How Languages Saved Me

How Languages Saved Me: A Polish Story of Survival
By: Tadeusz Haska

An incredible story! After reading so many WWII novels, this story seemed so unbelievable that he could evade capture for so long and escape authorities several times! Overall it was a fairly positive story, which is nice for a change. I’m glad his family was able to preserve his story in this way. His linguistic ability is amazing and I could see how that paired with his street smarts enabled him to survive as he did!

My main issue was the formatting and organization of the book. I guess I don’t know their goal in publishing so maybe it was exactly what they wanted. But it read exactly how I imagine if my own grandpa were telling me his life story. A bit of jumping around and a lot of non-essential details. It was very matter-of-fact. They didn’t seem to have pared down or edited any of the material, which boasts of authenticity but lacks the excitement and suspense of a good story. The title was great and the story is truly incredible. I could see it being turned into more of a historical fiction novel that may appeal to a wider audience. This formatting and set-up felt more like a research paper.

The pictures brought the story to life- good decision to include those.

Again, incredible story and has a lot of potential!

**I received an ARC via NetGalley**