Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Genre: Non-fiction

Age Recommended: 14 and up

This was a very thought-provoking read. Some parts of it were a bit gory and others too repetitive. However, the responses of people in the second half of the book were very interesting to read and I loved seeing the different points of view.

————————————————

Simon Wiesenthal is a former concentration camp prisoner of WWII who shares his story in this book.

———————————————–

Normally, Simon and his fellow prisoners are taken to a town to slave away as they are monitored by SS (Nazi) soldiers. One day, Simon is suddenly whisked away by a nurse to listen to the dying words of a SS soldier who is seeking forgiveness from a Jewish person.

The soldier, Karl, shares his horrifying experience about ruthlessly murdering hundreds of Jewish people  by locking them in a house and setting it on fire. Karl then proceeds to ask Simon for forgiveness believing that only a Jew can grant him the peace he needs.

Karl expresses remorse, but Simon may not have the reaction Karl is hoping for.

—

The rest of the book shows the thoughts of many people regarding Simon’s actions and what they would have done instead.

—

If you would like to read this book, you can purchase it here: The Sunflower: On the Possibilities and Limits of Forgiveness (Newly Expanded Paperback Edition)

—