This is the 3rd and final book in the series written by Elie Wiesel. The first book being the Nobel Prize winning, "Night," which was the author's account of the holocaust. The second was a story of a holocaust survivor coming to grips with the terrors experienced in the holocaust by becoming a freedom fighter in Palestine. "The Accident" (The original French title of the book was Le Jour [Day]) is the story of a holocaust survivor struggling to adjust to life after World War II. The main character is a journalist whose own experiences during the holocaust have left him, like many others, with a strong sense of despair and self-loathing that he finds it impossible to find any satisfaction in life. Despite the efforts of his girlfriend and others, he finds himself withdrawing from life more and more. The title of the novel refers to an accident that occurs when he is hit by a cab, while on his way to the theatre at the beginning of the book. This accident sets off a series of memories that take the reader through the protagonist's psychological and emotional struggles as he grapples with his urge to end his life while simultaneously recovering from a near-death experience.
During the journalists reliving moments of the past the reader is haunted by many horror stories of the holocaust. One can find it easy to see how the journalist can find no happiness in life. This book is a story that digs in that hope HAS to survive. It's easy to see how one can lose hope but this book really points out how much humankind NEEDS hope.
This book is not one of those uplifting feel good books but it does allow you to enjoy what you have.
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