Title: Through Fire and Over Water
Author: Maria Krechowec
Publisher: XlibrisNZ
ISBN: 978-1514466940
Pages: 396
Genre: Non-Fiction/Autobiography
Reviewed by: Anthony Avina
Pacific Book Review
It is said, “Every generation witnesses atrocities. People in power try to fulfill prophecy.” One generation in particular had to endure some of the worst atrocities the world has ever seen. In World War II, the world watched as the Nazi’s rise to power in Germany led to all out invasion and war, with the world turning upon itself as the Nazi’s committed horrific crimes against humanity. In author Maria Krechowec’s novel Through Fire and Over Water, the author describes her journey from the War and beyond.
From her origins living in the Ukraine and enduring famines created by Stalin in the 1930’s, to being taken and used as slave labor by the German forces during the Nazi occupation and working in a German arms factory, the author’s journey brings a personal look into some of history’s most tragic eras and showcases the way she survived and endured this dark chapter of human history.
The writing itself is powerful. The true nature of war and tragedy that this author endured is felt in every page of the story. A mixture of happy family memories, cherished family history and emotional and dark horrors the author endured; this story explores the harsh realities of that era which are not always heard in this day and age. The author says, “In this manner our days flowed by in this slave labor environment. I recalled that back home I had discussed the subject of slavery once with one of my girlfriends and at the time we could not imagine how it would feel. Now it had come to pass to experience this bondage first hand and hearing Germans referring to you as something less than a human being, on the par of a swine.” This showcases the realities of her situation in the war, and what kind of hatred and cruelty she had to overcome in the midst of so much turmoil and pain.
The book is for anyone who enjoys history, the nature of what WWII was really like or autobiographies in general. The author’s story is unique and interesting, getting to see a story of a young Ukrainian woman who survived so much hardship to find a better and brighter future was fascinating to watch unfold. As a history fan and an outspoken opponent to hatred and hate fueled violence, this story spoke to me in a way that felt our current political era can fall to the same dark forces in the United States and around the world people do not learn from history.
Overall this was a fantastic read. Serving as both a historic look into a first-hand account of WWII and the personal journey of this author, the novel serves as a steady reminder of what happens when hate and cruelty become the norm, and should show us how to not doom ourselves to repeat the heinous sins of past generations. On a personal level the author showcased her journey of overcoming troubling times and inadvertently fulfilling a prophecy made about her on the day of her birth. She went through fire and over water, enduring the “fire” of war and going over water (the ocean) to find her home and family, closing a chapter of darkness on her life and moving on to a brighter chapter that was just beginning. If you enjoy autobiographies or are interested in personal stories from WWII, then you should grab your copy of author Maria Krechowec’s novel Through Fire and Over Water today.
