I need to read this book
September 29, 2008
Safe Passage by Ida Cook – I need it.
I’m behind in my blog reading because I stepped away from the internet as much as possible this weekend. Can you say “political overload”? Between the Canadian election coverage and the American election coverage I’ve had enough politicking to last me a few years. So I spend most of the last four days offline watching tv and a movies and making progress on a knitted blanket that I have vain hopes of finishing in time for Christmas (along with three pairs of socks…I dream big people). This is a very longwinded way of saying that I’ve just read this post at Smart Bitches, Trashy Books that mentions Safe Passage.
Originally published in 1950 it is the true story of how romance novelist Ida Cook and her sister Louise Cook rescued dozens of Jews from persucution and death at the hands of the Nazis. It’s being re-released by Harlequin in North America (in paperback) and Mills and Boon in the UK. It’s already been released by Mills & Book, in hardcover and I’m verrrry tempted to order it from The Book Depository. Oopsie, I seem to have placed an order (this book, 1939 and The Last Curtsey – I think I’m going to blame Danielle since she was the one that introduced me to The Book Depository and I do love British editions).
Right so Safe Passage, this is from the except of the book the Amazon.ca page.
“To write your recollections or memoirs is to make a claim that, in your estimation at any rate, you have lived some interesting years. It is difficult not to associate a degree of egotism with this claim. But I am hoping a thin line draws a decent distinction between thinking myself an interesting person and being interested in what has happened to me. I am tremendously interested in what has happened to me— and incidentally my sister Louise, whose story this is, as much as my own. That is my sole excuse for supposing that a book about us should fascinate anyone but ourselves.”
I can’t wait until it comes. Of course, I have to find time to read it. I really should not be buying any books. Nor should I be getting more from the library but I can’t seem to help myself. If I ever finish the A-Z challenge I’ll need to do a From the Stacks one (or ten…).
Don’t forget, it’s Banned Books Week. Push the button. Read a banned book.
September 29th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
You just made my day!!! I did not know that Harlequin was rereleasing this excellent book! I read it in the original, a crumbling old Harlequin called “We Followed our Stars” just last year. It is very, very good, all about the war, about opera, about writing — I will be buying this one asap. Thanks for the info!
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September 29th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
Oh, and I also quoted Ida Cook recently in a weekly geeks quotes posting, when she’s talking about writing.
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September 30th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
This looks really interesting — although I told myself I wasn’t buying anymore books for a while and I can’t check any more out from the library until I get caught up. Ok, I admit it, that won’t last long. And now I have to check out The Book Depository too!
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October 6th, 2008 at 11:38 pm
But don’t you love TBD?!! If it makes you feel better, I think you’ve just tempted Me to buy this book! I have yet to read either 1939 or The Last Curtsey–because as usual I am behind in my reading.
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October 28th, 2008 at 11:21 pm
And I didn’t remember this at the library either!
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