Wow. Based on a true story, this is a story of survival, love, hope and strength. Lale was one of the early prisoners in Auschwitz and as the tattooist, he managed to survive and to help Gita, who later became his wife, to survive as well. His story is touching and horrible and shows yet another aspect of the horrors of the holocaust. I highly recommend this book.

received an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher.

A heartbreaking and harrowing true story covering one of the darkest periods in our history. I was completely and utterly gripped by Lale and Gita’s story, which stayed with me long after I put the book down. I have read many WW2 and Holocaust accounts, both fictional and true, and having finished this one I am reminded once again of the importance of these stories, and the importance of continuing to read and share them to ensure something like this can never happen again.
Lale and Gita’s story is fascinating, and their strength in the face of utter despair and their unshakeable belief in the inherent good in humanity and that things will work out is incredibly inspirational and uplifting. 4.5 stars.

I worried that this book would be very hard to read as it deals with the atrocities human beings had to in the camp's. I was wrong! I could not put this book down.
Lale was immediately a man who was not going to give up easily. He would not give up on life. To think that you could fall in love with the horrors that surrounded them every day is just amazing and a sign of their strength of character.
Lale was an obvious gentleman with a very good heart who helped as many as he could. Even when reading this i felt that I was being protected from the horrors they endured in the camp's.
A must read!

I just couldn't stop reading this book. I've read articles about the holocaust, but never a whole story before, and this helped me understand so much more about the horrors of what happened. How people survived, and what they did to survive such cruelty, beyond belief. Its a hard book to read, but threaded through it is a love story that endures all the horrors. I didn't realise, till the end, that it was a true story and to then see a photo of the Gita and Lale was a lovely surprise. Really recommend this book. Its a 5 star recommendation from me.

A book about time spent in Auschwitz automatically comes with horror and darkness and the worst of humanity. So finding one that is also full of love, hope and sparks of humour within all of that is both wonderful and masterful. The fact that this is an account of a survivor and his time there makes it even more poignant and uplifting. By the time I got to the end, I was in tears for the strength of spirit and sheer determination shown by these people. Thought provoking and beautiful. I cannot recommend this enough.

A beautifully written true story. The detail is amazing and harrowing. To hear this Lales story is so important, the suffering and ability to find optimism and love in amongst the worst depths of hell.

This is a harrowing, yet ultimately hopeful story. I was drawn in by the determination and love Lale and Gita show in the face of unimaginable brutality and death. But, and sadly this is a big but, I found the style of the writing really distracting and annoying. It felt like the author couldn't choose between writing in the form of a novel or biographical non-fiction which kept pulling me out of the events she described.

What an amazing book ... what an amazing story .... I don’t recall the last time I cried so much reading a novel ... it is a book that should be mandatory reading in schools... that man can be so cruel to each other .is not something I can comprehend .... but this novel based on a real story provides some hope for the human race ....

Have you ever wondered what you would do, if you were put in an extremely difficult situation? How would you survive? What sort of compromises would you be willing to make in order to pull through? Lale finds himself interned in a German work camp during the war, and quickly learns what it will take to survive. Lale will do anything to survive, even if it means making nice with German commanders in order to work the system that is breaking his people. This is the story of strength under persecution, and how one must sometimes twist their ethics in order to help themselves and the people around them. In doing so, Lale finds the love of his life, Gita, who is also a survivor above all else. This is a true tale of love and life, lived out under the direst circumstances. Sometimes the world is not as clear cut as it seems, and living in the gray area is the only way to make it through. A must read.

The true story of Lale - transported to Auschwitz in 1942. He became the person that tattooed the others who arrived there. This was how he met Gita - when he had re-tattoo her number. A story of horrible atrocities but above all love and survival.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

4.5 stars! My heart opened up and welcomed Lale in from the first page of this powerful story.

This is a truly unforgettable story of one man’s journey of survival through one of the most horrendous and appalling times in our history – Nazi concentration camp, Auschwitz. Lale Sokolov survived the brutal hell known as Auschwitz for over two years where his “job” was to tattoo prisoners with their identifying number. What he endured and witnessed is nothing short of horrific and devastating.

The author, Heather Morris, did an outstanding job giving Lale a voice. I will not ever forget reading this life changing and emotional story. How wonderful that Lale’s legacy will live on through the wonderful work of Heather Morris. It is so important that stories like this are not forgotten.

A big thank you to NetGalley, Bonnier Zaffre and Heather Morris for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I was sent a copy of The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris to read and review by NetGalley
The Tattooist of Auschwitz is a heart breaking but hope filled true story. It is written in an accessible and quite matter of fact way, somehow without sensationalizing the horrors of the concentration camps Auschwitz and Birkenau, but quietly telling the tale of the survival of two people who met and fell in love in the most unlikely of places.
It is almost more horrifying to read Lale’s story within the context of his day to day life knowing that for everyone in those camps the despicable horrors that occurred had to become the norm of existence. This true account of the Holocaust is a very humbling read and needs to be read and remembered for all time.

Lale Sokolov was the tattooist of Auschwitz, a Slovak Jew he was taken there and given the job of tattooing the new arrivals and it was here that he fell instantly in love with Gita his wife to be. He was an incredible man who used his unique position to try and help his fellow inmates in any small way that he could, no doubt saving many lives in the process and then surviving , marrying Gita and making a life for himself in Australia

This is such an amazing true story, I could not put it down until I had finished it, the subject matter is obviously harrowing but so interesting I am visiting Auschwitz later this year and I am so glad that I have read this book beforeI go.

The Tattooist Of Auschwitz by Heather Morris is a true story. It is a powerful story. It is a harrowing story. And it is a story that needs to be told in memory of the six million innocent men, women and children who perished in the holocaust.
Auschwitz was hell on earth. It was physical torture. It was mental torture. A place of unspeakable horrors. It was a place where people did what they had to in order to survive. "Choosing to live is an act of defiance, a form of heroism." Every man, woman and child in there was a hero. They must not be forgotten.
There were individual acts of bravery. People who did try to ease suffering. And people who would give their lives for the sake of another. "To save one is to save the world."
Auschwitz was the place where Dr Mengele was. His inhumanity to man knew no bounds. "Mengele, a doctor... who will cause more pain than he eases."
The Tattooist Of Auschwitz is a difficult read. It is not pleasant but we need to read it in memory of the six million. May we never forget them.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

This book was so raw, emotional and powerful. It was a struggle at times to continue reading, and I had to put it down and have breaks from it sometimes because it just made me feel so much. It really is amazing, but be prepared when you read it.

This was such a great book for me. I loved the characters especially and sped right through it.

I loved that, for the most part, the gas chambers, crematoriums and the other human atrocities were scenery. Not to say that it wasn't prevalent, but it wasn't the gist of the story.

The story was about a man who did everything he could to save himself and still be able to live with himself. And, also what he could do for the people around him. He was responsible for saving many lives by sneaking in food, hiding people, etc., whatever it took.

Such a great, great book! I loved it!!! A really strong feel good read, despite the atrocities, that had me speeding right through this one.

Thanks to Bonnier Zaffre and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

The Tattooist of Auschwitz is a book that I will always remember, sweet, emotional, heart wrenching and very powerful.

A book about the holocaust like no other I have ever read.

Lale Sokolov, a Slovakian Jew, is held prisoner at Auschwitz and falls in love with a fellow prisoner, Gita, this is a story about how love conquers all.

A stunning true story and an absolute must read.

I finished this book in 1 sitting, an utterly heart breaking account of one of the worst atrocities committed by human kind on each other. Compelling and brilliant.

This novel tells the true story of Lale and Gita Sokolov, 2 Slovakian Jews who survived Auschwitz.
This is an incredible novel which tells a beautiful story of the strength of love to survive against all odds, and the lengths that people will go to survive against the horrors of the Holocaust.
The courage that both Lale and Gita show during this novel is astounding, and the courage and strength that Lale showed in retelling and thus reliving this story after Gita's death in order that this novel could be written is so inspiring to read about.
This is an extremely harrowing topic for a novel, but the novel has moments of such light and beauty that it never becomes overwhelming, and the underlying current of the love between Lale and Gita is something beautiful to be privy to.
I actually learnt quite a lot about the Holocaust from this novel. It covers a lot of aspects of the concentration camps that I don't think are really covered in general discussions about it, and it definitely gave me a greater insight.
I would definitely recommend this novel to everyone, I would confidently label it a "must read". It is compelling and unputdownable, and so engaging. A special shout-out must be given to the author who has done a brilliant job of writing/telling Lale's story. Her compassionate and sensitive writing makes this narrative emotive and thought provoking, and ultimately adds to the overall power of the novel.
I enjoyed the way this novel made me think. It questions exactly what a human will do to survive a place like Auschwitz? And how does one deal with the guilt of being a survivor?

Wow what a brilliant book...enjoyed it from the first word to the last. Such a great insite as to what went on in the concentration camps.....A love story, a story of heartache, death, and every emotion you can think of.....Loved it couldn't put it down.