Insanity and grace are two things people wouldn’t necessarily associate with each other, but with our featured book today, you’ll see that they fit well.
Dr. Ilana Oren, author of Insanity and Grace, reveals the many skeletons in her closet as she faces them in this well-written memoir. Dr. Oren has always been intrigued by what’s called the myth of the “Chosen People.” This fascination made her ask, “What were we chosen for?” and her path to her current career.
Today, we’ll look at her book, what it’s all about, what readers can expect from the book, and if it’s worth reading.
What Is Insanity and Grace All About?
As we are all highly aware, life can be very challenging at times. For how much it brings us joy, love, and contentment, it can also cause misery, apathy, and discontentment. Life isn’t always about rays of sunshine and rainbows; while we may have our fair share of hardships, some undoubtedly get the short end of the stick.
Dr. Oren’s experience of being one of the Holocaust’s child survivors, being the final remnants of the Polish Jews (people who immigrated to Israel back in 1957), had a huge impact on her life. There’s also her grief over the loss of her friends during the Six-Day War, along with her proud experience of being in the Israeli Defense Force to serve there.
The book talks about all of these aspects and more. Dr. Oren shares all of her experiences in this book, as well as her thoughts back then. Readers will have a wonderful look into Dr. Oren’s life and the vast experiences that she has been through.
What Can Readers Expect?
Readers can expect a remarkable memoir full of details, well-written anecdotes, and heartfelt scenes that will linger with them even after they’ve finished the book. Insanity and Grace is all about sharing Dr. Ilana Oren’s experience while also delivering the message that her story portrays a new chapter in the context of the Jewish people’s history.
Being a memoir, readers can also expect a detailed look into the life of Dr. Oren. The chapters in her book are divided into years, namely her formative years, mid-life, and then into the elderly age. It’s an excellent book that chronically tells Dr. Oren’s entire life, like a photo book, but we get words instead of pictures.
Is Insanity and Grace Worth Reading?
If you’re a fan of reading memoirs, we highly recommend getting Dr. Oren’s book. What makes her book unique is the level of detail and specificity in every experience. Readers can also easily tell that the passion and love Dr. Oren gave to the memoir.
Let’s take a look at some excerpts of the book:
- “I was very excited, which felt a bit like anxiety. I realized that my computer skills were minimal. I didn’t even know how to post the links on Facebook to notify my family, colleagues, and friends of the upcoming interview. Well, my beautiful daughters Donna and Kareen, as well as my dear Mormon friend Dr. Drew Brown came to my rescue. I felt that I had finally arrived in the twenty-first century…”
- “I was born in Poland on December 5, 1947, in a small village called Dzierżoniów in Southwestern Poland. My parents, David and Hanna Niemiec, survived the Holocaust…”
- “When World War II erupted in 1939, my parents were married. My father was twenty-seven ,and my mother was twenty-four. My mother was raised in a loving family. She was the oldest of four…”
Grab a copy of Dr. Ilana Oren’s book today by visiting her website. Check out our other blogs, too, and discover an awardee of the Best Book of Memoir!
