The Invisible Wall: A Love Story That Broke Barriers

The Greatest Book I've Ever Read.

I've always thought of England as the country that had no fault. The country that could do no wrong or harm. A country were no evil could harvest, much less flourish. Well I was obviously proven wrong. You might be thinking that if I thought this than I am very stupid or naive. I will tell you I am neither. I am simply a American who is not very happy with America to put it in nice terms. This book is simply a heart wrenching tail from the first to the last word. Constantly through this book I had to remind myself that this actually happened to someone, he lived through all of what seemed so unreal. It just shows you how much we take for granted now in this day in time. This book will open your eyes and your heart not only to evil that brews in the world, but the fact that nothing can come between the ones that love. If you have any doubts about reading this book,let them decease because I can assure you that you will not be disappointed.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

Though provoking

An amazing story. The author made me feel as if I were part of his family and living with them. For every page I read I wanted to read more. Looking forward to reading The Dream to find out what happens to the family.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Lovely

This story was beautifully written, interesting, sad, and bitter sweet. Harry Bernstein, the author, seemed like an amazing little boy, totally oblivious to the predjudices he grew up around. Imagine, in the early 1900s, living on a street where there is an 'invisible wall' dividing the Christians and the Jews. There were many colorful characters on that street, and many interesting things that went on. When I saw that Mr. Bernstein had come out with 'part 2', called 'Dreams', I bought it immediately! It's as good as his first book.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A reviewer

What a deeply moving memoir. This book held me capitavated from the very first page until the end. The writing was so descriptive, I felt I was right there with Harry and his family in the poor Lancashire mill town in England where he was raised until the family moved to Chicago (then New York) in 1922. I eagerly await his next book, 'The Dream.'

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A beautiful story I shall never forget.

I had the honor and privilege of meeting Mr. Bernstein at a book signing in Brick, NJ. He is an amazing person and an outstanding author. I couldn't put the book down, and I felt as though I had lived through the past with him. I hope he is going to publish again, I will be there to get his next book. Thank you, Harry for letting me be a part of your family.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

What happened to the rest?

I loved the book but left me wondering what happened to the rest of the family. His mother and Joe died but when? Did his siblings marry, have children, etc. And when did they pass away. I felt terrible reading about Lily, Arthur and son. How great it was he was able to see and talk to Annie.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

For some writers, life begins at ninety-three.

It is quite possible that for some writers, their careers begin at the ripe age of ninety-three. Their pace, their slowness and deliberation, and the enormous patience they acquire over nine decades, all serve them well in their new careers. When Harry Bernstein¿s beloved wife, Ruby, died from leukemia after sixty-seven years of marriage, he decided to write his memoir, to help him to combat the loneliness and despair that he felt. This poignant memoir, written by the author when he was 93 years old, is unusual and also extraordinary. The invisible wall, the title of the book, refers to the invisible barrier, erected by the unwritten rules of the pre-World War I English society that kept Jews and Christians apart: Jews in houses on one side of the street, and the Christians in houses on the opposite side of the street. The author was born in 1910, the fifth child of a poor Polish couple who had immigrated to England. The family lived in a small, crowded house, in a small, cobbled, dead-end street, in Stockport, a Lancashire mill town in the industrial north of England. The book covers the brief period of eight years, from 1914 when the author was only four years old, to 1922, shortly after World War I, when the family immigrates again, this time to the United States. The author describes in haunting detail the pain inflicted upon the family by people who were ignorant, poor, and prejudiced against the Jews, and the greater pain the family suffered from dire poverty. His father, an alcoholic and an embittered man, spent at the local pubs most of the money that he earned at a tailor¿s shop. The Christians in the town worked at the local factories and mills, and the Jews worked at tailors¿ shops and pawn stores. Only the sheer determination, hard work, and loving care of his mother, who was illiterate, helped the family to survive the hardship they endured. The author has vivid memories of the painful kicks he suffered while sleeping at the foot of the bed occupied by his two elder brothers. His sister Lily caused a great deal of pain to their family also, by falling in love with a Christian and a schoolmate, Arthur Forshaw, the son of a local shopkeeper. They marry in secret and the author¿s mother sits shiva for Lily, and considers her dead as far as the family was concerned. Although the author has haunting memories of his childhood, and the cruel treatment his family received from his neighbors, he is not bitter. The bias went both ways, he says. And he recalls that when his family walked by a church, the children were instructed to spit as a way to show contempt. Although the book is described as a memoir, it has the feel of a novel. And because the book has a lot of dialogue and discussions from social and political points of view, a reader will feel as if he were reading an autobiographical novel. Instead of calling it a memoir, I wish the author or the publisher 'Random House Publishing Group' designated it as an autobiographical novel and had the publisher done so, it would have been spared, most certainly, harsh reviews from a couple of prominent reviewers 'Kirkus Reviews, to name one'. Written in a prose both clear and lucid, and mellow as bottled fine old wine, this book will charm, captivate and haunt you. You will savor it as an oenophile would a fine bottle of claret, and you will be glad you read it. And I have no doubt that you will remember it for a very long time indeed.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

This is the story of "arry" (Harry) from the ages of 4

This is the story of "arry" (Harry) from the ages of 4-11. Harry grew up in England on a little street where the Jewish people lived on one side and the Christians on the other and rarely did they communicate. I'd highly recommend the book, I've already requested the sequel from the library as I'm curious as to what happens next with his family. The author wrote this at the age of 96, wow! He really explained everything in a way that drew me in and made me "feel" for the people in his life, he has an enjoyable writing style. Quick read too!

BEAUTIFUL

A memoir, a love story, a glimpse into history, a book that was written when the author was 93? I believe...and it was his FIRST book! He went on to write two more! I flew through this book and it moved me to tears. It should really be made into a film, it's that great.

Kept my interest

Good story, nicely written. A bit dragged out though.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Highly recommended

Wonderful book/ If you are familiar with England you will not be able to put it down. I felt sorry for the Dad, brute as he was. What a cruel childhood he suffered through. I felt sorry for the Mum, being in such an intolerable situation. The writing is straightforward to where you feel like you are there living all t he troubles. Loved it, loved it, loved it.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

A really great read

Such a good book! I didnt want it to end. Some of his past is sad, but some parts are laugh out loud funny. A great story teller....you feel like you know all the characters in the neighborhood (and boy, are there some characters). I read the sequal also because I just had to know what happened next. Small book, but a great read.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

a very enjoyable read

I chose this book because I'm from Lancashire. Some of the details in the story are annoyingly vague, for example both the town of Stockport and the village of Marple are in the county of Cheshire. So I do not know whether the author was writing about Lancashire which is the next county to Cheshire. That said, I then read that the author was in his 90s so I guess its not that important to him! I wish he had told us more about himself as a character. But a charming narrative from a ninety year old

The Heart Behind "The Invisible Wall"

The memoir, The Invisible Wall by Harry Bernstein chronicles his upbringing in a poverty-stricken post WWI, English neighborhood. The story opens when Bernstein is a toddler living in a small home with his kind-hearted mother, abusive and remotely omniscient father, and four brothers and sisters. The neighborhood itself is divided into two sides, one belonging to Christian families and one to Jewish families- both of which hold an immense prejudice against each other. However, everything changes when Bernstein's older sister, Lilly, falls in love with a Christian boy named Arthur and ultimately runs away from home to be with him. In complete honestly, this novel is one of my all-time favorite books, I think that the author's diction is common enough that it is easily understandable and relatable and that his word choice is so powerful that any audience would be swayed to feel sympathy for Lilly's situation. One of the major themes of the piece (that also attributes to my admiration of the book) is a constant reminder of how fragile life is; throughout the novel, Bernstein constantly refers to his neighbors who have been killed in WWI and WWII and to people who have attempted to break down the "invisible wall" of religious intolerance and been left with nothing but heartache and pain. Another major aspect of the work that is particularly poignant is the fact that it portrays how far and how deeply a person can fall both morally and emotionally, and how their actions can ultimately determine the success or failure of those around them. I think that everyone should read this book because it touches your heart in such a manner that it makes you wish that you could be standing right next to a character and hug them when they cry or smack them across the face when they say/do something immoral or foolish. Overall, out of five stars, I would give The Invisible Wall a seven. (As cliché as is sounds) I thought that it completely shook all of the wraps off of the general perception of humanity and introduced the audience to a completely different walk of life. It led its readers out of their comfort zones and into the real world- where hate, prejudice and malice reign- and showed them that it is possible to survive anything that life throws at you if you are determined to overcome it. If you are interested in reading other literary works similar to The Invisible Wall you may want to try the novels, The Devil's Arithmetic by Jane Yolen, Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt or, The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton.

Amazing trip back in time to see that some things have improved and some have not. What resilience these folks showed to survive and grow into productive adults.

Book was written with sensitivity about a subject that is fraught with danger to offend an ethnic or religious group. Enjoyed this trip through time and want to read his second book. Amazed that the author was 93!

Book was used for book club discussion and created a lively and thought-provoking discussion.

Religious Boundaries

The "Invisible Wall" by Harry Bernstein is a compelling story about religious boundaries and the love that flourished within those religious boundaries. The main character, Harry, is a young boy living his childhood in poverty with four other brothers and sisters, a determined and religious mother. and a drunk and absent father. This story takes place right before the start of World War I. Unfortunately, however, there was already a war going on, a war between the Christians and the Jews right on Harry's own street. An "Invisible Wall" is what split the street into two, the Jews on one side, the Christians on the other side. No one crossed over to the other side. This was the major theme of the book, but another theme was the love between a child and mother and an forbidden love. I really liked the author's descriptiveness and vivid language. The author brought in the English culture by using "mam" for mom, "yis" for yes and not pronouncing the h's like 'arry. I also thought it was not the typical love story. I disliked how depressing Harry's life was. At times it was hard to read because of the family's struggles, poverty and lack of a father role. If you enjoy books about struggle, love, and truth that is not necessarily optimistic then you will love this book. Put this on your reading list, I know you won't regret it.

Interesting

This book was interesting. I wanted to find out more at the end about them going to America.

I thought that the book would be more about the war. It did keep your interest through out the book. What a hard life that the mother lived with a very strange husband.

A man in his 90's began writing his memoirs and different generations in my family were all able to connect to what he wrote.

It is fast reading that touches you spiritually and emotionally, and the photos included in the book bring the author's family into sharper focus. Harry Bernstein grew up in a small town in England. This book deals with his childhood - poverty, hunger, WWI and the invisible wall erected in the middle of the street he lived on that separated the Jewish families from the non-Jewish families. Added to that, Bernstein's father was alcoholic, a gambler and abusive. The story very much reminded me of ANGELA'S ASHES and THE GLASS CASTLE.

Bernstein's story continues with his next book, THE DREAM, that deals with the family moving to America and living through the Great Depression. This book is also a wonderful read.

I have just ordered the end of the trilogy: THE GOLDEN WILLOW that tells of his marriage, children and brings the reader into the present day. Believe Bernstein is now 98 or 99 years old - God bless him!!!

amazing

Highly recommend. A very well written book!

Great Book Club Selection

Everyone in our book club enjoyed this book and it prompted great discussions. It reads like a novel as the dialogue and details are from a more than 80-year-old memory. I'm sure that the author was truthful and the majority of things happened close to the way he described them but it would be impossible to precisely remember the level of detail presented in this book. It is an enjoyable, moving, tragic, and inspirational story. Highly recommend. His second book is a must if you read this one - you might as well buy them together!