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The Tattooist of Auschwitz (The Tattooist of Auschwitz, #1)

Heather Morris

Start date: April 1, 2019

Finish date: April 30, 2019

Discussion: April 2019

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April 2019

Redemption Road
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The Nightingale
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last updated Apr 02, 2019 07:35AM

What Members Thought

Mar 05, 2019 Lydia Granda rated it really liked it

Reading this book was painful and emotional, yet it's a book I was unable to put down or forget. The title alone is frightening even after more than 70 years since the Holocaust and horrors of Auschwitz were revealed to the world. It's the story of Lale Sokolov a Slovenian jew who volunteers to take his brothers place when the Germans demand a family member age 18 or older to be sent to work for them. Lale is forced to be transported to the concentration camp Auschwitz, Birkenau. He speaks sever ...more

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Sep 27, 2018 Robin rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

this book is considered to be historical fiction even though it based on the true story of a young man named Lale who goes through so much to survive during the time he spent at a concentration camp in Auschwitz. upon his arrival, SS officals learn that he is multilingual and they decide that he could be useful and assign him a job as a tattooist even though he is Jewish. so he has to actually tattoo the numbers onto countless other fellow victims of the Holocaust which at first he wants to refu this book is considered to be historical fiction even though it based on the true story of a young man named Lale who goes through so much to survive during the time he spent at a concentration camp in Auschwitz. upon his arrival, SS officals learn that he is multilingual and they decide that he could be useful and assign him a job as a tattooist even though he is Jewish. so he has to actually tattoo the numbers onto countless other fellow victims of the Holocaust which at first he wants to refuse to do, but then realizes he must do what he is told if he intends to survive. as he has this responsibility he is actually given privileges that most dont have and one day while he is tattooing he meets Gita, a girl he is drawn to immediately and falls in love with. i cannot even imagine having to deal with most of the things these people went through ever, let alone at such a young age. and somehow Lale and Gita managed to find each other even in such circumstances and were able to fall in love and form bonds and friendships with other fellow captives, officers, and people working in the camps that kept each other going. throughout the book you have to wonder if they are going to make it out of the place alive and end up together, knowing the fate of many others wasnt so fortunate.

i usually like to read both nonfiction and fiction about certain historical events (especially on the Holocaust and the Titanic) so it didnt surprise me to find this story fascinating no matter how creepy and horrific the circumstances were as actual accounts of what happened are told. it was my first read by this author since it is her debut book and it had me captivated from the beginning. i found it interesting how Lale wanted his story told by someone who wasnt raised Jewish and didnt have any ancestors who were victims of the Holocaust and that the author was able to retell Lale's story so vividly and sympathetically. although a lot of the horrible things that took place at the concentration camps is discussed in great detail, i feel like it was done appropriately and as well as it could be told. this book was very creepy at times but i really liked reading it and the author's notes about Lale as a person and not just the main character of this book, as well as how her family related to him and everything he went through and also i liked how there was also information from Lale and Gita's son also included along with pictures. it made their story so much more personal and real. this book was definitely very moving and if it is made into a movie, since i know the author originally wrote it as a screenplay it is very likely that may happen, i will be interested in seeing it come to life that way, as well. ...more

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