Night by Elie Wiesel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A short read…. but who ever said short couldn’t be powerful?
My God…. this was on the summer reading list for my senior year of high school and I see why now. Looking back on it, I probably would have related to this more than the book I chose. At least I’ve read it now, ironically for school, although I’m at university level now. There’s no “good” moment in this book, but given the subject matter that shouldn’t be too much of a surprise. And, even when the story moved at breakneck speed, I was still looking for some semblance of a happy ending for the author. This must have been so hard to write, because that search for a happy ending was a wild goose chase for me.
I’m happy that Wiesel lived to tell his story, but I feel horrible that he went through all that he describes in the book. I could see the ending coming and I imagine he saw how his story would end, too, what the personal climax of this terrible time would be for him.
This story, like The Terrorist’s Son by Zak Ebrahim, shows how religion can be used as a weapon if twisted and perverted enough. In the right hands, religion can be a beautiful diamond; in the wrong hands, it may as well be the burning ember that sets the forest around it ablaze. I say this because even today there are people who use religion as a way to achieve their own selfish or destructive ends instead of using it to better themselves, as I believe it could best be used.
Overall, a very short story with an extremely powerful punch. It well deserves to be taught in the schools and its message should never be forgotten!
May Elie Wiesel rest in peace….
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Review: Night
