naphtalia's Full Review: Eva Hoffman - Lost in Translation: A Life in a New...
Eva (or Ewa) Hoffmangrew up in Krakow, Poland until she was 13. At that time, she and her family migrated. While other friends migrated to Israel, Eva's family migrated to Vancouver.
The first part of Lost In Translation: A Life in a New Language tells about Ewa's life in Poland. There, Eva was valued for her musical talent. She and her friends found Krakow a magical place. Here, Ewa knew the rules of behavior. Boys and girls here didn't date. Instead, they went out in groups and relationships developed out of friendships. In Krakow, Ewa's parents know how to operate within the Polish system. They know where to find things and how to get around regulations. But life for Jews in Poland was not easy, and the family finally made the choice to emigrate.
The next part of the book tells about being foreigners in a new country. At school, the teacher changed Ewa and her sister Alina's name to Eva and Ilene. One day while at the house of a family friend, the mother took her into the bathroom and shaved her armpits without ever bothering to ask if she wanted this done. In this time, the shape of English words don't fit her mouth easily and their deeper meanings elude her. She still prefers Polish with the words whose meanings she understands on all levels.
Slowly, Ewa/Eva acquired English. She learned how to get along in Canadian teenage culture. Eventually, she went to Rice University in Houston, Texas. All the while, the Canada and the America she is participating in she is also evaluating through the eyes of an immigrant. Eventually, the day comes when she even begins to dream in English.
And then comes a return to visit friends in Poland. A place that is at once familiar and unfamiliar.
This book offers tremendous insights into North Americans about who we are. The things that we do as a matter of course are not the only way things can be done. At moments, this book has the power to shake belief systems to the core as Eva Hoffman explains how things are done elsewhere.
The book is at its best in the early chapters about Krakow and the early years in Vancouver. It maintains much of its power during the time at Rice University. By the time she is an adult, however, much of the conflict that made this so powerful is gone.
The book recovers much of this power as she returns to Poland. Unfortunately, she becomes ill while visiting and so doesn't get to visit some of the places she had hoped (and we had hoped) she could revisit.
Overall, this is a very good book and well worth the reading, even if you put it aside after Eva grows up. As an American now residing in Poland, I also found it particularly helpful in understanding a bit about who my Polish neighbors are.
A very helpful book overall.
**********
If you would like to read children's books about the immigrant experience, check out Grandfather's Journey
If you would like to check out more books specifically about Jews who came to the U.S., read these:
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.