

"if this is a man" was the first book I read of this genre

When I was 27, I went back to my elementary school and visited my first grade teacher. She remembered me and even remembered things I'd about forgotten. I had a great time. She was a wonderfull teacher in her final year before retirement.

If all of my teachers had been so good. She set a high standard for all teachers.

Mrs. Brunger You rock.

I read "Night" a few weeks ago.. I'd almost guarantee it was that one.

why not go to a library, see if anyone there can help you narrow it down?

truly a classic series that everyone should read. Gives you a feel for the terrible atrocities that Lenin and Stalin committed and the (at least) 60-70 million lives that were lost under their reigns.

It wasn't "Night" I'm sure the the person in the story was a MAN, maybe 30+years old maybe even with a wife and children but I can't remember and books about the holocaust aren't exactly rare.

hmm, "if this is a man" sounds like it really could be it. I'm going to check into it before I try to track her down. Even if this is the book I might still do it, Just because she was one of my favorite teachers

Thanks guys

i bet she would. its worth a shot. teachers usually remember things of the such

Another book by the same author [Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn] is a possibility, named "One day in the life of Ivan Denisovich". It would fit your description.

"If this is a man" is by Primo Levi

Yeah, that's another one that came to mind later. Thanks for mentioning it. It's a little shorter one so would be more likely according to fit the description.

I dont think the gulags were concentration camps exactly...

I believe the name Concentration camp could be applied to the Gulag Archipelagos. They were technically considered Work Camps but many were "worked" to death there. Wikipedia

Look up the teacher, without a doubt. That kind of validation, that you touched a life with force and meaning, would mean the world to me (a former teacher)