Started and finished: Jun 30, 2024.

Night follows a Jewish boy before and after his time at Auschwitz. It is a devastating recount of misplaced hope, the depths of human cruelty, and the consequences of indifference.

The first time I read this book I was in 10th grade (older than Elie was at the beginning, younger than he was by the end). While I forgot most everything, the scene of the father and son losing their lives over bread on the train stuck with me.

Wiesel's writing is poignant in its brevity. Every sentence rings true, and I cried more during these 115 pages than the last 700 I read.

His relationship with his father is truly the heart of the novel. Although he is freed, the ending feels neither happy nor bittersweet. By the time a conclusion was reached I had already felt too much to feel anything at all.

Knowing all of the chances they had to get away (both before and during) made me realize I have never known regret (and likely never will) to such a degree.

This novel is the definition of small but mighty. In it humanity stands before a mirror, and the sight is nothing short of revolting. A must read.

Be still my beating heart.