Overview

My parents' determination to survive gives strength to our spirits. Their laughter echoes through the generations, and I see shadows of their gentle smiles on the faces of their great-grandchildren. The blood of our ancestry forever runs through our hearts, and their songs give peace to our souls. We cannot simply disappear, one by one, but must live on in these pages forever. Without our roots we die. A story of strength and tenacity, war and peace, The Empty Sleeve is a heartfelt memoir by the youngest daughter of Latvian immigrants. The author begins her memoir with tales of her parents growing up in the hidden gem of Latvia, a place that for many years was not recognized as a sovereign nation. When WWII breaks out, Germany and Russia battle over the small and defenseless Baltic States, bringing sorrow and wartime hardships. Amid personal tragedy, several years of displacement in Germany, and immigration to the United States, readers get a firsthand and personal look at the courage and strength of one family and their ability to develop roots to grow and flourish in the United States.

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9781958363867

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Reviews

"A timely, enlightening perspective on political refugees, as we grapple with the current crisis at our borders. An extraordinary journey of loss and destruction, resurrection and joy. Beautifully rendered, a sensitive portrayal of a family forced to flee their home and forge a path not only to survival but to true happiness. This book broke my heart and put it back together again. A lesson in grace, perseverance, hard work, and most importantly, love. -Lori Nelson Spielman, New York Times bestselling author of The Life List As pictures of Ukraine flash on our screens today, Dzidra's memoir is a timely reminder of an earlier Russian aggression against another neighbor - the Baltic state of Latvia. In both cases, the resulting war causes destruction, displacement, and, for relatively few, the opportunity to start over as refugees in a new country. Dzidra's memoir shows that you never really leave your home country. The Latvian community here in the U.S. became vibrant because of their deep cultural traditions, faith, and reliance on family. Despite starting with an ""empty sleeve,"" Dzidra's parents made a very full life here. In accepting these and other immigrants, America benefits immeasurably. -Karen Puschel Segal, U.S. diplomat (retired), Traverse City, MI The Empty Sleeve is a story told in images. Not the kind of images you will find in a coffee table book, rather, they are word images of survival, exile, and mostly, strength of will. Kepitis-Minka's images are so sublime, so inspiring, so stirring that they move us to think about life and our place in it. Dzidra's eyes become ours. She reminds us that there are people like this who led lives like this during times like those. Enjoy these word-images, as I did. -James Gartner, Director / Producer / Filmmaker A well-written, exciting family memoir telling of the dilemmas of a Latvian family during World War II trapped between the Russian army and Hitler's Nazi Germany. It portrays the family's struggles as refugees in Europe and, later, its challenges during resettlement in the United States. All of these predicaments produce many gripping moments. The Empty Sleeve is an unforgettable read! -Michael L. Moore, Ph.D, Professor Emeritus, Michigan State University"

Author Information

Dzidra Kepitis Minka is a published writer for outdoor magazines. Her interest and drive in completing a family memoir was sparked when she began conducting oral history interviews in Michigan. Born in Washington State and raised in Michigan she now lives with her husband, Arnis, in Interlochen, Michigan.

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