All But My Life Part Two: Marla Bassetti

When finishing the book I was so sad to hear how alone Gerda was after the war. That seemed like the hardest part to me. She went through a struggle to survive and fought for her life every day. In this at least she felt the company of a few close friends and the millions of other Jews enduring the same hardships she was. However, after the war when all of these starving and sick survivors are all the sudden set "free," it leaves them with a since of despair. They are taken to be cared for in the hospitals all the belongings from the camp are sent to be burned to prevent diseases. Imagine feeling as if you are the only part of your family left and you have no idea who to turn to, or where to go. She had not a single possession to her name until she met Kurt and the generous family who helped her. This seems like the biggest unhealable wound to me, she had been one of the lucky survivors of this terrible time period, but what were the benefits of living after the war? Who did she have to go to? This must have been a time of pure emptiness and loneliness for Gerda. She was left to keep fighting to start a new life, to move forward from this tragedy, and to mourn for those who had not been as strong as her. I think the worst part of her entire journey must have been the end because although she survived she was left all by herself, not knowing what to do next.