By Zana Tarsi and staff

WESTPORT–On Wednesday, 200 people packed the Westport Library’s Trefz Forum for a conversation between Westport author Carl Wistreich and Michael S. Friedman, Senior Rabbi at Temple Israel.

Wistreich, the son of Holocaust survivors from Poland and Germany, wrote his novel My Lethal Obsession following a successful career in business and law. The inspiration for his book came from reading the memoirs of his family members, which he then used to craft a full-length novel.

“It was nice to see so many people interested in the book and the topics the book covers,” Wistreich said. “We covered a lot of important questions regarding the miraculous and largely untold story of the Polish Jews who survived the Holocaust in Russia, including my family members, and why it is so important to honor their memory. And hopefully we can all try and figure out a way to avoid future genocides like the Holocaust. The crowd seemed to be captivated, which warmed my heart and made me feel the four-year effort to write the novel was well worth it.” 

Saugatuck Scribes, which takes place Wednesdays from 7 to 8 p.m., celebrates Westport authors across all genres. 

Next Wednesday, Sept. 9, the Library will host Adam Axler, a former paramedic turned author, who will discuss his book American Triage. American Triage is a hybrid memoir that discusses the failure of the modern-day healthcare system, personal experiences, and his account of 9/11. The interview will begin at 7 p.m.

The Westport Library

20 Jesup Road Westport, CT 06880 / 203-291-4800

www.westportlibrary.org

^{_{Founded in 1886, built in 1908, and transformed in 2019, The Westport Library is one of the most active and innovative public libraries in the nation, devoted to enriching the intellectual and creative lives of the community.}}