"In April 1942, Lale Sokolov, a Slovakian Jew, is forcibly transported to the concentration camps at Auschwitz-Birkenau. When his captors discover that he speaks several languages, he is put to work as a Tätowierer (the German word for tattooist), tasked with permanently marking his fellow prisoners."

I have been wanting to read this true story for a while, and was lucky enough to get a copy from a friend.

It entirely lived up to it's reputation and was so well written by Heather Morris that I could imagine myself in the concentration camps living with Lale and Gita and all the others that experienced and survived the horrors of being part of the most atrocious event of the second world war.

My favourite line uttered by Lale was to Yuri when he says "Save the one, save the world".

I was so moved by the storytelling and enjoyed the Epilogue, the Afterword and the Author's notes at the end of the book, together with the useful map. I felt it all tied the story up beautifully.

Sadly not for me. I really didn't enjoy the writing and some of the liberties taken with the history of Auschwitz just didn't sit right with me.

I'm not sure how I feel about this book. The story itself, is quite lovely. That's my problem I think, I didn't want a holocaust novel to feel cosy and romantic but at parts this did.

The passage of time was something I struggled with, in one chapter Lale had just entered the camp, a few pages later he realises he has been there for a year. I understand the monotony of his routine but something about this didn't sit right with me, I feel the book could have been far more fleshed out than it was.

I have been wanting to read this for a while and a hospital stay seemed like the perfect time to catch up on one of the most popular books of 2018.
I was not disappointed. The subject matter is undeniably tough to read about, as expected due to the setting. The amazing story of survival and the strength of Lale and Gita, as well as the friends around them, is just inspiring. How they managed to keep going in the face of all the horror surrounding them on a daily basis is humbling.
I am so glad Heather Morris uncovered this story, and Lale decided to share it after all these years. Horrors like this need to never be forgotten and the first person account is truly the most horrifying and breathtaking you can read.
Any history fan like me will enjoy this but I would recommend to all. Looking forward to Heather Morris's next book which follows another one of the people in Lale's story.

I got a copy of this in exchange for an honest review and having had it a while I still haven't made it very far in. I am findig each time I go to pick it up again I have to go back to remind myself what has happened so it isn't leaving an impression. It might be better further along (if I get there) but I am currently not getting the hype around this book.

This. Book. Wow. I really loved this from start to finish. I fell in love with Lale and Gita and as harrowing as it is, their story. What awful and disgusting things they had to endure, all the while falling in love and being frightened for their future. I cried, laughed, kept telling my boyfriend about it (he didn't care 🤣) and will at some point sit and re-read it. A real love story with some horror thrown in....an absolute must read book for everyone 💜

An extremely powerful and thought provoking book. This book follows the story of Lale, the Tattooist of Auschwitz throughout his time in Auschwitz/Birkenau. It tells of the amazing strength of spirit to overcome some the most awful things anyone could ever dream of being subjected to. We all know of the atrocities that were inflicted upon the many millions of unfortunates that passed through those gates. However this is not a depressing and hopeless story, it tells of the undying love between Lale and Gita as well as the day to day grind of the camp and all it's inhabitants.

I was given a copy of the tatooist of Auschwitz by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. The book tells the story of Lale who is sent to Auschwitz and how he survives. Lale becomes the tattooist, numbering all the prisoners coming into camp. As the tatooist he is able to help other prisoners by getting Keller and using these too get supplies for his fellow prisoners helping them to survive.

Although this is a delicate subject it was handled in a empathetic way by Heather Morris. She tells his story well it gives you an understanding of what life was like for all the prisoners and how the had to survive everyday.

I was really interested in seeing what the hype around this book was about. Unfortunately, although the story itself is beautiful, I really disliked the writing style. It felt very amateur and I could not get into the story because of it. If it had been written by a different author, or in a different style, I would definitely have enjoyed it. Sadly this book wasn't for me but I appreciate being given a copy to experience it for myself.

You can only begin to imagine the horrors that happened at Auschwitz and then reliving it for others to read is so very brave. This story drew me in from the very beginning and I knw I will read this again. It is a story that needs to be told and so very sad but a must read.

As expected from the title, this was not a pleasant read because of the subject matter, but it was cleverly handled to retain a positive, life-affirming slant no matter how dire the situation or conditions. Knowing that the main character was based on a real protagonist in the Holocaust, who actually survived (from the foreword of the book) did help to keep reading, although this also worked against the denouement of the book for me too, as the events towards the end sound so fortuitous and contrived as to be fictitious. They are also not told in such painstaking detail and honest introspection as the rest of the book, and by contrast seem a little trite and dismissive. However, a gripping and absorbing read, which will stay with me for some time.

Thank you netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinions and review.

I don't want to say I was excited to read this book, because of the subject matter, however I had heard good things and I was intrigued by the premise.

I found this book really easy and quick to read which usually means that it is quite dialogue heavy rather than descriptive. Now I can understand this as it was originally intended as a screenplay and then converted to a book. Because of this and the fact it was based on a true story I feel that there was a bit more on the romance side of the story than what was happening in the camp.

Having said this I did enjoy finding out more about them and how they survived but I think because of the subject matter it was hard for the author to go into the nitty gritty because she did not live it and he probably did not want to relive it.

The last few pages did change in tone however and read more like a wiki page than the narrative tone of the rest of the book.

But this did something no book has ever done which is made me cry, it was near the end and was to do with Lale's family is all I will say.

I'm a historical fiction fan. Love it! I also tend to lean towards reading a lot of books around the holocaust. So when I saw this one long ago on NG, I requested it immediately. I got it, downloaded it, and it sat there, until recently. I can't plan on reading a book around this subject, I just tend to pick them up on a whim. The time finally came for this one and I was immediately hooked.

This one tells the story of Lale Sokolov, a Slovakian Jew, who was placed in concentration camps at Auschwitz-Birkenau. He remained there for over 2 years. During his time, he was the tattooist of Aushwitz, where he tattooed the numbers of the people for identification as they entered the camps. Due to job, he seemed to be able to move around the camp more freely. He convinced a few girls who were working in area where they went through the belongings of those entering the camps. They grabbed jewels and money, giving it to Lale, who used an outside connection to get food and money for the people in the camps. But ultimately, the heart of this story, is a love story. The love that Lale has for Gita, a woman who he has tattooed, and what he does to keep them both alive. I don't want to say more and ruin anything for others, plus, so many wonderful reviews out there on this one.

Overall, I'm glad I read this one. Actually, I grabbed the audio and the narration was awesome. I also had the print that I got from NG. The author had planned to make this story of Lale's into a script, but ultimately turned it into her first book. The story is incredible and heartbreaking. But I wanted more depth, I wanted to understand why things happened they way they did. To me, the ending also seemed a bit rushed. Hence only 4 stars. Now, don't get me wrong, this is a very good story but I can't help but wonder if I compare this to my ultimate favorite book on this subject (City of Thieves.) The end of the book has some author information and another account from someone else (I don't want to say anything as to ruin anything in the book). These parts were very interesting and would have been great it this information was weaved into the story. I also see this is now to be made into a movie. I only hope they do it justice.

Anyway, I guess I should say thanks to NG for my copy. Sorry it took me a year to read. Getting a copy of this one in no way influenced my review.

This is one of those books that stay with you for a long time and one which I will keep and read again. Absorbing and so sad I was truly gripped throughout. Highly recommended.

Lake Sokolov was the 'tetoverier'' or tattooist of Auschwitz, and his experiences of surviving the horrors and humiliations inflicted upon him and so many other Jewish people in the Polish concentration camp is by turns utterly compelling, inspiring and heartbreaking. As I read his truly incredible story, such were the limits to which his spirit (and those of millions of other Jewish prisoners) was tested that I frequently had to remind myself that everything I was reading was true. Lale's fortitude is testament to his indomitable spirit and strength and boundless capacity for love and humanity even when his captors sought to dehumanise him to depths which are difficult for most people to imagine. This should be required reading such is the potency of its message about humanity and hope. I found this novel/memoir to be a profoundly moving and thought-provoking testament to the determination to survive the egregious horrors of the Nazi regime and it has left an indelible impression on me.

It's very rare to read a book that touches your heart a book that gets to you and your emotions, one that is so unforgettable that it will never leave you a book that breaks your heart in thousands of pieces a book as your reading it can't believe or imagen it could ever happen but it did the survival of these people the strength the courage to fight on... the shocking things they they have seen and done in order to survive things that never should of happened. These brave people was taken from there home and families and put in a place you can only describe as Hell horror and death and touture is seen, but they refuse to be beaten friendships are made and sealed...

But it's also about love a love that is unbreakable in the hardest of circumstances a love that is put to the test a love that is so strong it gives them both Hope,Strength,Courage and most of all Bravery! I feel Honoured to have read the story of Lale Sokolov and his wife Gita Sokolov you both was so Brave your both Hero's and forever in our hearts thank you... River Scott-Tyler

I can't imagine going through hat book without massive waterfall of tears, The book tells a beautiful but extremely sad story. Makes you reflect on life and the injustice of the world.

This book is beautifully and sensitively written. The way the author has chosen to write about Lale’s history has been thoughtfully, and respectfully done. I have no doubt that the instances Lale experienced are far more severe than the author has written about but rather than include these points for shock value, the author has instead, concentrated on the good that came from Lale’s experiences, whilst at the same time, walking us through what life was like for Lale.

It feels wrong almost to write about how much I enjoyed this book when the subject of the book is anything but joyous, so rather I will say that I was incredibly moved and humbled by this book. Reading about Lale’s strong personality and how even in the depths of despair he managed to keep a flame of hope alive and constantly strived to help those around him was astonishing.

I understand from the authors note that this story was originally intended as a screenplay. I’m so pleased that this was adapted and made into a novel instead as I feel I got so much more from this story by reading it rather than watching it.

This is honestly one of those books that will stay with me for a long long time and in my opinion this is a book that everyone should read and could learn from. Highly recommend.

This review comes a little after I have put down this book. I needed some time to process it. Some books have this effect on me, that I feel a little empty when I finish them. Sometimes I cannot start a new book right after I finish one, because the one I finish need to process. This book stuck with me.

If it is a real story or not I am unsure of, but I would not have the ability to make up the events described in this book. I do not know how to even start to make up stories about Auschwitz, as everything I might imagine will be less horrible than what happened there. This book describes the hope, the loss of hope, and some more hope again in a way that takes the reader with it. I was in tears throughout most of the book, and I read it faster than any book I have read lately.

This book makes me look forward to the disappointment of the movie version, if it ever comes.

The indomitable human spirit is the centre of this humbling story. How anyone can fall in love in such horrific conditions is incredible and surviving Auschwitz through sheer courage and quick wits makes an amazing story. Told without self pity this is a tale of wickedness but also of the triumph of hope over despair.