Written in first-person, readers are led
through the complexity of human despair and survival. The i Tetralogy examines Nazi atrocities of the Holocaust during World War II and outcome of a civilization’s arrogance of power.
I’ve
read a lot about the Holocaust in history books and novels; I’ve seen movies like Exodus and Schindler's List,
as well as television shows and miniseries like The Holocaust and Shoah, but not much can be compared to The i Tetralogy.
For
the most part, many of us have trouble understanding how any one human; much less an entire nation could perpetuate the heinous
crimes committed during the Holocaust.
Keep in mind
that The i Tetralogy does not teach anything new. I don’t believe it's meant
to; I do however believe it's meant to illicit emotional response to a chilling subject, and that it does. Through
its realistic characters, Freese immediately immerses readers in the experience of the Holocaust. They reflect
the blood curl every human being is capable of. At the same time, reminding us throughout each page of how delicate and important
our lives really are. Freese clearly presents the cold and callousness with which Nazi Germany
planned to exterminate the Jews as one unbroken line that started from racism.
Unfortunately,
the Holocaust did not change anything and genocide still occurs
in the world, but there are lessons to be learned here regarding other genocides and ethnic
wars and race and hate crimes.
The i Tetralogy is by far more than just another story about the
Holocaust, its particular series of crimes, and the fact that it has come to stand for Evil
Incarnate. It is a book, which needs to be, ingested
contemplatively and certainly one that should be retained for repeated readings.
Reviewed by Betsie
