Oyzer Warshawsky (1898–1944)

I have read so many stories about WWII, and the Holocaust, it was interesting to read about something about how things were effected by WWI.

Told in a storytelling style, Smugglers takes a little getting used to. As you're reading, it's easy to imagine that you're listening to an old man recounting the happenings of his old-world village. Originally published in 1920, you really get a feel from this book of how things were in Poland just after World War I. German occupation, poverty and perseverance are the main themes of this interesting novel.

I eagerly awaited the arrival of this book as I generally enjoy Polish fiction & its different cultural perspective. However, I found the writing in this book confusing & juvenile. It jumps around with little or no reason that I can divine & the sentences are grade school level. There's no way to tell if the fault lies with the translator or original writer. I wouldn't have finished it if it weren't an early reviewer book.

While, not a book I enjoyed reading, Smugglers was a story that had to be told. At times this book was a little confusing because of the vast array of jumping around between families, I do understand why it was done that way. The story was telling. The book reads more like a history book than a novel, though.