Apina Hrbek
author of
"Pandemonium
A Journey to the New World"
|
Apina Hrbek author of "Pandemonium A Journey to the New World"
|
|
Eastern European country of Czechoslovakia. A foundation that began with her emotionally distant mother that fell from wealth and her loving father who was a physician and a political rebel. Edita would grow to appreciate her father's wisdom to seek out the whole truth instead of taking the Communist word at face value. Although her life would never be the same after his premature death, Edita knew that she must not let her children face the same future. But would she be smart enough and strong enough to travel with her children and husband over the border of Czechoslovakia never to return? What an absolutely amazing feat of heroics by an average mother that wanted the best for her children. This book made me realize, as an American, just how much I have taken some things for granted. Reading about Edita's trials and tribulations was an eye opening experience. To be a silent witness on the frozen landscape of her home country, I felt almost a kinship to Edita's spirit, for that is universal. This book, although full of bitterness and heartache was a refreshing read, so different from anything I've been exposed to. What a life lived and so it continues...
An Inspirational Story of Freedom
Kelli Deister "Pandemonium: A Journey to the New World"
written by: Apina Hrbek Personal Freedom is something that Apina Hrbek has
learned to live with and without, for she was born and raised under Communist
rule; however, managed to escape to freedom in America, with her husband and two
children. Pandemonium: A Journey to the New World is a story
that will draw the tears from deep within you. It is a story of an infant girl
born shortly before the Communists take over of her country’s government,
which has a tremendous effect on the rest of her life. Her mother, born into
wealth, loses all riches once the Communists begin their rule. Due to the loss
of her wealth, the infant girl’s mother begins to direct her anger onto her
child, through extreme verbal, mental, and emotional abuse. Throughout her
childhood, her loving and gentle father is unaware of the situation his daughter
endures at the hand of his wife. Over the course of time, this same child grows up,
marries, has her own children, and escapes to freedom. Her achievement of
freedom comes at a very high price of many sacrifices and dangerous
predicaments. However, she faces each obstacle with determination, faith, and a
zeal for the protection of her children, who are her priority in life. Though I could leave the review on this note, it
would be a great injustice to the author, Apina Hrbek. This is because the book,
Pandemonium: A Journey to the New World is not simply about escaping the
Communist rule and achieving personal and physical freedom. In my own opinion,
it is more a tale of achieving a deeper freedom within ones very being. I have a favorite quote from this book that is,
“Mental oppression is all the more dangerous because it is a silent killer.”
Though there is a mental oppression that Edita is subjected to from her mother
and their government, in reality it is deeper than that. This quote speaks to me
of a mental oppression in which an individual allows himself or herself to be
placed under, by surrendering their very persona through living in fear and not
following their dreams, speaking their opinions, or sharing theirs thoughts. I
gleaned from the book that mental oppression begins when we quit on our own
ideals and beliefs, and silently follow the standards, ideals and visions of
another. Those of us fortunate enough to live in the United
States of America, and enjoy the freedoms such as we do, would do well to heed
the words of Apina Hrbek as she so eloquently shows us the vast difference
between our freedoms and those who have survived the Communist rule. Yet, we
must also ask ourselves if this is the only lesson contained in this story. I
must say that I do not believe it is. Personally, I find the lesson to be more
of the freedom to speak, the freedom to pursue our dreams and the freedom to
choose life, in all of its beauty. It has been my honor to read this book. Apina, I
have the greatest respect for you as an individual and as a citizen of the
United States. Kelli Deister Author of: Embracing the Storm:
Jewels for Victims of Domestic Violence Pandemonium
Carol Review of Pandemonium by Carol Bennett. Apina Hrbek takes you on a journey into a world of Communist controlled Czechoslovakia, and you begin to understand the meaning of the word Pandemonium. Follow the story of Edita as she deals with a helpless dependent mother that becomes bitter when the Communist government steps in and takes her family’s fortune. Edita falls victim to the backlash of her mothers madness being told that she will never be smart enough, pretty enough or good enough for anyone to love. Her kind father that refuses to conform to the Communistic way of thought is shunned by his neighbors and peers and eventually kept from practicing medicine. It is through him that she is able to think for herself and not follow policy doctrine as her sister chose to do. As neighbor turns against neighbor, and friend against friend, Edita realizes that no one can be trusted. As an adult, Edita, her husband and children escape the cruel reign of the Communist regime with dreams of a new life in America. Facing and conquering the hardships and obstacles of this new country prove to be a challenge, but Edita and her family are able to overcome. A great read that should remind Americans of how lucky we truly are.
Review: Pandemonium A Journey to the New
World
Shelagh
Watkins Author In the
introduction to her book, Pandemonium A Journey to the New World, Apina Hrbek
writes, "Once personal freedom has been tasted, few willingly give it
up," and her story illustrates just how important freedom is no matter
what the personal cost. The opening
chapters of the book give a detailed account of life in In such a climate, it is with irony that the author
reflects on the punishment doled out by a mother to her disobedient daughter. In
such a In their quest for freedom, the family that took flight
to find hope of a better life in America gave up more than just their Czech
citizenship. But, as the author knows from experience, freedom
always does exact a high price. Apina Hrbek has written a thoroughly absorbing book that will enlighten and entertain her readers. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to everyone
Pandemonium a Journey to the New World:
Pandemonium a Journey to the New World
Pandemonium A Journey to the New World Author Joseph Frank Baraba, (4/17/2005), Amazon.com review Apina Hrbek writes from the heart. Her introduction in the book is one of the best I've read in years. I urge everyone to read this, digest it, and learn what it is to be "free." The great love Edita has for her father is very touching. But yet at the same time trying to get and receive love from a mother who could be at times cold, cruel and at times sadistic. At one point telling Edita she loved her sister more than she loved her. Her mother couldn't let go of a past loosing everything to the communists and in her warped mind taking it out on Edita. Which was very sad and tragic. She couldn't see she had a loving husband and two daughters who loved her, she was blind to this fact. No matter how Edita tried to please and show her mother she loved her, she was still rejected. Edita's father was a great man, trying to do his best to ignore his wife's rants and raves. He taught Edita that there was another world out there. He gave her books to read and study. He was a very wise man full of love for his children.
I don't know anyone who can feel the feelings Edita and Patric felt when they
crossed into Italy into "freedom." It must have been a joyous feeling.
I felt their anguish and tears and yes great fear of being caught. I rooted all
the way for them and their children. Fearful they wouldn't make it, but they did
with God's help and their determination to be "free."
Pandemonium
– A Journey to the New World. Monty
R Ferbert – author Apina
Hrbek takes you for a hair-raising ride into the reality of live under Communist
oppression. Edita’s callous mother was unable to cope with lost of her wealth
and took her anger out on her family. Once the
walls of Berlin fell, Soviet Union felt apart and the Velvet Revolution was in
place in the new Czech Republic, Edita in vain challenges her sister Nela for
some of the family’s reclaimed wealth given back to them by the post Communist
government. But Nela turns out to be the hypocrite Edita always thought her to
be. In the end
Edita realized how uncaring was her mother about her older daughter and her
grandchildren. Edita’s sister will stop at nothing to keep the family wealth
for herself. What the Edita’s children as adults say about dear Grandma and her indifference for them is both shocking but true to the characters in this story. A five star must read for every American that truly values freedom. Life lessons are taught throughout this heart feel story as Edita makes the ultimate choice. Freedom at all costs.
|
FIVE BEACON REVIEW FROM LIGHTHOUSE LITERARY REVIEWS, February 25, 2006
