Two Worlds

Part memoir, part family history, Two Worlds tells the story of Patricia J. Hruby’s Catholic childhood, her marriage to Ron, the son of Holocaust survivors, and their struggle to make their mixed marriage work. Their story is intertwined with the stories of Ron’s parents, his uncle and his grandmother, all of whom survived the Holocaust in different parts of Europe. Indeed, a fascinating tapestry of family history exploring individual and familial efforts to grapple with life’s meaning as well as comprehend the depth of their Jewish identity through very turbulent times. Midway through the book, all of the characters, including Patricia’s Catholic father, dance the hora, a traditional Jewish dance, at the young couple’s wedding. As layers of circling dancers surround Patricia and Ron, bobbing on chairs above the pulsing crowd, ethnic and religious barriers temporarily break down and the room is filled with love and celebration. With great story telling and dialogue, Two Worlds brings to life the characters’ histories as well as their current lives, where the past continues to intrude in the form of food obsessions, assimilation fears, depression and varying beliefs in God.
The book is judiciously interspersed with original letters, newspaper articles and family photos, hidden by Gentiles during the war.