Reviews - Romek's Lost Youth The Story of a Boy Survivor

 

How does a fledgling self-publisher get reviews for a book nobody has ever heard of before?  We went through the gauntlet - emailing tons of inquiries to periodicals and newspapers in Canada and the United States, jockeying for their attention along with some tens of thousands of other hopeful authors; shipping our paperback copies to designated editors - who in their ivory towers would decide if our book was worthy of their stamp of approval (if they have even read it) and hence be featured in their lofty publication. Apparently, not? Quel dommage.

This experience was quite an eye-opener for me and has reinforced the reality of the playing field, so to speak. Needless to say, the publishing industry is still rooted in a distinct hierarchy that focuses only on a narrow cross-section of (money-making) authors which consist of career authors who have a long line of successful titles to their name, as well as esteemed professionals who have ironed out a unique angle to hawk their books, and famous (or notorious) celebrities who pay ghost-writers to write their tell-all books.

Lastly, there is the infinite sea of unknown writers, whose books are equally laudable, but who like neutrinos, pass through the galaxy and everything in it largely unnoticed. Who will ever know that we came this way; who will ever know what we had to say…. ! 

We had embarked on an intensive Google search campaign, and found literally hundreds of websites that offered book reviews. But none of them were free – there was always a price to be paid, sometimes quite exorbitant and outrageous!  It was out of the question. We had no intention of paying for reviews.  Next we tried contacting bloggers who specialize in reviewing books but most were dedicated to genres restricted to thrillers, mysteries and romances.

A cloud of gloom began to form in my mind. I thought it was quite bizarre that in this age of computers and the internet, aspiring self-published writers should have an easier time of obtaining publicity for their work. Apparently not. Alas, whether on or off the internet, one's skill at marketing (or the lack of it) will determine whether a book skyrockets to fame, or fades away into obscurity.

But eventually, our efforts were finally rewarded when we stumbled across a unique website, called LibraryThing.com, which joins together selected members hungry for the next new book, and matches them with authors willing to provide a few free books for their review. (at no cost)  We were featured in the November 2022 Early Reviewers give-away, and shipped out five of our books to contest winners. (by the way Good Reads is another website that is structured along similar lines.)

 

To my relief, this book received great reviews! Please note that the reviews are independent, and based on the reviewers own opinion (which may, or may not be a positive one) Most importantly, there was no exchange of monies for the reviews.

 

All except one of the following reviews are excerpts. Should you want to read the complete reviews, you may find them on LibraryThing.com

 

Here are the reviews…

 

“…….The horrors of the holocaust were real. Romek talked to students late in his life, telling them to remember the Holocaust, and not to let it happen again. He warned against racism and religious intolerances that poison and spread hatred. We need books like these to remind us of what happens when evil is allowed to take control, and a country allows, even encourages (!) racism and hatred to thrive. We need to remember so we never let this happen again. Sadly, neither Ken Roman ( Romek ) or John James saw this book get published, as UK publishers weren't receptive to this genre. It was privately published by Batory Publishers in Montreal. I am thankful for the opportunity to receive this book as an early reviewer, an(d) would recommend it to anyone interested in reading WWII history.” 

January 14, 2023

Reviewer: Macnoid

 “……. I have read so many books on the Holocaust, and yet, everyone of them, this included, adds something to my knowledge base of the horrors inflicted by Hitler's Third Reich and the German people who voted for it.

Just 13 years of age, and all alone, this teenager was subjected to the whims of evil, shameful, despicable human beings, evil the likes of which one could not imagine even in a science fiction novel, and yet, because of his strength of character and courage, his willingness to bend the rules, understand the consequences of, and need for, his actions and the actions of others, he survived in spite of the monstrous daily trauma he suffered………Those who supported Hitler ignored the horrors, and pretended ignorance about the barbarism, even afterwards. The antisemites in France, Poland, Ukraine, Italy, etc., were absolutely complicit. They must not forget; we must remind them constantly……..”

December 24, 2022

Reviewer: Thewanderingjew

 

 “ ……This slim Holocaust memoir was surprising in many ways. For one thing, Romek was very young when he went to the camps, yet his skills allowed him to remain with the skilled workers instead of being sent to his death early on. For another, he was in a work camp overseen by criminals, not a traditional concentration camp. Sexual abuse at the hands of the kapos is not often a factor in Holocaust memoirs I have read……… Well-written, direct, and frank, Ken Roman's memoir deserves a larger audience than it is likely to get as a privately published book…….”

December 14, 2022

Reviewer: labfs39

 

 “Wow, what a great book. The book was a give-away from Library Things early reader program. A terrifying tale of the brutal mistreatment of concentration camp prisoners and the hypocrisy of the NAZI party and their great scheme to morality and honesty to the German people and to conquer the world……..Romek found himself at the mercy of pedophiles and sadists………The inhumane treatment of the inmates and the cold-blooded murder committed by the guards was terrible to read, I cannot imagine living through it as Romek did………His life subsequent to the war is a uplifting story of a young man getting ahead thru intelligence, hard work, and a pleasant way with the people met and came to know…….

December 14, 2022

Reviewer: thosgpetri

" This story of a young Polish boy during World War 2 is an impressive account. As a Jew, Romek would ordinarily be sent to the concentration camps, but he passes as a Gentile and thus goes to labor camps instead. He tells his story in detail and it is absorbing but horrific, as he has to deal with brutal behavior. One wonders how he got through it all, so it is a testament to the human spirit and the will to survive. I have read several accounts of life during the war, including the Holocaust, but this story I must rate as excellent, as it is a dispassionate telling and full of detail. How did he remember all the details, so that years later he could recount them in this story?  The painful memories told here are thankfully eased to a degree by the second half of the book, where Romek tells how he finally escaped and made his way to freedom, and then a gradual return to normalcy, through education and various jobs until he became quite successful. This is a very interesting and worthwhile story. "

February 9, 2023

Reviewer:  RickLA 

 

I do wish to thank the administrators of LibraryThings.com for having accepted my book in their November 2022 Early Reviewers program, and most particularly I wish extend my thanks to each of the reviewers for their interest in this book, and their valuable insight.

 

Romek’s Lost Youth The Story of a Boy Survivor is available only in paperback. We ship only to the US and Canada.

If you wish to order this book, you can do so on eBay or Etsy.