Title: The Tattooist of Auschwitz
Author: Heather Morris
First published January 11, 2018
293 pages, Kindle Edition
Rating: 4.29
Overview
The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris is a heart-wrenching story based on true events of Holocaust survivor Lale Sokolov. As a Slovakian Jew, Lale is sent to the concentration camps at Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1942.
His multilingual abilities land him the job of a Tätowierer, where he must permanently tattoo his fellow prisoners. Amidst the atrocities and inhumanity, Lale witnesses incredible acts of kindness and bravery.
Despite the danger, he uses his position to exchange valuables from murdered Jews for food to keep his fellow prisoners alive. One day, Lale meets Gita, a trembling young woman waiting in line to be tattooed.
From that moment, he vows to survive the camp and marry her. This novel portrays a powerful and moving tale of love, hope, and the resilience of the human spirit in the darkest of times.
About the Author
I hail from New Zealand, but now call Australia my home. I work in a large public hospital in Melbourne.
In my past life, I dabbled in screenwriting, and was lucky enough to have one of my screenplays optioned by an academy award-winning screenwriter in the U.S. It was in 2003 that I was introduced to Lale Sokolov, an elderly gentleman who, as it turned out, had a remarkable story to tell. As our friendship grew, Lale confided in me, sharing the most intimate details of his life during the Holocaust.
I first wrote Lale’s story as a screenplay, which received high rankings in international competitions. Eventually, I transformed it into my debut novel, The Tattooist of Auschwitz.
That meeting with Lale Sokolov changed my life forever.
Editoral Review
The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris is a powerful and emotional novel inspired by true events that took place during World War II. The author, Morris, has worked as a screenwriter and producer, but this book marks her debut as a novelist.
The book belongs to the historical fiction genre, which combines real-life events with fictional characters and elements. It tells the story of Lale Sokolov, a Slovakian Jew who was transported to Auschwitz in 1942.
Lale is assigned as a tattooist, and his duty is to permanently mark his fellow prisoners with identification numbers. However, Lale’s skills as a tattoo artist earn him a special status, and he becomes the personal tattooist of the camp commandant.
While carrying out his job, Lale falls in love with Gita, a fellow prisoner, and the book revolves around their struggles to survive and find each other amidst the horrors of the concentration camp. Morris portrays the brutal reality of Auschwitz with great sensitivity, without shying away from the gruesome details.
The book depicts Lale’s daily struggle to navigate the complex hierarchy of the prisoners, the cruelty of the guards, and the constant threat of death. It also shows the small moments of compassion and humanity that helped the prisoners survive mentally and emotionally.
The characters of Lale and Gita are well-developed and evoke a range of emotions in the readers from sympathy, empathy to despair as their hopes, and realities keep shifting from one scenario to another. Their story is heart-wrenching yet hopeful, poignant yet inspiring.
The minor characters, especially Cilka, provide some moments of respite from the unrelenting brutality of the camp. Morris’ writing is simple yet impactful, and she weaves a compelling narrative that keeps the readers engaged till the end.
The book is not without some flaws, however. There were several moments where the pacing felt slow, and the ending was slightly rushed.
The book could also benefit from more historical context and background information about the Holocaust. Despite its flaws, The Tattooist of Auschwitz is an important and timely book that sheds light on a dark period in history.
It is a reflection of the human spirit’s strength during the darkest times, of its capacity to persevere and survive, and find happiness in the face of adversity. Overall, this book would be the perfect read for anyone interested in history, as well as those who enjoy gripping and emotionally charged stories about human resilience and survival.
I give this book a rating of 4 out of 5, as it succeeds in its aim to bring awareness but falls short on providing the necessary descriptive historicity to its readers.
