The heart-breaking and unforgettable international bestseller

The fact that this book was based on true events made it more interesting.. I felt it was too objective and not written in a personal way. I have read many books about the concentration camps that brought me to tears, this one did not.

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of Holocaust fiction books in the English language alone. This is not the one to read.

This kind of book is hard to rate. It's based on the true story of Lale Sokolov, a Slovakian Jew who volunteered to go to Auschwitz to save his older brother and, through a combination of true grit and luck, he's able to survive and even fall in love. Who wants to give the story of a Holocaust survivor just two stars? Isn't that a bit heartless?

But it's not subject of the book I'm rating. This book isn't well written. I wasn't surprised to learn that Heather Morris is a screenwriter, because she relies heavily on dialogue here and really struggles with prose (although, to be honest, the dialog leaves a lot to be desired, as well). Scenes change in the matter of a sentence, the dialogue often seems only broken with stage directions. There's no atmospheric build up. There's no sense of tension or urgency or terror. It was all very one-note. The characters, even Lale himself, are flat and poorly developed. The whole book felt very amateurish, and I cannot recommend it.

I’m not going to tell you what happens in the book as there is nothing worse than reading a review and finding everything out.
It was a beautiful book with excitement and tears all rolled in to one.
It’s also a very sad book knowing it’s a true story how people can treat other people like they did.
Would highly recommend it.

The only thing missing from this book of fiction, which is referred to as non-fiction is a magic carpet to take the hero and heroine away in the air, loaded with food and jewels. Having read factual books about many of the camps, this book is full of situations not in keeping with true historical facts. It was hard for me to finish. Not recommended reading.

I'm a bit uncomfortable with this book and this review which I feel compelled to write.
My problem is that I'm not convinced with the veracity of some of content; I have read quite extensively on the subject of the Holocaust and several books by survivors of the concentration camps and this one just does not ring true in some crucial aspects. The daily life as lived by Lale in Auchwittz demonstrates an unbelievable amount of laxity on the part of the SS and guards - he's able to ramble around chatting to other prisoners and even people from outside the camp (the building workers), can smuggle and trade food and jewelry with ridiculous ease and fooled the SS interrogators into releasing him from their infamous torture suite. Lale's ease of final escape from the camp is hardly credible - he strolls off, and encounters the advancing Russian army and fools them also. The survival rate for any of his "circle" of acquaintances is remarkable. I won't go on.
In the epilogue, the author reveals that Lale related his story to her in order that he not be considered to have been a collaborator........my fear would be that his being a collaborator would explain a lot.

As the child of Holocaust survivors, I was outraged at the liberties the author took in depicting life in Auschwitz and other concentration camps. If you are unfamiliar with the realities of life in those camps, this was NOT the book for you to read. It sounded like life there allowed people to socialize with each other all day and at their leisure. I promise you that, at the end of each day, the survivors were more interested in food and sleep than in visiting. Also, in focusing on this love story, I find it hard to believe that the couple met regularly outside the Block to make love under the eyes of the captors. And a soccer game with Nazis and prisoners? This begs the question of reality. I wanted to read and like this book as I have read so many books that show how horrible life was in Auschwitz/Birkenow. This was NOT one of the good ones.

For someone like me, who is perpetually interested in reading about the Holocaust as a way of trying to understand it, I have to admit I was disappointed in this novel. Though telling a true story, it simply didn't come anywhere close to capturing the emotional dimension of a concentration camp experience.

The book relays the story of Lale and Gita, two Slovakian Jews who were survivors of Auschwitz. They meet at the camp because Lale was assigned the job of tattooing new arrivals with their identification number. So, this novel is a chronological accounting of their three years of captivity, with occasional tidbits about Lale's life before the war. Along the way, it relates many instances of Nazi brutality, prisoner sufferings, and risk-taking by one person trying to protect another.

Heather Morris explains in her Afterword that she interviewed Lale multiple times over a period of three years to collect the details of their story (Gita had already died at this point). And it's a fascinating story.

But it reads like a second-hand account. Despite Morris's attempt at recreating dialog, the narrative feels more like the reader is observing the difficulties and stress of living in a death camp -- rather than experiencing them the way a prisoner would. I felt emotionally distant the entire time I was reading.

Morris says she originally envisioned the story of Lale and Gita as a movie (which never happened) and then launched a Kickstarter campaign to make this story into a book. I am guessing that she is not an experienced writer since this appears to be her first book. And that may be the reason for these shortcomings.

What a remarkable story! This is unlike any book on the Holocaust that I have ever read, and is truly a must-read for 2018. Lale, a young Slovakian man, was sent to Auschwitz in one of the first groups of Jewish prisoners. Through a series of...Fate? Providence? Luck? he is assigned to be the tattooist of the concentration camp. He is constantly faced with moral dilemmas, gruesome deaths, and the possible loss of his true love.
Whether you've read everything, or nothing, on the Holocaust, read this. Everything about this story and this man's life will give you food for thought.

Considering "The Tattooist of Auschwitz" is a harrowing true story, it was truly compelling and utterly unputdownable. It's without a doubt one of only a few books that will stay with me a very long time, it's that unforgettable and one that keeps you thinking about the story well after you've put it down.
Lale Sokolov is a well dressed, charming ladies' man - however he is also a Jew. On arrival at Auschwitz in 1942 he immediately stands out to his fellow prisoners who save his life when he takes ill. In the camp he is put to work in the privileged position of the 'Tatowierer' - the tattooist - to mark his fellow prisoners as they arrive in camp. One of them is a girl called Gita who captures his heart immediately. Given a reason to survive Lale uses his position for the greater good even through struggles and extreme suffering, with the hope of one day being with Gita forever, outside of the camp.
Although upsetting, saddening and at times quite unimaginable, there is such a beautiful love story at the heart of the tale that you can't help smiling at. I immediately took to all the real life characters, they were excellently portrayed whether good or bad and could imagine the whole true scenario with such clarity.
The author Heather Morris took several years to write Lale's story in her book with the input of the main protagonist himself and even becoming a very good friend with him. She has ultimately written a story Lale would be very proud of and which tells of his and Gita's tale of wanting to be together through one of the worst and sickening periods of our history with the utmost care and consideration. Compassionately written with sensitivity, its emotive, thought provoking, awe inspiring and certainly puts your own everyday problems into perspective.
This book wasn't as brutal and as hard hitting as some holocaust books I've read although equally saddening, therefore I feel this could be read by slightly younger readers without offending or upsetting.
I really can't recommend this stunning book highly enough, it a definite must read for 2018 and it gets a fantastic 5 stars for a heart wrenching unforgettable read.

EXCERPT: Thirsty and exhausted, he is surprised when the piece of paper is yanked from his hand. An SS officer pulls off Lale's jacket, rips his shirtsleeve and pushes his left forearm flat on the table. He stares in disbelief as the numbers 32407 are stabbed into his skin, one after the other by the prisoner. The length of wood with a needle embedded in it moves quickly and painfully. Then the man takes a rag dipped in green ink and rubs it roughly over Lale's wound.

The tattooing has taken only seconds, but Lale's shock makes time stand still. He grasps his arm, staring at the number. How can someone do this to another human being? He wonders if for the rest of his life, be it short or long, he will be defined by this moment, this irregular number: 32407.

THE BLURB: The Tattooist of Auschwitz is based on the true story of Lale and Gita Sokolov, two Slovakian Jews who survived Auschwitz and eventually made their home in Australia. In that terrible place, Lale was given the job of tattooing the prisoners marked for survival - literally scratching numbers into his fellow victims' arms in indelible ink to create what would become one of the most potent symbols of the Holocaust. Lale used the infinitesimal freedom of movement that this position awarded him to exchange jewels and money taken from murdered Jews for food to keep others alive. If he had been caught, he would have been killed; many owed him their survival.

There have been many books about the Holocaust - and there will be many more. What makes this one so memorable is Lale Sokolov's incredible zest for life. He understood exactly what was in store for him and his fellow prisoners, and he was determined to survive - not just to survive but to leave the camp with his dignity and integrity intact, to live his life to the full. Terrible though this story is, it is also a story of hope and of courage. It is also - almost unbelievably - a love story. 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 determined not only to survive himself but to ensure that Gita did, too. His story - their story - will make you weep, but you will also find it uplifting. It shows the very best of humanity in the very worst of circumstances.

Like many survivors, Lale and Gita told few people their story after the war. They eventually made their way to Australia, where they raised a son and had a successful life. But when Gita died, Lale felt he could no longer carry the burden of their past alone. He chose to tell his story. (Publisher's Summary)

MY THOUGHTS: Oh! The inhumanity of human beings towards other human beings knows no bounds. And, worst of all, I don't believe we have learned a damned thing because we just keep making the same mistakes over and over again, and always with a sense of righteous justification.

Lale and Gita's story is indescribable. But it is important that it be told. We can read these stories, and be horrified, appalled, but we can never really know, in our hearts or our heads, how it felt to endure what they endured. We cannot even begin to understand what they went through, and for that we shall be grateful. Grateful that we shall never have to experience standing outside with the ashes of our friends raining down upon us from Crematorium chimneys. Grateful that we are not ripped from our families, herded like cattle, starved, beaten, and experimented upon like laboratory rats. And let us show our gratitude by ensuring that anything like this can never happen again, be it on the massive scale seen in WWII, or on a personal level. Please be kind to one another, help one another, respect one another. Because if we don't, are we any better than the SS?

Thank you to author Heather Morris for her perseverance. A lot of what she was told by Lale cannot have been easy to listen to or transcribe. I would imagine she had more than a few nightmares.

Thank you to Bonnier Publishing, Australia via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

Somewhere between the time I chose this book and the time I read this book (and despite the note on the cover) – I managed to forget that “The Tattooist of Auschwitz” is based on a true story. This beautiful, horrific, delicate, brutal story about World War II and one man’s experience in a concentration camp was truly a miracle. And when I reached the end and was reminded that this was actually based on true events? It seemed almost too amazing to be believed.

Lale Sokolov, the true hero of this story, is an amazing human being and an incredible character to read about. While there are a few small (very) elements of luck in his journey to and life in a German concentration camp, what he endures, and the strength of his spirit, will to live, and love for not only a young girl he meets – but all people who need help – was more than inspiring. Somehow, he walks the incredibly delicate line between fighting to save his own life while doing his best to help anyone he can. In an atmosphere of constant watching and casual murder – there are few who can do so and still maintain some of who they once were. Lale seems to be one of these few.

This is truly a remarkable story. To read of such care and love and grace – set against the most unimaginable cruelty and evil – it’s disconcerting at times. But as the reader gets a sense of who Lale is and how strong he is – the sense of hope builds. The feeling that maybe it just might be ok – somehow, some way.

This is a beautiful book and an amazing story…and I am still shaking my head as I try to grapple with the fact that it really happened.

REVIEW
I'd had this book on my list to read for a while and after reading another book set around the same time I decided I was ready to give this one a go. I was apprehensive as the book is based on a true story meaning the characters in this book aren't made up, they are real live people going through being in Auschwitz.

I have seen that there are two covers for this book and I have decided to describe that I should describe the coloured one which is the one for the edition I read and I have pictured that one above in this review. The covers main "colour" is an ash grey colour that becomes more meaningful as you read the book. There are faded blue stripes too, that represent the uniforms some prisoners were made to wear. At the top portion of the cover there are two clasping hands, the way arms are positioned numbers are visible on one which is also becomes even more relevant as you read the book. At the upper right of the cover is a circular "stamped" circular type design that says "Based on an incredible true story". At the very bottom section of the cover is the dark grey outline of Auschwitz in the dusky ashy atmosphere. I feel that this cover is a very strong one featuring lots of important elements from within the book. The only thing I would change on this cover is the position of the arms, as on the different cover I have seen the arms are in a slightly different position meaning the tattooed numbers are visible on both the female and male arms.

The genres I have seen listed for this book are "General Fiction", "Historical Fiction" which fit the book very well along with "Holocaust". I find it a shame that more is not being made of this book being based on a real story, maybe we should have a "based on a real story" genre.

Before I actually begin talking about the content of the book, I should explain how at the very beginning of the book there is a section about how Heather came to meet Lale. Heather was introduced to Lale as he "might have a story worth telling". Heather goes on to say the day she met Lale Sokolov was a day that changed both their lives. Their friendship grew as Lale trusted Heather with the innermost details of what he saw, did and witnessed others doing during the Holocaust.

The book begins with Lale sitting at his desk that is set up nearby the arriving transport trains at Auschwitz. Lale has a piece of paper in his hand with a number on it 34902. The woman in front of him already has a faded number on her arm. Lale starts working on her arm. He tries so hard to be gently that he doesn’t go deep enough with the needle and has to go over the number again with more force. The young woman doesn't flinch or cry out at the pain, Lale is fully aware he is inflicting. Those being tattooed have been told to say nothing and do nothing. As he wipes away some of the blood the man next to him whispers a warning to Lale urgently "hurry up". A man in a white coat approaches, looking the women over as he walks. He roughly grabs the young woman's face who Lale is in the process of tattooing and jerks her head about. The young woman looks as if she is going to say something. Lale quickly mouths “shhh” at the young woman and when the man in the white coat moves on Lale tells the young woman she is doing well. Once again Pepan urges Lale to be quicker at his job.

Then the book goes back to how Lale ended up at Auschwitz in the first place. Lale is well educated and well dressed in one of his suits hoping to impress whomever he will be working for. He is holding his suitcase which contains some clothes and a few possessions. Lale is standing shoulder to shoulder with the other men packed into a train carriage that is usually used for transporting cattle. These men are being taken "to work" for the German cause under the direction and orders of Adolf Hitler. None of the men really know where they are going or what they will be doing. They travel for two days though there are many stops none of them are to allow the men on that train food, drink or toilet & washing facilities. A young man called Aron approaches Lale and asks why he is so calm. Aron wants to organise the men to fight back against the Germans. Lale explains to Aron that men's fists, no matter how many are not a match for guns.

Finally, the train stops for the men to get off, they have arrived at Auschwitz. As Lale walks through the iron gates he glances at the words written in German above him "ARBEIT MACHT FREI" which translated reads "Work will make you free". Lale does have the advantage of speaking many different languages so at least he can understand the orders the Germans are shouting at him and his fellow travellers. Lale does his best to explain the orders to those around him to prevent them being shoved about and beaten until they understand what they are being told to do. Commandant Rudolf Hoess speaks to the men, telling them they are at Auschwitz now and they need to work hard, do as they are told and they may go free one day. But he also warns if they disobey there will be consequences!

During processing Lale has to provide his name, address, occupation and his parent's names. He is then given a slip of paper with a number on it, 32407. An SS Officer pulls off Lale's jacket, rips his sleeve and slams his arm on a table for the number to be tattooed. The actual tattooing takes only seconds. After processing the men are made to strip, shower, have their head shaved and to put on old Russian Army uniforms.

Lale and Aron meet back up having being given the same block number, 7. That night Lale needs to pee and as he approaches the designated area something holds him back when he hears soldiers approaching. The young soldiers just randomly shoot the three men that are in the process of using the "toilet facilities". Lale makes a vow to himself that he is going to survive this awful place. It is this determination and survival instinct along with his friendship with Aron that saves Lale's life when he is ill. Lale then meets Pepan the current tattooist and is taken under his wing and made his assistant.

So much happens in this book both to Lale and fellow prisoners he is friends with and to others around him. This book takes you through a whole range of emotions, anger and fury for the innocent people being sent to concentration camps, sorrow for the loss of the prisoners loved one. The fact that these people didn't know if they would ever see their families ever again. Disgust at how the Germans treat the prisoners. Then also pride in those people in the concentration camps that fought on and that survived everything and anything that the Germans could think of throwing their way.

I guess it's not a case of favourite "characters" as these are real people so the following part of my review is me mentioning these people and how I felt about them whilst reading the book. Of course, there is so much I could say about Lale, I admire his selflessness, the way he makes the decision to be the "one child to work for the Germans" so that his older brother who is married with children can stay at home with his family and that his parents will be left in peace to continue to live in their own home. I also admired his first small act of defiance setting fire to his clothes. Lale goes on to secretly defy the Germans when necessary. As the tattooist he has his own room, he has the privilege of eating slightly better food elsewhere from the bustle of the main food line, he also receives larger rations. Lale does not forget those friends he made back in Block 7 as he hides some of his bread and shares it with them. Lale makes friends easily, and later in the book he has a couple of the young women who work in Canada (which is where all the prisoner’s possessions go to be sorted through) smuggle him money, jewellery etc, to barter/pay to the outside building contractors he has made friends with. In exchange for the money, jewels etc, one of the builders and his son bring in whatever Lale and the prisoners need from chocolate, other food, and medicines. Lale uses the chocolate to bribe Kapos (those prisoners who work for the Germans by keeping eyes on all the prisoners in their block.) He treats Gita his girlfriend to chocolate. Lale to me, represents hope throughout the book. Gita is younger than Lale and has been held elsewhere. Lale is besotted with her from the moment he sees her and re-tattoo's her number. They snatch moments together on Sundays when no prisoners in the camp work except the tattooist if there are incoming prisoners. They quickly fall in love with each other. Lale shares his extra rations, and uses chocolate to bribe the kapo in Gita's block to get them some time alone. Gita tells Lale only her first name, she refuses to give him her surname or talk about what has happened to her.

I felt shock and horror on the behalf of Cilka. When she arrived at Auschwitz she was singled out by "The Commandant" and was allowed to keep her beautiful long hair. But there is a price to pay for everything in Auschwitz and Cilka's price is becoming the sexual plaything of "The Commandant". Cilka plays an important part in ensuring Lale lives at one point in the book, without her asking a favour in return for all what has been repeatedly taken from her. I was also angry whilst reading a certain part of the book where Cilka is labelled a collaborator and is actually punished! Surely her treatment at the hands of The Commandant was enough punishment for a lifetime.

The next person that kind of played a little on my mind after finishing the book was SS Baretski, it's strange as during the book you see many sides to him. The young fairly innocent boy, writing to his girlfriend and asking Lale's advice on gifts to send her. Then there's the cruel, sadistic side when he is punishing the prisoners. Or when he toys with Lale, sometimes being friendly and passing on a note to Gita. The banter he has with Lale the advice that Lale gives SS Baretski on how to treat his girlfriend and how Baretksi feeds back to Lale if his suggestions worked. It's almost as though in different circumstances they could have been friends. At times you think SS Baretski is also a victim of Adolf Hitler, as he doesn't really have a choice in being at Auschwitz either. Though of course he is living in a much better position, is well clothed and well fed too.

My immediate thoughts upon finishing this book was that it was an amazing, eye opening real-life tale of survival against the odds.

Heather Morris does a fantastic job with her writing style. As you read it is the voices of Lale and Gita that you hear telling you their story of how they got through the darkest days of their lives.
Gary Sokolov must be so proud of the brave yet kind Lale & Gita who strove to survive in the harshest of conditions yet still tried to help others around them.

The epilogue was incredible, I honestly loved the extra input about "After". After reading the horrors that happened to these people it was kind of soothing to the mind to know some people did survive despite the Germans best efforts to work them to death. It's difficult to say much about the epilogue without giving anything major away. To be honest I would have been left irritated and upset not knowing what happened to certain people. Though I would have liked to know how things turned out for Leon as he did have the horrendous Dr Mengele experiment on him.

This book gave me the same stunned, sorrowful emotional feelings at how on earth one human can treat another in the way the Germans did during the Holocaust as I had a similar reaction to reading the book Surviving the Angel of Death written by Holocaust survivor Eva Kor. These are amazing books, to read about what happened to these brave individuals and how they dealt with it all. I think it is so generous and courageous of them to take the time to re-live what they went through to tell everyone the truth about what happened during that horrific era known as the Holocaust. The suffering these people went through should never be forgotten. This is in my opinion another book that should be read in schools to teach about the Holocaust and how it affected the people then and how it should teach us lessons for the future. The survivors and those that lost their lives deserve for their stories to live on. One last thing I need to say, have the tissues at hand and be prepared to read late into the night and have this book take over your mind and thoughts from the very beginning to the very end.

The Tattooist of Auschwitz is the first novel by Australian author, Heather Morris. At the age of twenty-five, Ludwig (Lale) Eisenberg, a Slovakian Jew, was transported to Auschwitz. He was tattooed with the number 32407. He was transferred 4km down the road to Birkenau (Auschwitz II) where, possibly due to his multi-lingual knowledge, his grooming and his demeanour, he was assigned to help Pepan, the man who tattooed the arm of each Jew entering the camp.

In July of 1942, he was re-tattooing numbers on Jewesses being moved to Birkenau from Auschwitz when he met seventeen-year-old Gisela (Gita) Fuhrmannova. He knew her only by her number, 34902, although he eventually enticed her given name from her. He soon realised he was in love, and he was determined to survive this horrendous experience so that he could live a free life with his beloved Gita.

Being the Tatowierer afforded him some privileges (more food, better accommodation, no hard labour and free passage around the camp), and Lale used it to advantage. But not just for himself. He was resourceful, and managed to feed some of the starving and get better conditions for a few. He saved lives, even while around him death was common, cruel and copious. On many occasions, his actions put him in danger, and his survival against considerable odds had one SS officer asking if he was a cat.

Morris’s novel is based on a true story, and the way she was given the facts to transform into this story, related in the Author’s note, make an interesting footnote. Also included are some photos of the couple and an Afterword by Lale and Gita’s only son, Gary. The basic facts of their lives are given in the Additional Information section, along with a map of Birkenau. Despite the cruelty and suffering, this is a tale of hope and love: a moving and uplifting read.
With thanks to Bonnier Publishing for this copy to read and review.

It's a powerful story. It's a sad story, but there is hope within the sadness.

Amidst the backdrop of World War II, Lale Sokolov leaves his home, believing that by doing so he is safeguarding the rest of his family. He ends up in Auschwitz-Birkenau. A Frenchman sets Lale up to be his assistant tattooist (putting the numbers on the arms of prisoners). Later, the Frenchman disappears without explanation, leaving Lale as the head tattooist.

Lale attempts to use his position to help others. He finds an assistant in Leon (who disappears, reappears, and then disappears again). He gets girls who work in the warehouses (called The Canada) to steal money, gems, and jewelry which are passed on to him and which he in turn passes on to buy foods, medicines, and other items to help himself and others in the camps.

Lale also finds love in the form of Gita--Gita is in the first group of women Lale sees brought to the concentration camp. Lale tattoos her arm.

The lengths Lale goes to and the risks he takes to help others survive are both admirable and sad. It is heartening to see that there are people in the surrounding area who are willing to help those in the concentration camps even at risk to themselves. I'm sure they would have been imprisoned if they'd been discovered helping those in the camp.

Once he finally escapes the Germans/Nazis, Lale thinks he'll surrender to the Russians. At first they ignore him, but then they put him to work as a "pimp"--a nicer form of slavery/imprisonment than what he had at the concentration camp but still, he is not free. He is better fed and better clothed and has access to a bathroom, but little freedom. Somehow, he still manages to squirrel away some money and gems and eventually, when he's gained the Russians' trust, he takes off for his homeland and to find Gita.

Eventually, he and Gita move to Australia and make a life for themselves. Lale tells his story only after Gita passes away.

The Tattooist of Auschwitz: A Novel based on a powerful true story is by Heather Morris. This is an incredible story and it is told in a very respectful way.
It was after his wife, Gita, died in October, 2003, that Lale decided to tell their story. He had talked about parts of it with other survivors in Australia; but had never told the entire story to anyone, not even Gita. At first, he had been afraid that he and Gita might be seen as collaborators even though they did not have a viable choice. It was do what they told you to do or die. They chose to survive and thus resist the Nazis. Lale’s incredible memory was able to be easily checked for accuracy.
Lale volunteered to go on the transport being under the impression that by his going, he would save his family. Unfortunately, this was not accurate. In fact, his parents were sent to Auschwitz and killed before he ever arrived there. His brother, Max, was in the resistance and killed. His sister, Goldie, survived and married a Russian whose last name Lale took when reunited with them. In Auschwitz, he was chosen to become a tattooist. In this position, he was ultimately able to smuggle in food for his block-mates and friends. It was as a tattooist that he met Gita when he tattooed her. With the help of his SS guard, he was able to meet her and find out her name. It was also as a tattooist that he actually entered a gas chamber to clarify tattoos on two men and then was able to leave the gas chamber unharmed.
His romance with Gita occurred in Auschwitz for three years until the camp was emptied. They were reunited back in Bratslavia, married, and eventually immigrated to Australia where they were finally blessed with a son.
The book is an extraordinary book and one that is emotionally difficult to read and yet is impossible to put down.

"To Save one is to save the world."

This book is based on a true story. I always love books based on true stories. In many ways, I think they are the best kind. I also love the pictures of Lane and Gita Sokolov. Lane told his story over the course of three years to the Author. Lane became the Tatowierer "Tattooist" of Auschwitz and Birkenau. Being the tattooist gives him special perks - more rations, better sleeping conditions, ability to move around the camp more freely. He also was able to exchange the money and prized possessions of those who died in the gas chambers for food and medicine. He was generous and provided for many. He saved lives and I wonder how many survived due to him acquiring medicine and extra food for them.

While giving a tattoo, he meets Gita and feels an instant attraction to her. This book is not only a book about survival during the bleakest of times, it is about triumph of the human spirit, about being pushed to the breaking point but never breaking, about love, about compassion for others, about hope, about losing your faith and about never losing your faith. It also shows brutality, hatred, and evil but what I hope people take away is the compassion, strength, dignity and resilience that Lane and so many others named in this book showed. This book is about a lot of things but mainly one man's inner strength which allowed him to go on, to never give up, to have compassion for others, who risked his life many times to help others. During the darkest times, there will always be those who shine and Lane Sokolov was one of those.

Like many survivors, Lane and Gita moved around until they found their place in Australia, began a family and lead a happy and successful life. Lane proved to have "nine lives" and I was happy to see that he was able to prosper and be reconnected with Gita after the war.

I thought this book was well written and I was sucked me into Lane's world. Although there are scenes of violence and murder/killings, they are not incredibly graphic. With any book dealing with the Holocaust, you know it is going to be sad and scenes are going pull at your heartstrings. This one will as well. I think most will really enjoy this book and hopefully learn a few things. For instance, I always thought the tattoos were put on using crude tattoo machines/guns similar to the one used when I got a tattoo. I was wrong.

I think reading the Author's note at the end of the book is beneficial. Again, there are pictures of Lane and Gita there. It was nice to put faces with the names. When reading books such as this, I think most readers will wonder, could they have survived. I believe most of us will never know what we are capable of until we are placed to the test. God willing, none of us are ever placed to this test.

I received a copy of this book from Bonner Publishing Australia and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve always held a deep respect for books that remind us how terribly bad human nature can be if left unbridled, so it went without question that this book was a must-read. It means so much more when you consider and appreciate that the book is based on fact, and whenever possible, historical documentation was used to adhere as closely as possible to actual events. The author, Heather Morris, spent years with Lale Sokolov, the protagonist of the story, and I can only imagine the deep love and respect she must feel for this amazing human being. Their initial conversation, so simple and poignant, “I might just have a story worth telling”, led her to write this book so others can remember and appreciate the undying human spirit.
The treatment of the Jews by Hitler was incomprehensible. Lale, who voluntarily turned himself in, believing this would save the lives of his family, has a heart of gold and a strong will that helps him and those around him stay as sane as possible, given the circumstances. He learns quickly how to manipulate and respect the officers in order to place himself in a safer job. He doesn’t stop there; he uses his job to trade goods and provide food to numerous others, rarely just for himself.
One day in the never-ending line of poor souls offering their arm to be tattooed, Lale looks up into the eyes of a young lady, Gita, which affects him instantly. He dedicates the remainder of his time in prison to ensure that she survives, no matter what. Lale crosses paths with the monster Josef Mengele and numerous other hateful officers and soldiers who abuse, torture and quite easily kill whomever they wish. His job of staying alive and keeping Gita alive gives him the will to go above and beyond, using his privileges for others even more than himself.
There are parts in the book where the treatment of the prisoners seem a bit more humane than what history has detailed, and this may be the way Lale prefers to remember it for others. Instead of embellishing what was truly awful to begin with, Lale softens the edges in his interpretations. This is consistent with the way he conducted himself with others while imprisoned, reminding them to be positive and try to laugh in a ghastly, deadly, evil world.
There are parts where the writing seems somewhat simple, but I think the writer is trying to stick to the thoughts and feelings of Lale, Gita and their fellow prisoners, avoiding dwelling on the deep history and background of the daily status of the war. I appreciate that style; it dedicates all emotion to the story of their love and their will to survive and help others survive with them.
I very much enjoyed reading this, and I envy the author for the precious hours she was able to spend with such a forgiving, peaceful human being. It would be an honor to have met Lale Sokolov.
(I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review. Thank you to Zaffre and NetGalley for making it available.)

Book Review: The Tattooist of Auschwitz: based on the heart-breaking true story of love and survival, by Heather Morris
Publisher: Zaffre Publishing
Publication Date: January 11, 2018
Reviewed March 7, 2018.

I was given a free copy of this book by NetGalley, prior to publication, in exchange for an honest review.

When I was a little girl, about 4 years old, my mother took me to visit an older woman who lived alone, about 5 houses up the hill from our house. I don’t remember this woman’s name, but I remember going to her house. This woman had been a prisoner in Auschwitz. She showed me the tattoo of numbers on her inner forearm.

I don’t imagine I had any understanding of Auschwitz, or what she had survived. But I do remember that somehow I understood something about her experience, because when I saw that tattoo on her arm, I was filled with terror and horror and deep grief. I didn’t understand really anything that she’d been through, but seeing that tattoo on her arm got through to me that something terribly wrong had been done to her, and what she’d lived through would never leave her.

When I saw the tattoo, I started to cry and cried after we left, walking back to our home. I don’t know why my mother took me to see my neighbor, or why she wanted me to witness that tattoo.

I am now 65 and it still haunts me.

This book is a true story about a Slovakian young man who survived the concentration camps Auschwitz and Birkenau during World War 2. He was assigned to be the Tätowierer, the Tattoist, at Auschwitz and Birkenau. This job protected him in many ways and helped him to survive.

He met a woman named Gita, and despite the horror of their lives, they fell deeply in love.

When the Russians come to liberate the camps, the young man, Lale, and his beloved Gita become separated. He searched all over Europe, and are eventually were reunited. They end up leaving Europe and find asylum in Australia. They had a son, and lived to old age, always very much still in love.

This was an extraordinary book to read. The horror of life in the camps. The ways that people did large and small things to help each other survive.

The characters are beautifully drawn; the terror, brutality and horror of the camps are fully described. The narrative flows smoothly and the plot pacing is exquisite.

This is a book that is both heart-breaking and uplifting. Love wins. I highly, highly recommend this book. Beware: not for the weak-hearted.

The Nazi regime forced prisoners to work with them in the running of their concentration camps. While other prisoners saw these people as collaborators, the prisoners forced to do this work had no choice. To refuse meant death. Different groups had different duties: the Sonderkommando worked in the gas chambers, transferring bodies to the crematoria, and then disposing of the ashes. Others worked in in the Politische Abteilung (the political department), responsible for camp administration. This department included Jewish women with typing skills who worked as secretaries, keeping records of prisoners and deaths as well as the men responsible for tattooing prisoners with their five digit identification numbers.

Lale Solokov was one of these men.

‘My name is Ludwig Eisenberg, but people call me Lale .’

Lale Eisenberg (as he was known then) was 24 years old in 1942. A Slovakian Jew, Lale surrendered himself believing that this would keep his parents and siblings safe. After being transported to Auschwitz by cattle car, Lale almost died of typhus shortly after his arrival. He was selected to assist the Tatowierer (and then became the Tatowierer), and this saved his life.

Lale met his future wife, Gita Fuhrmannova, on the platform at Auschwitz-Birkenau. Her tattoo had faded, and Lale was required to redo it. He fell in love.

In ‘The Tattooist of Auschwitz’, Heather Morris has written a novel based on her interviews with Lale. Lale and Gita settled in Australia after the war. After Gita’s death in 2003, Lale met Heather Morris and in a series of interviews shared his story.

It’s a harrowing story, and I can’t imagine anyone who read it not being moved by it. Lale and Gita survived when so many others did not. Lale was able to use the comparative safety of working for the Politische Abteilung to barter with two labourers who were building the crematoria: valuables (from the warehouse of confiscated possessions) for food and drugs. By doing this, he was able to ensure the survival of others (including Gita).

‘He too has chosen to stay alive for as long as he can, by performing an act of defilement on people of his own faith .’

It is heartbreaking to read this book, to be conscious of the choices required of Lale and others in order to survive. I cannot distinguish the balance between fact and fiction in this novel, but then I don’t need to in order to recognise the horror of these events. Love blooms in unexpected places and Lale’s strength of character shines through. Ms Morris originally intended Lale’s story as a screenplay. For me, personally, it is easier to read than to watch. While reading I can maintain a little emotional distance from events, I can be an observer rather than a participant.

This is a story worth reading: Lale Solokov was an extraordinary man.

‘There was no parting of memory and history for this beautiful old man — they waltzed perfectly in step .’

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

They stood in a line for it was their only means of escape. Those that didn’t make the line, their fate was sealed. There were rules for those who stood in line and rules for those who processed these selected few. The room was quiet as these individuals stood waiting for their turn in front of the official table. The tattooist looked at each wrist and at the new number which would become the new identity of the individual who stood standing in front of him and he would begin his job of scratching the wrist of Auschwitz’s newest prisoner. There would be no eye contact and no words spoken. Wrist, number and scratching; all day long until the last person in the line was marked.

Papan chose Lale to assist him. Papan needed to move the line along quicker so he asked the guard if he could get an assistant. Lale was hesitate to accept the position as he didn’t want to cause any more pain to the prisoners. Papan chose Lale because he knew Lale had a soul and would cause the prisoners less pain. When children and women began to join the line, Lale discomfort grew even more. One day, Papan doesn’t show up for work and Lale becomes the head Tattooist. This responsibility comes with benefits and the considerate and clever Lale immediately jumps into action. This respectable responsibility comes with extra rations, nice sleeping quarters, and others within the camp respect him more even though he is still a prisoner. Lale immediately asks for a assistant and Leon is assigned the position. Lale takes chances, he takes risks that are for the benefits of other prisoners and for himself. I feared for the day that Lale’s actions would be discovered but, in the meantime, I was cheering him on. There were a few close calls and things gets dicey but to Lale, it is all worth it and he gets dangerous. It becomes a business affair to Lale, a trade, and his job becomes a front, as he tries to make life inside the prison camp tolerable to those who matter to him.

I liked the idea of the novel, I like how Lale used his position to benefit others and himself and to make the life inside the death camp bearable. I enjoyed the relationships in this novel especially the one that Lale had with his guard and the one that he had with his girlfriend. I really enjoyed this story and highly recommend it if you enjoy reading novels based on this time period. 4.5 stars

I received a copy of this novel from NetGalley and Bonnier Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Thank you.

I have just read 'The Tattooist of Auschwitz' by Heather Morris. Spoiler alert: I was really looking forward to reading this book especially after all the positive reviews however though it is a very special and important story I found the writing flat, the events somewhat unbelievable and lacking coherence and the writing style monotone. The same emotional level prevailed throughout and I felt like I hardly knew any of the characters.Even Gita herself lacked any real character development. The main characters did not evolve throughout the booking, staying much the same despite such life-altering experiences. This meant the whole story came across as fake which I hope it isn't. Every single stereotypical event I read about Auschwitz occurred in the book which was so irritating. The soccer game was too much for me. I have seen that in other movies and books and there were so many such inclusions. There was nothing new at all about the Holocaust that I hadn't read 50 times elsewhere. It was like the author just filled in gaps with 'Hollywood' details - overall very disappointing! I only wish someone capable had interviewed the couple before their deaths and was able to bring us the true story as there is much to tell here about forgiving oneself for doing what was necessary to survive and the reality of the 'blur' between enemy and friends when we are all in fact just human......

This amazing story of Lale Sokolov, the tattooist of Auschwitz has been wonderfully retold by Heather Morris. It must have been heart wrenching for her to interview him in his later years, after the death of Gita, the woman he met and loved in Aushwitz and later married.

A Slovakian Jew, Lale answered the German's call for each Jewish Slovakian family to volunteer one healthy member of the family to work for Germany in exchange for protection for the rest of the family; needless to say the Germans' promise was not kept. Lale was transported to Auschwitz where something about his innate charm and hopefulness inspired the incumbent tattooist to take him on as his apprentice. After the resident tattooist disappeared, Lale took over his role and privileges with a room to himself, more food and greater freedom to talk to others including external Polish bricklayers who brought in food and medicine for him in exchange for money or jewels smuggled out by crematorium workers.

I have read other books on the atrocities of Aushwitz which were more graphically horrendous but instead of dwelling on the horror of Auschwitz, Lale's story concentrates on what it was like to be a prisoner working for the Germans and to do whatever it took to survive while somehow maintaining his humanity. Through all the horrors of watching daily torture, cremations and abuse by the German guards Lale always did what he could to make friends, share around extra food and protect those less fortunate. His efforts to look after Gita, a girl he loved at first sight when asked to refresh her tattoo, were ultimately responsible for her eventual survival. This is a wonderful story; definitely worth telling and compelling to reading.

There is arguably no more powerful word in the English language than ’Auschwitz’. Bringing ideas, visions, images, and thoughts of the darkest and most evil, despicable days of humanity to mind, any book with this word in it’s title has the potential to be a work of total and idealistic nightmare. And yet, paradoxically, intriguingly, and ultimately disappointingly, TATTOOIST is inherently a love story. It reminds the reader how powerful that emotion can be, of how much strength it can lend to those that are able and willing to draw on its powers, and of course how it can give somebody - anybody - reason enough to keep on living.

The story is beautifully written, using story telling prose that is exceedingly easy to follow, and of course it’s as addictive as all heck. The story follows the three year journey into hell and back, of Mr Lale Sokolov, who, as fate would have it, finds himself in a Nazi concentration camp but is gifted at the story’s beginning with the opportunity to be the camp’s tattooist. And not being a fool, Lale takes the job. Many in the camp may well have considered the role equal to that of a traitorous and self-interested collaborator, but there is no evidence of this in the book, apart from a passing mention from minor characters. The position gifted to Lale makes him ultimately prominent to all new inmates and therefore easy to trust. This, naturally enough, leads him to befriend many, which gives him power of sorts, and of course leads our hero to his own personal salvation, in the form of the mysterious Gita.

Obviously I cant comment on the realism of the story telling contained within, but as I have mentioned previously, the book is very hard to put down, and once you do, you may well find yourself counting down the minutes before you can start reading again. But all good books are like this. TATTOOIST is no exception, and that may well be its only fault. A book dealing with the ultimate failing and shame of humanity as a race, needs to stand out on the shelf on which it stands, if only to do honour to the memory of those angelic souls that were affected by this horrific age from history. This book reminds us of the power of love, and thats a good thing, but that is about all it does.

When I was about 10, my mother started working in a library. I used to go there after school, spending time roaming around and reading whatever caught my fancy, until she finished work. I was a child who loved reading and that, combined with an insatiable curiosity, drew me to many different varieties of book. I read lots of non-fiction and this is where my fascination for WWII history and the Holocaust in particular really began. Those pictures of the emaciated people with their vacant eyes, the stories of experiments on children in the concentration camps, the stories of everyday people who triumphed over the horrors of their situation, deeply touched me.

It was all of that which drew me to read this particular book. I had never read a book about one of the tattooists at Auschwitz before but those numbers on people's arms, a permanent reminder of their ordeal, left quite the impression on me when I first became aware of them.

This was a truly fascinating, horrific and yet beautiful story of love and war, and how the human spirit can endure and overcome so much. Lale Solokov was clearly an amazing human being with a deep love for Gita and a strong will to survive. He did what he had to do - I don't suppose any of us can possibly know what he went through, unless we found ourselves in the same situation that he did? As well as his own intelligence and resourcefulness, it seems to me that he had a lot of luck on his side as well. So many instances of "right place, right time", too.

All in all, this book does not make for easy reading, but the author has done an amazing job of giving us a story with a different perspective that was unknown to me. It would have been incredible to have met this man and no doubt very emotional as well, hearing his account of his time in Auschwitz.

5 stars, of course. Highly recommended read.

Thank you to Bonnier Publishing Australia and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

When Lale (Ludwig) Eisenberg volunteered to work for the Germans so his family would be safe, he had no idea what it would entail. He soon found out!

This is the story of a man who did all he could to survive. His arrival in Auschwitz on 23rd April 1942 and then Birkenau was one of shock – his determination to leave alive would see him through the darkest and most tragic of days. Days when he lost friends through the brutality of the Germans; days when he managed a small kindness, like pass over a crust of bread to someone else who was starving.

Lale’s job as the Tattooist (Tätowierer) of Auschwitz was one which gave him relative freedom – he gave others hope. When he held the hand of a young woman to etch the number on her arm, he was taken by her immediately. When he found out her name - Gita – he was determined to help her in any way he could. Lale and Gita met whenever they could and gradually love formed between them.

Three years of Lale and Gita’s lives were stolen – three years where the horrors were unimaginable…

Based on the true story of Lale and Gita Sokolov who settled in Australia on 29th July 1949, happily raising a son, Gary, The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Aussie author Heather Morris is a heartbreaking, tragic yet uplifting story of the Holocaust and the atrocities that surrounded it – and those who survived. Two Jews from Slovakia who thought no more of being Jewish than the Parisiennes did of being French. It was what it was. Lale’s motto was always “Save the one, save the world” and he lived by it. An outstanding rendition of a terribly dark time in our history, it’s a time that should never be forgotten.

The Author’s Note, the Afterword and Additional Information, along with the exceptional photos of Lale and Gita at the end of the book, add to it and complete the journey. The author has done an exceptional job and her time with Lale as he told his story, shows that. Highly recommended.

The concept of this story is amazing. The fact that it was based on a true story is overwhelming. That people could survive such a terrible place and come through it (mostly) in tact is heartwarming. That two people could come together and find love in such awful conditions says more about the human spirit than almost anything else I've read.

However, while the story itself is amazing the writing is not. This is almost a summary of events instead of a novel. There is very little description, very little dialogue and very little detail. As someone who has read a lot about WWII, I could fill in a lot of the blanks. Other readers may not be able to.

What I found most disappointing is that the best parts of this book were the 'additional information' page and the afterword (written by a family member). Those pieces helped bring the story to a more satisfying conclusion. Somehow I think the whole thing would have been better if the author of the afterward had told this story, interwoven with his own.

As it stands, this is a book I'm glad I read but not something I feel inclined to read again.

Stories from inside Auschwitz's walls, or any prison camp for that matter, are difficult to read. They tear at your heart strings. The story of Lale Sokolov, as told by author Heather Morris, is a tale of the joy of the human spirit which cannot be suppressed by even the most horrific and inhumane circumstances. It is the story of a plant, growing through the crushing cracks of concrete.
Lale Sokolov volunteered to go "away" in 1942. He, and millions of others, were told that, by going to the work camps, they would be sparing their family members. Lale arrives at Auschwitz, unsure of what is really going on, and has his life stripped and stolen away from him. He is no longer Lale, an upstanding citizen of Bratislavia, but a worthless piece of refuse, known to the Nazi regime as Prisoner 32407.
Lale is determined to survive, and uses his wits and gift with languages to make life better for himself and his fellow inmates. He shares with those around him, coming to the notice of the tattooist, who selects Lale to be his assistant. Lale does his work, hating every second, regretting every stab of the needle, but using his position to do what little he can for others in the camp, like medicine, chocolate, sausages, etc... He takes pity on the one group in camp that is even lower in status than the Jews, the Gypsies, befriending them and caring for their children. Along the way, he tattoos a beautiful girl, and his world shatters. He falls in love with Gita, who refuses to share her last name with him, until they are free of Auschwitz's terror. They struggle on towards freedom together, and observing their romance transform Lale makes imagining the hardship more bearable.
This is the incredible tale of a man who believed "To save one is to save the world" with all of his heart and with every breath. Read this book. If you read no other book this year but this, your life will be the better for it.

[I was given a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review, courtesy of NetGalley.]

I’ve read quite a bit about the Holocaust, but I believe this is the first time I have read about a romance in Auschwitz concentration camp. The camp is full of hunger, despair and fear -- not really the atmosphere that encourages amorous thoughts. Most prisoners were consumed with the need to survive. However, love is a powerful motivator for the will to survive.

Lale Sokolov, a young man from Slovakia, was sent to Auschwitz to work. Fluent in several languages and possessing a charisma that others found appealing, Lale soon unwittingly lands the job of tattooing numbers onto the incoming prisoners. The freedom to move about the camp, extra rations and a better place to sleep set Lale apart from the other prisoners.

Lale realizes the need to help others and soon uses his perks to get extra food and medicine to his fellow prisoners. In doing so, he soon meets Gita, the girl who will become the love of his life.

Lale’s bravery during his time in the camp and immediately following the liberation is impressive. Also, the fact that both he and Gita survived until the liberation is a bit of a miracle. Both had brushes with death that they survived due to the kindness of others.

This story is based on the life of real people, their pictures added at the end of the book, along with a brief update on their lives following the war.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Bonnier Publishing Australia/Echo for providing me with an advance copy.

From page one of this book, I was hooked by this true story account of Lale and his journey through the hell that was Auschwitz. We are introduced to Lale as he is on the train heading to an unknown destination. Although I knew that where Lale was heading was an awful place, I was gripped by his story as though everything was new. I traveled with him as he got his tattoo, shower, and ended up with a Russian uniform. He eventually ends up in a barracks where a late night trip to the bathroom teaches him, and me, about the brutal world that he was now inhabiting.

As the story progressed, I got a picture of the building of Auschwitz and as Lale starts his new career as the tattooist of Auschwitz. I have read many books about the Holocaust and the awful fate of many people during this time period. This was the first time that I stopped to think about the person who put all of those numbers on the arms of the many victims and survivors. I cheered when Lale was distracted by a pair of beautiful eyes belonging to Gita. Their story was so sweet and at the same time, so unbelievable. To think that Lale put the number on the woman who would become the love of his life is really remarkable.

I can't say enough good things about this book and the impression it left on me. I stayed up until the early hours of the morning to continue reading about Lale, Gita and their fate. This is one of those books that stays with you and I was so glad to be on the journey.

** I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review **

"Based on an incredible true story" this is the story of one man's will to survive in an Auschwitz concentration camp during WWII.
Lale Sokolov is an educated man, fluent in many languages and is transported from Slovakia to Auschwitz in 1942. He is offered the privileged job of tatowierer "the tattooist", which he readily accepts. When prisoners arrive he is to "mark" them with a 5 digit number that will remind them of the hell that has now become their life. Due to his position he is able to help fellow inmates, at times, and early on meets and falls in love with a young woman called Gita. Lale's devotion to Gita strengthens his resolve to survive the horrors in the hopes of having a future together.
As is often the case when we read these horrific stories of torture and death, occurring at this time, it is incomprehensible that people can do that to other people.
Lale Sokolov wanted his story recorded prior to his death so that the harrowing events he endured for 3 years "would never happen again".
Writer Heather Morris met Lale in 2003 and did an amazing job telling his powerful, moving and unforgettable story.

Thank you to Net Galley and Bonnier Publishing for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

This is a beautifully written, wonderfully researched novel about a Jewish man during WWII. The historical fiction novel is based on a real person who told his story to the author. He and his wife had kept their lives private after they moved to Australia after the war but after his wife died after over 50 years of marriage, he felt the need to share their story with the world.

Lale Sokolov was a young man when he decided to go to a work camp to save the rest of his family. He finds out later that this was a lie and most of the rest of his family didn't survive. He was given the role at a tattooist - the person who tattooed the numbers on the arms of the prisoners. Because he had a bit more freedom that most, he was able to get extra food to share with other people. One day he saw Gita and knew that he had to get to know her. The next several years were terrible for both of them and the atrocities that went on were horrendous. He managed to find her again after the war and they immigrated to Australia.

This is a difficult story to read due to the horrible things that were going on in the camps but Lale had decided early on that he would survive and that thought kept him alive every day. So even though it's a very sad story - it's also very uplifting and shows the very best of humanity in the very worst of circumstances.

I read an advance copy of this book.

I found this story so interesting, I read it in one day, which I rarely do anymore. I was so invested in this book, found myself caring so much for the people in it, that I couldn't put it down. This book follows Lale, a young Jewish man sent to Auschwitz/Birkenau concentration camp, who manages to do whatever jobs he can to stay alive for himself, his friends, and Gita, a fellow prisoner who catches his eye and his heart. It's both fascinating and heartbreaking to learn more about the realities of some people who were imprisoned there: the meager diet, jobs available to a chosen few, the living conditions, the torture and death, the sense of family, friendship, and competition among prisoners. The rich detail in the story - from the color of ink used to tattoo the prisoners' numbers on their arms to the types of currency confiscated from incoming prisoners - paints a vivid picture. These details, along with descriptions of activities and events and emotions, give just a small sense of what it might have been like to live there. This is based on a true story, as told by Lale to the author, so it was satisfying to be able to read more information about Lale and Gita after finishing the book. I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have just read 'The Tattooist of Auschwitz' by Heather Morris. Spoiler alert: I was really looking forward to reading this book especially after all the positive reviews however though it is a very special and important story I found the writing flat, the events somewhat unbelievable and lacking coherence and the writing style monotone. The same emotional level prevailed throughout and I felt like I hardly knew any of the characters.Even Gita herself lacked any real character development. The main characters did not evolve throughout the booking, staying much the same despite such life-altering experiences. This meant the whole story came across as fake which I hope it isn't. Every single stereotypical event I read about Auschwitz occurred in the book which was so irritating. The soccer game was too much for me. I have seen that in other movies and books and there were so many such inclusions. There was nothing new at all about the Holocaust that I hadn't read 50 times elsewhere. It was like the author just filled in gaps with 'Hollywood' details - overall very disappointing! I only wish someone capable had interviewed the couple before their deaths and was able to bring us the true story as there is much to tell here about forgiving oneself for doing what was necessary to survive and the reality of the 'blur' between enemy and friends when we are all in fact just human......

This is a beautifully written, wonderfully researched novel about a Jewish man during WWII. The historical fiction novel is based on a real person who told his story to the author. He and his wife had kept their lives private after they moved to Australia after the war but after his wife died after over 50 years of marriage, he felt the need to share their story with the world.

Lale Sokolov was a young man when he decided to go to a work camp to save the rest of his family. He finds out later that this was a lie and most of the rest of his family didn't survive. He was given the role at a tattooist - the person who tattooed the numbers on the arms of the prisoners. Because he had a bit more freedom that most, he was able to get extra food to share with other people. One day he saw Gita and knew that he had to get to know her. The next several years were terrible for both of them and the atrocities that went on were horrendous. He managed to find her again after the war and they immigrated to Australia.

This is a difficult story to read due to the horrible things that were going on in the camps but Lale had decided early on that he would survive and that thought kept him alive every day. So even though it's a very sad story - it's also very uplifting and shows the very best of humanity in the very worst of circumstances.

I read an advance copy of this book.

This book is stunning. I had seen a lot of people raving about what an amazing book this was and I was a little worried about all the hype and that I might end up disappointed. There was no need to worry, it completely floored me in the most moving, gripping and emotional way possible. Not the kind of book I'd normally pick up and I'm so glad that my curiosity got the better of me.
I instantly fell in love with Lale and his perception of women. His depth and warmth towards others. I knew little about the horrors that occurred during the war at Auschwitz and I feel both honoured and blessed to have been able to hear Lales story. The strength that is shown and given to others, what people had to endure is phenomenal and I think that this story of everlasting love and survival will stay with me or the rest of my life. The authors note and acknowledgements had me in tears, to see pictures of them after having imagined them throughout the book, adds that extra layer of humanity and truth.

This is the powerful and emotional story of young love in Auschwitz. Lale ends up in Auschwitz after volunteering to go to a work camp to save his family. He is given the job of tattooer, to tattoo an identifying number on the prisoners' arms after they arrive. With the arrival of some females, Lale locks eyes with Gita as he tattoos her arm and it was love at first sight. This is their story of resolve, inner strength, love and survival. What a great read! I received an ARC of this fantastic book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy reading this; I thought it might have been more like a non-fiction educational book full of facts about the holocaust. It wasn't like that at all; it was easy to read and although the topic is upsetting I really liked it.
It's April 1942 and in the small town of Krompachy, Slovakia, as in other towns, all of the Jewish families have been told to hand over one child, aged eighteen or over, to go and work for the German government. If any family refuses to do this they will be taken to a concentration camp. Lale Sokolov makes the sacrifice thinking it would keep the rest of his family safe. He boards a cattle train with hundreds of other men; there's no room to sit, buckets for toilets and they are given no food or water. Eventually, after a long journey, they arrive at Auschwitz and are put to work building the rest of the camp. The S.S soldiers are unbelievably cruel, they starve, torture and kill innocent people for fun so Lale vows to keep his head down and do what he's told so he can walk out of the camp and back to his family alive.
Not long after his arrival he becomes The Tetovierer, the job means he gets a private place to sleep and extra rations which he shares with his friends. Lale has to tattoo a number on the arm of every prisoner that arrives at Auschwitz and Birkenau and as the builders finish the crematoriums there are hundreds arriving every day. The first time a group of women arrive he feels sick to the stomach at the thought of inflicting the pain of the needle on them, but has to do it or he will be shot. One of the girls, Gita, catches his eye. In time, and among all the sickness, death and cruelty they fall in love. Gita isn't as positive as Lale, she see's no future and believes she will die in the camp like so many more have, but Lale won't let himself believe that. He tell's her they will survive this so they can build a future together so they both do what they have to to survive.
Heather Morris tells Lale and Gita's story beautifully. In such a horrific time, in a place full of human beings treating other human beings so terribly, there is also love, friendship and compassion.

This book had me awake reading in the night and awake early the following morning. It contains some very upsetting but very necessary scenes and is based on true events in Auschwitz-Birkenau during the second world war. We see the blossoming relationship between Lale, the tattooist of Auschwitz and prisoner of war Gita. Their desire is to survive this terrible time and to be able to love each other where they want and when they want. A very poignant and very sad book but at the same time a love story which comes highly recommended.

What a remarkable story! This is unlike any book on the Holocaust that I have ever read, and is truly a must-read for 2018. Lale, a young Slovakian man, was sent to Auschwitz in one of the first groups of Jewish prisoners. Through a series of...Fate? Providence? Luck? he is assigned to be the tattooist of the concentration camp. He is constantly faced with moral dilemmas, gruesome deaths, and the possible loss of his true love.
Whether you've read everything, or nothing, on the Holocaust, read this. Everything about this story and this man's life will give you food for thought.

I cannot possibly begin to find the adequate wording that will give justice to this wonderful, stirring and emotional book.written simply and without sensationalism this true story grips you from the first page and is totally engrossing and unputdownable. It’s contents will live with me for a long time to come. 5* awarded to this caring and compassionate author.

Spellbound!! Lale's story is exciting, heart wrenching and heart warming. How phenomenal that two people found love in the most horrific situation and survived to live the life the promised each other.

Based on the true life experiences this is a story of survival and love in truly the worst circumstances. Some of this was hard to read and I had to put the book down a few times and do something else but Lale's story was so inspiring that I had to keep reading. The afterward written by Lale and Gerta's son was beautiful. His parents were truly inspiring and somehow kept their hope and love alive through years spent seeing so many die.

It wasn't just Jews who died in these camps as this book shows it was Gypsy's, political prisoners, and many others. The experiments done to many were horrific and often disfiguring its amazing that anyone survived and that those who did were able to for the most part pick up the pieces and live full lives. This is a book that inspires you to live. If anyone can survive this type of trauma and still retain a sense of humor and a zeal for life than I can certainly move past petty annoyances and thrive.

The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris is Historical Fiction. The story is based on interviews by author with Lale Sokolov, a Slovakian Jew who was a tattooist during the holocaust. The story was interesting, writing style pleasing, and lots of action. I think some of the stories in this book did not seem completely plausible when compared to other fiction and non fiction accounts of Nazi death camps. I did enjoy reading this book and found it an interesting story of resilience.

I just finished the audiobook for "The Tattooist of Auschwitz" and it was fabulous! The fact that two people found in each other their soulmates despite being stripped of everything they held dear was one of the most moving and amazing stories I've read all year. I highly recommend this tale filled with hope, courage and love in the midst of the atrocious world of Auschwitz.

a holocaust book must be truly poorly written in order for it to deserve one star, but this manages to accomplish just that. this had almost no flow to it, was written on an elementary school level (with some curse words forced in), made auschwitz seem somewhat tolerable, and built little to no drama on some pretty amazing events. of all of the WW2 books that i have read, this ranks with the weakest. i couldn’t wait to finish it so that i could be done with the poor writing. sorry.

The Tattooist of Auschwitz was a book unlike any other.
I went to public high school in America, so my high school consisted of YEARS of World War II historical fiction and non-fiction books. I've read too many books on the Holocaust. Yet, this book gave me something more something in that dark, horrible time that every author missed.
It's a book about finding something to believe in and clinging to it with everything you can. Oh, and do what you can to stay alive.
Heather Morris tells this amazing story based on Lale Sokolov's life experiences in Auschwitz, where he also met his future wife, Gita.
The book creates such contrasting scenes and images of crematoriums alongside simple gestures of delivering chocolate to a girl. It was a beautiful story about love among all the hate. Loved this book so much!
Read it! Read it now!
Thank you so much to Net Galley for a copy in exchange for an honest review

I have heard so many rave reviews about this book that I was so excited to get an advance copy from NetGalley to review. It is a remarkable story, beautifully written with great sensitivity, particularly considering the subject matter. It also appears to be an accurate historical insight into life in a concentration camp based on the true story of two survivors. Furthermore it is a moving love story, despite the difficult times, which really moved me.
The unusual way the book is written in the present tense is refreshing and fairly novel and this style drew me in to the story deeply and made me feel like I was actually there.
A powerful story which will remain with me.

While I fully appreciate the story of Lale and
Gita, I have to say I was very distracted by the simple, amateurish writing. The dark, hellish horrors of Auschwitz/Birkenau were certainly not portrayed in this novel in any competent way. As a reader of many books on the Holocaust, I can only say that this one failed to provide the necessary realism. Those who have only a cursory knowledge of that time and place in history may be satisfied with this read; I was not. I'm not sure if the author is a professional writer. Perhaps this story of enduring love would have been better handled by one who is. It deserved a better telling.

As a high school literature teacher, there is much to value in this novel. I would recommend it to my older students as it is quite instructive in tone - for the holocaust or history uninitiated. The story is heartbreaking. I have invited numerous survivors to speak with my students over this century as one by one, they will all be gone soon and we must never forget the evil of the holocaust. That said, Lale's story rings heart-breakingly true to me. Morris does a lot with the setting to allow the nuances to suggest the unspeakable goings on. My survivor guest speakers would self-censor their talks according to the ages of the students they were talking to and I tell you, the full adult version of their stories was so shocking that I was often in tears as they recounted their experiences. Morris here, similarly focuses on the fragile beauty of two people in love amid the pain and the horror and she doesn't dwell on the darkness. Instead she demonstrates the power of the human condition to overcome adversity in any situation. An enlightening and satisfying read.

This is the powerful and emotional story of young love in Auschwitz. Lale ends up in Auschwitz after volunteering to go to a work camp to save his family. He is given the job of tattooer, to tattoo an identifying number on the prisoners' arms after they arrive. With the arrival of some females, Lale locks eyes with Gita as he tattoos her arm and it was love at first sight. This is their story of resolve, inner strength, love and survival. What a great read! I received an ARC of this fantastic book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy reading this; I thought it might have been more like a non-fiction educational book full of facts about the holocaust. It wasn't like that at all; it was easy to read and although the topic is upsetting I really liked it.
It's April 1942 and in the small town of Krompachy, Slovakia, as in other towns, all of the Jewish families have been told to hand over one child, aged eighteen or over, to go and work for the German government. If any family refuses to do this they will be taken to a concentration camp. Lale Sokolov makes the sacrifice thinking it would keep the rest of his family safe. He boards a cattle train with hundreds of other men; there's no room to sit, buckets for toilets and they are given no food or water. Eventually, after a long journey, they arrive at Auschwitz and are put to work building the rest of the camp. The S.S soldiers are unbelievably cruel, they starve, torture and kill innocent people for fun so Lale vows to keep his head down and do what he's told so he can walk out of the camp and back to his family alive.
Not long after his arrival he becomes The Tetovierer, the job means he gets a private place to sleep and extra rations which he shares with his friends. Lale has to tattoo a number on the arm of every prisoner that arrives at Auschwitz and Birkenau and as the builders finish the crematoriums there are hundreds arriving every day. The first time a group of women arrive he feels sick to the stomach at the thought of inflicting the pain of the needle on them, but has to do it or he will be shot. One of the girls, Gita, catches his eye. In time, and among all the sickness, death and cruelty they fall in love. Gita isn't as positive as Lale, she see's no future and believes she will die in the camp like so many more have, but Lale won't let himself believe that. He tell's her they will survive this so they can build a future together so they both do what they have to to survive.
Heather Morris tells Lale and Gita's story beautifully. In such a horrific time, in a place full of human beings treating other human beings so terribly, there is also love, friendship and compassion.

Any book which is wrote about World War II catches my attention. The fact that tattoos were given to those that were destined to survive does intrigue me. This is not a fact that I am currently aware of, which means I want to know more. As we know from history, the tattoo artist is more than likely a prisoner himself. What is it about this young woman that catches his attention? What is it about her which gives him the will to survive the war? How old are these people? Are they young or older? Were they separated from a spouse and children? What must they endure in order to survive the war? Do they both survive? Do they both die? Does one of them survive? How do they come together and fall in love, in such horrific circumstances and surroundings?

The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris is Historical Fiction. The story is based on interviews by author with Lale Sokolov, a Slovakian Jew who was a tattooist during the holocaust. The story was interesting, writing style pleasing, and lots of action. I think some of the stories in this book did not seem completely plausible when compared to other fiction and non fiction accounts of Nazi death camps. I did enjoy reading this book and found it an interesting story of resilience.

What an incredible story! This book is as beautiful as it is undoubtedly horrific. It is compelling and moving and shows you both the best and worst of humankind. It is a story of opposites: you see love and hate; hope and despair; compassion and cruelty, loss and survival - it is all portrayed in such a way that you take every moment to heart, without it being gratuitous in its coverage of a harrowing time in history. Once I began to read, I was powerless to stop until I had finished; this is a book that will stay with me for a long time.

Books about the Holocaust are never easy reading and this one is heartbreaking but also uplifting. Lale and Gita’s story is a powerful reminder of how the human spirit can overcome even the most desperate and seemingly impossible situations.
I’ve seen some negative reviews of this book and some very unkind comments about Lale. All I can say is that unless you have walked in his shoes or any of the other survivors then you cannot judge him or what he and countless others did to survive.
My thanks to Netgalley for this copy.

What a remarkable story, essentially a love story, in the most hideous circumstances. I had seen lots of chat online about this book but I hadn’t picked up on the fact it was a true life story. As a work of fiction I would have found it a little hard to believe so it’s mind boggling to consider that it’s all true.
There was a lack of consistency in the narration and it was like two different people reading alternate passages which I found quite distracting.

This book had me awake reading in the night and awake early the following morning. It contains some very upsetting but very necessary scenes and is based on true events in Auschwitz-Birkenau during the second world war. We see the blossoming relationship between Lale, the tattooist of Auschwitz and prisoner of war Gita. Their desire is to survive this terrible time and to be able to love each other where they want and when they want. A very poignant and very sad book but at the same time a love story which comes highly recommended.

The Tattooist of Auschwitz is an extraordinary story about Lale, a remarkable man who lived through one of the most atrocious times in history. It is also the story of an enduring love that blossomed and endured between two people caught up in the nightmarish reality of the concentration camps. The story is told with great compassion and, in spite of the brutal and heart wrenching detail, is an uplifting testament to the strength of the will to live and the resilience of the human spirit. Highly recommended. Thanks to Bonnier Publishing Australia, Echo and NetGalley for the ARC.

I don't read a lot of historical (romance) books that are set in the WW2, because I am just a too emotional person and the stories are 100% of the time so heartbreaking. However, sometimes the stories are calling me to read them and not forget what happened to millions of peoples back then. After reading the blurb of The Tattooist of Auschwitz and learned that it was based on the true story of Lale and Gita Sokolov, two Slovakian Jews who survived Auschwitz, I knew I wanted to know their story. Unfortunately, it didn't meet my expectations. I was expecting a very passionate and somewhat epic love story, but in my opinion the story was too short and rushed for me to feel this. So much was packed into the last 10% of the book that it just didn't do justice to Lale and Gita's love. These two go through such horrific things and find good in a place that is so evil. They were meant to be together, and I am really happy that Heather could write this book so that others can read about their journey.

The author doesn't go into depth in regards to the war. It is really focused on two characters and what they go through in Auschwitz. However, I think there was so much more to tell about how their relationship developed. That was just a major thing that I was missing from the story. I wanted more. I needed to know more. Especially Gita was a mystery to me, but Lale is the one who told the story so we don't know what was going on inside Gita's mind. I am still glad that there were a couple of scenes told from her POV. Regardless of my rating, I still recommend people to read this book. Because besides the love story there is also story of hope, friendship, and not giving up. I am very happy that Lale and Gita survived, otherwise this book would've been even more difficult for me to read.

What a remarkable story! This is unlike any book on the Holocaust that I have ever read, and is truly a must-read for 2018. Lale, a young Slovakian man, was sent to Auschwitz in one of the first groups of Jewish prisoners. Through a series of...Fate? Providence? Luck? he is assigned to be the tattooist of the concentration camp. He is constantly faced with moral dilemmas, gruesome deaths, and the possible loss of his true love.
Whether you've read everything, or nothing, on the Holocaust, read this. Everything about this story and this man's life will give you food for thought.

Taking into consideration that this is an eyewitness narrative, which I find preferable when it comes to Holocaust themed books, and an important historical account, I do wonder if Lale Solokov subconsciously or inadvertently romanticized the more uplifting parts of his story.
Memory is a tricky thing at the best of times, recalling memories made under extreme duress and/or trauma can sometimes interfere with the way we interpret memories.
I believe he made life seem simpler and less traumatic than it was. His relationship and encounters with Gita read like a complicated romance novel, and because of that some of the scenarios seem improbable.
When he or rather the author, relates the more brutal and heinous events there seems to be a reluctance to be cruel and honest. There is no such thing as gratuitous when it comes to laying bare the crimes of the Holocaust.
Again I am not sure whether that was Lale or the author changing the narrative just slightly to make the romance pop more or if it was just easier to focus on a more pleasant scenario. To remember the positive of meeting her instead of the negative of fearing she would die.
Like many survivors, Lale sat on his story for many decades. It wasn’t until Gita died that he decided the world needed to know his story. I can imagine he felt terrible survivor’s guilt and guilt in general for perhaps feeling like he contributed to the demise of many victims. I can’t imagine what it must have felt like to see the physical proof of his personal trauma on real people. Being responsible for marking his fellow humans like cattle.To him it would have been irrelevant that he had no choice. Survival is an instinct, and I am glad a lot of survivors lived to tell the world about the heinous crimes of the Holocaust.
As I said before, the stories of survivors need to be told, without them there is more chance we will repeat the past. Morris does that in a sensitive way, and she brings a little lightness to a very dark story.
*I received a free copy of this book courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley.*

So after seeing several people post about this book. I had to request a copy from my public library. I must say I am so glad I did. Wow, this is my first time reading anything by this author. I immensely love reading stories about the Holocaust. This book captures me from page one with this horrifying tale of what Lale and Gita went through. I fell in love with Lale and Gita's story.

I just finished the audiobook for "The Tattooist of Auschwitz" and it was fabulous! The fact that two people found in each other their soulmates despite being stripped of everything they held dear was one of the most moving and amazing stories I've read all year. I highly recommend this tale filled with hope, courage and love in the midst of the atrocious world of Auschwitz.

I just finished this book and all I can say is WOW. What an amazing story of Lale and Gita. I really would love to see this as a movie as the author originally intended. I have read many books on the Holocaust and this is up there with the best of them. I would love to have met Lale. What a gentle, kind man he was. Thank you Heather Morris for such a beautiful story.

Cannot say enough good things about this book. I felt that I was actually living this heartbreaking story. DidnIt realize it was a true story (with liberties, I’m sure) but still gripping. My G-son when very young called me Geta, no one knew where he got it from, when I read her name it made me misty eyed. Please, please read this most wonderful book and Never Forget!

It is often hard to find a well-written story. It is even harder to find one that is based on fact. This amazing book encompasses both and is well worth a read. For me, it goes in the category of buy the hardback and put on my shelf in a place of honor. The story is of evil, love, kindness, perseverance, and undying hope. Truly remarkable.

This was a great book. I have never read anything about the people who tattooed the numbers on the prisoners and found it interesting. So sad reading about the terrible things that happened to the Jewish people. Really good story.

Weird to say " I liked this very much" about a book that centers on the Holocaust but I did. It has a different approach to that horrific time, a different point of view. Very well written. The reader gets swept up quickly in the process of normalcy to near insanity . Read it. Pass it on to someone younger so the happening is never erased from history.

The Tattooist of Auschwitz: A Novel based on a powerful true story is by Heather Morris. This is an incredible story and it is told in a very respectful way.
It was after his wife, Gita, died in October, 2003, that Lale decided to tell their story. He had talked about parts of it with other survivors in Australia; but had never told the entire story to anyone, not even Gita. At first, he had been afraid that he and Gita might be seen as collaborators even though they did not have a viable choice. It was do what they told you to do or die. They chose to survive and thus resist the Nazis. Lale’s incredible memory was able to be easily checked for accuracy.
Lale volunteered to go on the transport being under the impression that by his going, he would save his family. Unfortunately, this was not accurate. In fact, his parents were sent to Auschwitz and killed before he ever arrived there. His brother, Max, was in the resistance and killed. His sister, Goldie, survived and married a Russian whose last name Lale took when reunited with them. In Auschwitz, he was chosen to become a tattooist. In this position, he was ultimately able to smuggle in food for his block-mates and friends. It was as a tattooist that he met Gita when he tattooed her. With the help of his SS guard, he was able to meet her and find out her name. It was also as a tattooist that he actually entered a gas chamber to clarify tattoos on two men and then was able to leave the gas chamber unharmed.
His romance with Gita occurred in Auschwitz for three years until the camp was emptied. They were reunited back in Bratslavia, married, and eventually immigrated to Australia where they were finally blessed with a son.
The book is an extraordinary book and one that is emotionally difficult to read and yet is impossible to put down.

I enjoyed reading it and was surprised to find out that it was a true story. I found it hard to believe that the tattoo artist was given such freedom and was able to meet his girlfriend on so many occasions. It was a horrible violent time and the story was at times unbelievable.

Even though this is a novel, it's based on the true experiences of Lale and Gita Sokolov in Auschwitz. At first I didn't think I would like it, however, it really swept me away. Sometimes love really does conquer all.

It is a moving book about this terrible time in history. It is hard to believe that man could allow such monsterous atrocities to occur to fellow human beings over some political propaganda. However, that is what hate and ignorance can do. It is hard to fathom that a romance could blossom it such horrific conditions. But as they say, “Love conquers all.”

Cannot say enough good things about this book. I felt that I was actually living this heartbreaking story. DidnIt realize it was a true story (with liberties, I’m sure) but still gripping. My G-son when very young called me Geta, no one knew where he got it from, when I read her name it made me misty eyed. Please, please read this most wonderful book and Never Forget!

The story is told through the eyes of a prisoner who is instructed to tattoo the numbers on the arms of others. With a love interest thrown in and compassion for others, the story had just a little something extra.

I read this book on a transcontinental flight, finishing as the plane landed. Buy it, Read it, and Give it to someone. A love story set inside one of the world's largest tragedies. This is a story of realizing that the line between collaboration
and survival may be thin, but always "to Life."

I got this book because it was in the charts. I read the back of it and I had to buy it. The book WAS great! I couldn't put the book down, I really wanted to know what was going to happen next. I really recommend this book!!!

I got this book because it was in the charts. I read the back of it and I had to buy it. The book WAS great! I couldn't put the book down, I really wanted to know what was going to happen next. I really recommend this book!!!