The world of Holocaust literature is filled with horrific stories of murder and gritty survival – think Elie Wiesel, Primo Levi and Art Spiegelman. Seldom does a book come along from a Holocaust survivor that can truly be called delightful.
Letting It Go by Miriam Katin is that book.
Katin, a New York artist born in Hungary during World War II, has created a graphic novel about moving past her anger toward Germany. On the surface, it’s the true story of Katin’s reaction to her son moving to Berlin – news that, at first, sends her into a tailspin.
But Letting It Go is not a memoir of Holocaust sorrow. It’s a book full of life – a colorful novel of pencil drawings portraying a million small moments that make up Katin’s current life: An obsessive crusade against kitchen cockroaches; a cheer-me-up shopping spree for expensive sunglasses; an embarrassing case of diarrhea in a hotel bed; and, throughout, a touching, loving, supportive relationship with her husband.
Katin emerges as an immensely likable, complex woman – a friend you’d enjoy meeting for a drink.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
