New Gene Simmons/Holocaust Book Takes Off

Author Ross Berg alongside his subject matter.

Months ago we alerted readers of this website about the new book by Ross Berg, Gene Simmons: A Rock ‘N Roll Journey In The Shadow Of The Holocaust that was released in January. Since that time Berg’s book has been selling well and gaining substantial attention. The book takes a unique approach and details the KISS member’s childhood, his interest in comic books and horror films and rock & roll growing up and his devoted affection for his mother, Flora Klein.

 Simmons, born Chaim Weitz was born at the Rambam Hospital in Haifa, Israel on August 25, 1949. He and his mother emigrated to Jackson Heights, Queens in New York City when he was eight years old. He is the only child of his mother, a German Nazi Concentration Camp survivor.

It too Berg approximately six years to research and write the book and the details he unearthed are plentiful and interesting and written in a narrative non-fiction style that is intriguing and adds charm to the material.
 
But what really reaches out and grabs the reader is Flora Klein’s amazing story of surviving the Nazi concentration camps as a teenage girl and her will to survive and take care of her son after both were abandoned by her husband and Simmons’ father.

A mother & son!

Needless to say, Berg has hit a bullseye on subject matter and an incredible amount of details that has equated to sales and awareness.
 
“The reaction to the book has been amazing,” Berg told Bangagong. “Viewing the ‘Reader Reviews’ on Amazon.com is quite inspiring and the book has sold hundreds of copies, which is very satisfying personally.”
 
“The project was definitely worth the time and effort I put into it; especially when people send me comments about how they hadn’t previously known much about the Holocaust or how I have inspired them to want to write their own books.”

Gene & Flora

The Holocaust is a subject in the book that grabs the reader by the collar and drags him in. Berg has written a simply fascinating story of survival, determination and faith. “Well, when you’re talking about the Holocaust where 9 million people were murdered, with 6 million of those being Jews, it is often hard to wrap one’s head around those kinds of numbers,” said Berg. “The Holocaust is something that has affected me all my life — especially being raised by a survivor of a survivor.”
 
Berg is more than happy with the public reaction to the book.
 
“The only reaction from Gene/Flora/Family are the initial ones I received on Gene’s TV show, webpage message board, and Twitter messages thanking THE FLORA ARMY for our efforts. Beyond that, I have heard nothing directly from Gene, but I really didn’t expect to, either.”
 
Berg is the founder of the now famed ‘Flora’s Army’ Facebook page that is devoted to Flora Klein.
 
The horrifying Holocaust is a subject that has captured Berg’s interest. “I am currently enrolled in a Master’s Degree program in Holocaust Studies so this is something that I am obviously devoting my life to and hope to ultimately teach Jewish Studies or Holocaust Studies in a university setting,” Berg commented.
 
So with Gene Simmons: A Rock ‘N Roll Journey In The Shadow Of The Holocaust now being distributed and selling well, will Berg rest on his laurels or is there another book in him?

 “Yes, I am currently working on a follow-up book called Jewish Star:The Continuing Adventures of Gene Simmons,” revealed Berg. “I hope it doesn’t take another six years, but if it does – then that’s what it’s gonna be. This is all a labor of love.”
 
You can purchase a copy of Gene Simmons: A Rock ‘N Roll Journey In The Shadow Of The Holocaust through Amazon or any fine bookseller. Recommended!
 
Check out this detailed article on Gene Simmons, Flora Kelin & Ross Berg that previously appeared on Bangagong:  The Holocaust, The Mother & ‘The Demon’

(c)2012 Doc Lehman/Bangagong!