The Tattooist of Auschwitz: A Novel
This story is based on interviews with Lale Sokolov, a Slovakian Jew who was interred at Auschwitz. Mr. Sokolov was forced to tattoo the arms of thousands of prisoners with what would become one of the most potent symbols of the Holocaust. The book is a testament to the endurance of love and humanity under the darkest possible conditions.
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The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris
254 pages
What’s it about?
Lale Sokolov is a 25 year-old Slovakian Jew when he is forcibly transported to the concentration camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau. It is April of 1942 and Lale will survive for 2 ½ years in the camp.
What did I think?
So I found myself stuck at the airport with no book and the cashier at the bookstore highly recommended this to me. This was basically a love story set in a horrible time and place. I myself intentionally try to be selective when reading books about the holocaust. At one point are we turning the misery of others into entertainment? And yet, we should not forget- so there is the conundrum….
Should you read it?
This was a love story, a story of what one will do to survive, and a story of triumph. If you are looking for a quick book about the holocaust then this is a fine choice.
Quote-
“Lale and Leon’s daily lives are still being dictated by the arrival of transports from across Europe. AS spring becomes summer, they do not stop coming.
Today the pair is working with long rows of female prisoners. The selection process is taking place a small distance away. They are too busy to pay attention to it. An arm and a piece of paper appear before them, and they do their job. Over and again. “
If you like this try-
Among the Living by Jonathan Rabb
The Book of Aron by Jim Shepard
The Women in the Castle by Jessica Shattuck
Everyone Brave is Forgiven by Chris Cleave
The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris
254 pages
What’s it about?
Lale Sokolov is a 25 year-old Slovakian Jew when he is forcibly transported to the concentration camp at Auschwitz-Birkenau. It is April of 1942 and Lale will survive for 2 ½ years in the camp.
What did I think?
So I found myself stuck at the airport with no book and the cashier at the bookstore highly recommended this to me. This was basically a love story set in a horrible time and place. I myself intentionally try to be selective when reading books about the holocaust. At one point are we turning the misery of others into entertainment? And yet, we should not forget- so there is the conundrum….
Should you read it?
This was a love story, a story of what one will do to survive, and a story of triumph. If you are looking for a quick book about the holocaust then this is a fine choice.
Quote-
“Lale and Leon’s daily lives are still being dictated by the arrival of transports from across Europe. AS spring becomes summer, they do not stop coming.
Today the pair is working with long rows of female prisoners. The selection process is taking place a small distance away. They are too busy to pay attention to it. An arm and a piece of paper appear before them, and they do their job. Over and again. “
If you like this try-
Among the Living by Jonathan Rabb
The Book of Aron by Jim Shepard
The Women in the Castle by Jessica Shattuck
Everyone Brave is Forgiven by Chris Cleave
This is a very difficult book to review. Overall I would say it was a good book but not a great one. Lale was the main character who became the tattooist of Auschwitz to survive his time in the concentration camp. As much as I appreciated his passion for survival I struggled with how much he needed to do to survive and that in the process he betrayed his fellow Jews. At the same time he attempted to use his position to help his fellow inmates obtain food and medicine. The writing style lends itself more to a movie than a novel.
Beautiful book but of course it is a difficult topic and this heartbreaking as well. This book was extremely well done.
A beautiful true story. There are so many stories like this from World War II that will never be told. Not too deep (and probably not brutally honest) and fast to read.
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