Brothers Book

Please read this book - I came across this book whilst browsing in the bookshop a few years ago and have subsequently many of Bernice Rubens' book.
The book tells the tragic and heart breaking story of several generations of the Jewish Bindel family
The books opens up in a Tsarist dominated Russia in 1820s. Although not biological brothers we learn they are milk brothers born on the same day, to the same family - Benjamin & Reuben
The book depicts the persecution of the Jewish people from the beginning of the nineteenth century until the latter part of the twentieth century. As 2 very young book both Benjamin and Reuben are forced into the Russian army, they both manage to cope with the army's extreme and brutal treatment of them, treatment which causes the death of many of their young fellow soldiers.
When the do return as adults due to the on-going pogroms the escape from Russia to Wales and a move to Germany where the family is persecuted by the Nazis a subsequent return to Russia where one family member is incarcerated in a Russian mental hospital for his dissident views.

For a book as large as it is and for a book to cover such a large timeframe over several generations, it doesn't like go of its grip it has over you.
At times it can be really tough to read due to its emotional impact and the brutal discrimination faced by the families is almost soul destroying but this is storytelling at its best