The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris (Review)
Blurb
I tattooed a number on her arm. She tattooed her name on my heart.
In 1942, Lale Sokolov arrived in Auschwitz-Birkenau. He was given the job of tattooing the prisoners marked for survival – scratching numbers into his fellow victims’ arms in indelible ink to create what would become one of the most potent symbols of the Holocaust.
Waiting in line to be tattooed, terrified and shaking, was a young girl. For Lale – a dandy, a jack-the-lad, a bit of a chancer – it was love at first sight. And he was determined not only to survive himself, but to ensure this woman, Gita, did, too.
So begins one of the most life-affirming, courageous, unforgettable and human stories of the Holocaust: the love story of the tattooist of Auschwitz.
Review
If you want a novel that breaks your heart and stitches it back together just as quickly, then this is the book for you. I really didn’t know how to begin describing my feelings for this book. It deserves nothing but endless praise.
Although this is predominantly a romance, you get to see and feel everything that happened in Auschwitz-Birkenau through the eyes of the prisoners. The atrocities, the sick-minded Nazis and countless deaths are explained in detail. In my opinion, this is what made the book so incredible. It wasn’t all love and happiness. No, in fact, it was far from it for the majority of the book. The loss and grief Lale and Gita experience are felt as if you lost those people too.
You must go into this novel realising that you are not just reading a romance novel, you are reading truth. You are reading very personal and harrowing accounts of the couple’s time in Auschwitz-Birkenau. There are often times I had to stop myself reading the book because it is so difficult to read. It’s stomach churning and sickening to read about what the survivors had to endure and the many people who lost their lives. It’s hard to read about how humanity could sink so low to the point of being lost.
Lale and Gita’s romance is explained so beautifully. Their faith in each other and their unconditional love gave this novel the humanity it really needed. I find myself talking about the book as if it didn’t happen really happen. But it did. It’s so very real to read about and experience their love so deeply. I have nothing but admiration for Lale for sharing their story. I also adored the friendships made between the prisoners.
The Tattooist of Auschwitz is beautifully written and a must read. It receives a 5/5 rating from me because it was incredible.
Until Next Time,
Luce xo
24 Comments
AYUSHI NAIR
I want this one?
lhope884
You have to get it!
DJ Sakata
I’m glad to see your lovely review. I have this one on my cloud and just haven’t gotten to it yet.
lhope884
Thank you! I hope you get the chance to soon!
Leslie
wow, this sounds really good! I’m going to have to find time to read it in the next few months.
lhope884
It’s amazing. You definitely will, highly recommend!
Tasha
Excellent post. This is a book that I want to read but will need to be in the right emotional mind-frame to read it.
lhope884
Thanks so much! Oh yeah, you have to go in this mentally prepared for what you’re about to read. It’s hard but important.
Caitlin
I loved your review! You are right that Lale and Gita’s love story gave the horrible accounts of Auschwitz-Birkenau the humanity that it needed. What a beautiful story!
lhope884
Thanks so much! It really is. It’s everything I hoped it would be and so much more.
Jennifer
We need more books like this.
lhope884
We certainly do
Christina
Beautiful and powerful review!!
lhope884
Thank you so much!
Amanda McGill
Amazing review! I have this one my to-reads! Do you think it would be a good book club novel?
lhope884
I actually did this as part of a book club! So it’s a perfect read for one. Thank you!
Kaite
Oh oh oh. This looks wonderful. Hard, but wonderful. Thank you for sharing it. I think it needs to go on my tbr.
lhope884
It sure is. I hope you get the chance to read it soon!
Whispering Stories
I’ve only seen good things written about this book. Love your review. Think it is a book to add to my TBR list.
lhope884
I’m always sceptical when a book gets nothing but good reviews, but this book deserves all the praise it gets. Thank you!
Cia Black
I just love this book. I read it and I read every review I find off it. I just love it.
lhope884
It’s really incredible. I love it too
venusaby
Love this review! I agree, it’s so beautifully written and at the same time, quite difficult to carry on because of the atrocities committed that many real-life survivors experienced. Such a great book!
venus | https://venusaby.blogspot.com
lhope884
Thanks so much! Yeah exactly that, it’s absolutely fantastic.
Best wishes,
Luce xo