A tragic but uplifting true story of surviving the horrors of Auschwitz and Birkenau concentration camps. A book that should be read by everyone if only to prevent anything like this ever happening again.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I found this book fascinating while very disturbing at the same time. I have read a lot of historical fiction books set during the Holocaust and this one had a different bent than ones I had read before. I always have to prepare myself for the horrors depicted in Holocaust stories but do enjoy reading about the resilience and bravery of the people affected by the unimaginable horrors. Lale's story of how he survived was disturbing yet life-affirming at the same time. I found it very interesting that he was so conflicted as he felt that he had sacrificed his moral self to the Nazis, but I see him as a hero who not only survived but risked himself for others - his humanity and braveness shone through. Very much recommend this book!

Absolutely heartbreaking but so well written. These stories deserve to be told and never forgotten.

An extraordinary story and one that needed to be told. Not always an easy read - but an important one. Moving and emotional

I have always been enthralled with stories of concentration camps- the very idea that this was allowed by so many to happen - horrifies me. This is no different. This is a story of a survivor- Lale- who makes his way through Birkenau, never stopping helping others and working for the others imprisoned with him.
The storytelling is not only based from a true story but very well written and engaging. I felt myself dreaming about the characters and hoping for a fairytale ending. I would definitely recommend this feel-good tale to someone hoping to learn about this era in history.

I would like to thank Net Galley for the advanced copy of "The Tattooist of Auschwitz".
It's a book about the Holocaust with a little different twist telling the story of how a man survives Auschwitz and how he helps other prisoners as well. The book was very good and kept my interest till the end . It gives a good account of the horror of the prison camps. I look forward to another book by this author.

One of the iconic symbols of the Holocaust is the numbers tattooed onto the forearms of those chosen to survive the selection process that sent most of those arriving at death camps to the gas chambers. Lale Lokolov was the person who applied many of those tattoos.

I've read that those who survived the concentration camps were generally young adults who were in good physical shape when they arrived, were able to make friends who helped them survive and who were either there for a relatively short time, or who managed in one way or another to get extra food. Lale was an early arrival at Auschwitz but other than that, he fit the profile of the survivor. For whatever reason, those running the camp deemed him worthy of extra rations and private sleeping quarters. Further, he was able to befriend a local villager who worked in the camp and women who sorted the luggage of new arrivals, and to broker trades of valuables found in the luggage for food for himself and others.

One day while on duty as a tattooist, Lale had to apply a tattoo to Gita, to whom he was immediately attracted. He managed to meet her, carry on a romance with her, and after they were free, re-connect with her and marry her.

Lale was the quintessential "people person" who knew how to read people, how to get along with them, and yes, how (within the confines of the situation) to get them to do what he wanted. A particular guard was assigned to be his "keeper" and while he and Lale were by no means friends, a part of me thinks that had they met in a different time at a different place, they might have been.

The story follows Lale from his arrival at Auschwitz through his escape from the Nazis near the end of the war, through working for the Russians (and escaping from them) to finally reuniting with Gita and marrying her. The book ends with a list of the fates of some of the major characters, which I found interesting.

The book is classified as historical fiction and I suppose this is one of those times that having the liberty to make up conversations, characters or even events can help tell more truth than sticking strictly to that which could be remembered by an old man or verified through documentary evidence. Still, I'd be curious to know what in the book actually happened, and what was a figment of the author's imagination.

While I enjoyed the book, the writing style struck me as less than professional--the book rambled at times and the sentence structure was very simplistic in parts of the book. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the book (as much as you can use the word "enjoy" to describe visiting a place designed to torture and kill people) and give it a B. I'd like to thank the publisher for making a review copy available via NetGalley.

To be published 1/2/18

Right after I started reading this book there was a story on the local news about a new exhibit at the Jewish Community Center in our area. The exhibit highlights the Holocaust survivors from this area. At kiosks you can click on a name, read a bio but what struck me the most was that you can also see a video of the survivor telling their story. The utmost importance of these stories is reflected at the beginning of this book by author Graeme Simsion: "It reminds us that every one of the unimaginably large number of Holocaust victims was an individual with a unique story...." . It's really not possible to know what it was like in Auschwitz or the other camps no matter how much we read about the Holocaust, but it is through the stories of the survivors that we can try to understand, even if only a little . Heather Morris has retold the story of Lale Sokolov, a Jewish prisoner at Auschwitz who becomes the camp tattooist and while there finds the love of his life, Gita. This stared out as a screenplay she wrote as Lale told her his story and has been developed into this "novel".

Lale from the first day he arrives in Auschwitz by cattle car, makes a vow to himself that he would survive this and after falling in love with Gita, he makes a promise to her that they will have a life together when they are out . That he can speak multiple languages saves Lale multiple times as well as connections made with other people imprisoned, with workers from the outside and even a German guard. With jewelry and cash gotten from the women who work in the building where belongings are sorted, Lale with his savvy, his courage and with some luck barters for time with Gita for the price of chocolate, a piece of sausage , a hunk of bread, a diamond or ruby. But he also provides as much food as he can to others. He helps many people along the way putting himself in danger each day as each day he tattoos numbers onto the arms of the new inhabitants. He does seem to have an existence in some ways better than most in the camp and better than when he first arrived until he is caught with the jewels. It is obvious that he survives, so there's no spoiler here that Lale continues to have the capacity for hope and love that seems impossible as he endures.

This is a story told with love about courage in the face of the horrors of the camps and loss of family, courage sustained by the strength of the human spirit and it's a love story that I'll never forget. There is not much more I can say other than what Lale himself tells Morris - that he wanted his story recorded so "It would never happen again."

I received an advanced copy of this book from Bonnie Zaffre through NetGalley.

As soon as I read the write up for this work I felt I had to read it and how glad I am that I did. This is a fantastic read and probably the best book I have read for a while and what makes it even more compelling is that it is a true story.
This is the story of Lale Sokolov, a Slovakian Jew who was held during World War 2 in the infamous Auschwitz prison camp and worked as the tattooist forced to mark each prisoner with an identification number. He himself was prisoner 34902 and against all odds falls in love with fellow prisoner Gita while tattooing her. This is a love story like no other and so much more as well.
This is a book that took Heather Morris over 3 years to complete and was written from interviews with Lale. This is a book that covers all emotions and will stay in your thoughts long after. Once I started reading this book I wanted to carry on reading and finished it in two sittings. On completion I have started searching for more information about this amazing man Lale Sokolov and I look forward to the film that must surely follow the future success of this book.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Bonnier Zaffre for supplying a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In late 1942, when Ludwig (Lale) Sokolov passed through the most notorious gates in modern history, he was a healthy, bright, outgoing young man with a penchant for the company of women. To reach his destination he had travelled for two days on an overcrowded cattle train from Prague, without access to food, water or toilets. From this point on he became Prisoner Number 32407 at Auschwitz II–Birkenau, and after surviving the initial selection and a serious bout of typhus, he was put to work as camp tattooist.

He had been manager of a fashionable department store in Bratislava when the Slovak Government decreed that every Jewish family living in his home town of Krompachy should send one child over the age of eighteen to work for the Germans. He was multilingual, quick to learn and adored his mother, so offered himself up for transportation in the hope of protecting his family.

Lale did what had to be done to survive, but he also boosted morale and saved inestimable lives by appropriating food and medical supplies from right under the noses of the SS Death's Head Units. He was naturally empathetic, well liked by his fellow prisoners and held out to the end with his dignity and integrity unblemished. More amazingly, perhaps, is that he developed a deep and enduring love for a women he had branded upon entering the camp.

When the writer Heather Morris met him in 2003 he was an elderly businessman living in Australia. They became unlikely friends and she saw that he “might just have a story worth telling”. The Tattooist of Auschwitz is the remarkable, percipient, utterly unforgettable novel based on Lale's experiences as camp tätowierer.

Although a natural optimist with a tremendous zest for life, Lale feared history might remember him as a Nazi collaborator, which is why he agreed to tell his story. He died on 31st October 2006, aged 90, believing to the end that, “If you wake up in the morning, it is a good day.”

Big thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I love World War 2 stories, and when they involve a true story, I love them even more. The Tattooist of Auschwitz is the story of the survival of a man, Lale, who became the person charged with tattooing numbers on the arms of the thousands of people that ended up this horrendous concentration camp. This story will take you through so many different emotions; sadness, rage, hope, love, the list goes on and on.

It is always amazing to me to read about the small kindnesses and hope that people risked their lives to bring to people in their darkest hour.

The author did a wonderful job of retelling Lale and his wife's story. I understood his background, his beliefs, his emotions; felt his dispair and pain and hope. I would encourage everyone to add this to their list of books to read. I hope this becomes a movie that does the book justice.

“If you wake up in the morning, it is a good day.”

How can I possibly review & rate the real-life account of a person who has stared death in the eye many times and managed to survive one of the darkest, most horrific chapters in human history? And not only survive, but find love, hope, purpose amidst the horror and come out of it a humble man, able to move on with his life and find happiness? Which makes Lale Sokolov’s story not only moving and heart-breaking, but also humbling and inspiring hope. I was so totally blown away by this book that I am really struggling to find words for the emotions it evoked in me.

I am no stranger to WWII stories, having worked with a lot of clients who had survived the holocaust and had their own tales of survival, heart-break and horror to tell – I shed many tears just listening to some of them. But the ever prevailing notion I so admired was that these people managed to forgive, find love, find happiness and live a full, rich life afterwards. Lale took it that one step further, finding his one true love at Auschwitz, this bleakest of places, and then managing to survive the horror AND be reunited with Gita. There is as much beauty in his story as there is horror.

I think what makes this story stand out from others is the simple but powerful account of everyday life in the concentration camp – without the overly graphic details aimed to shock and confront, which often only serve to turn some people away. Lale’s story tells of his daily reality, the horror that has become a routine, his meetings with terrifying historical figures that have made it into the history books as examples of the worst humankind has to offer, such as the sadistic “doctor” Josef Mengele. But as much as there was darkness, there was always a beacon of light in the small pleasures he found in this bleakest of environments, highlighting the strength of the human spirit. I remember vividly one simple statement one of my clients once said to me about her horrific wartime experience: “Yes, it was horrible. But we were young, and we were in love, and I remember that most of all.” That, too, was the spirit of Lale’s story – the triumph of love over depravity, of being able to survive when so many wished him dead.

Heather Morris, who spent years with Lale as he shared memories of his time in Auschwitz-Birkenau with her, does an excellent job in bringing this story to the reader, capturing the essence of a young man whose life was turned upside down by one of the worst chapters in human history. One day Lale was a young man enjoying the finer things in life – good food, beautiful young women, the comfort of a nice home and the love of his family – the next day he was on a cattle train bound for Auschwitz-Birkenau. Life can turn on a dime. This could be me, or you. In her writing, Morris manages to convey the spirit of a young man trying to survive, but also hold on to his humanity the best he can. It was heart-breaking and humbling to see the strength of the human spirit in the face of death.

What an amazing man. What an amazing story. Everyone should read this unforgettable book. Thank you, Heather Morris, for bringing Lale’s story to life for everyone to read and making sure we will not forget.

A beautifully written story about finding love in the worst of times, in the worst possible place: Auschwitz. Lale, the Tattooist, or Tetovierer, inks the arm of a woman in the camp and instantly falls in love with her. She, however is much more realistic. How can anything good come from a place of such evil? And so throughout his time at the camp, Lale does everything he can to find and then court Gita, the female prisoner who stole his heart.

Poignant and hopeful, this is truly an unbelievable love story. Told through interviews between the author and Lale, we learn that love rises above all else and brings hope to those who read this book..

The German government needed workers for their labor camps. In 1942, all families in Slovakia were ordered to provide a child eighteen or older for work detail or risk having the entire family sent to concentration camp. Lale Sokolov hoped that by going to Prague to await these instructions his family would be safe. He did not expect to be forced into a cattle wagon and be transported to Auschwitz. He was determined to do as he was told, reveal little about himself and always be observant.

Lale's upbeat manner as well as deference to his capo helped him secure the job of "Tetovierer", the tattooist. Rules: Look down. Be quick and efficiently tattoo the five numbers written on each person's piece of paper. In order to survive, he had to defile innocent people. The job of "Tetovierer" did have some perks. Lale was given his own room and increased food rations which he hid under his sleeve to distribute to others when possible. One day, Lale saw a girl with the darkest brown eyes. Gita. He made a vow to himself. He will leave Auschwitz a free man. He has just met the love of his life!

Through cunning, luck and love, Lale is instrumental in setting up a barter system with paid bricklayers, Victor and Yuri. Food and medicine are exchanged for gems and currency smuggled out of the "Canada" building where some of Gita's friends work to empty the pockets of clothing from
new arrivals at Auschwitz. Diamonds and chocolate entice an occasional guard or capo as well.

"The Tattooist of Auschwitz" by Heather Morris is based upon the harrowing experiences of Lale Sokolov in Auschwitz and Birkenau. The chilling accounts of total disregard for life are occasionally tempered by selfless goodness and sacrifice without which Lale and Gita's love story could not have been told. This slim tome documents less familiar aspects of Holocaust literature. A must read.

Thank you Bonnier Zaffre and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review "The Tattooist of Auschwitz".

Beautifully written, incredible read this book made my heart hurt for what he and his fellow comrades had to endure just to survive. I was left speechless really its just that powerful! this is one of those books that you cant really say or explain it in words you can only say READ THIS BOOK I HIGHLY RECOMMED IT YOU WONT REGRET IT! bravo to the author!

If I could give this book more than 5 stars, I would. This story is so beautifully written and is about hope, love and survival in the most horrific of surroundings. Whenever I read about Auschwitz, I cannot believe that something so awful actually took place - it makes me so sad. Lale and Gita's journey is a shining light and I loved going on the journey with them.

The story of two people living during a sad and horrible time in history. It's very important to recount the holocaust. It´s also very important to keep the memory of the survivors alive. Through this barbaric time there was still love, humanity and hope. Great storytelling

I have read many books, non-fiction and fiction about the Holocaust and concentration camps. This novel however, left an impression and I truly enjoyed reading it. It was an intense read, however I could not put it down. The novel is well written and fascinating and I think Ms Morris did a spectacular job of describing the experiences of Lale Sokolov.

What a beautiful story about the very best of humanity in the very worst of circumstances. Heather Morris took four years of notes about the life of Lale Sokolov and turned it into a story about love, friendship and struggle amidst the horrors of Auschwitz concentration camp. There are many survivors of the Holocaust that are getting to the age where their story will become lost due to time and age…. so tthis was a powerful story worth telling. I love the story about Lale's mother teaching him how to to be a man and how to treat a woman to the verry chilling story about Dr. Joseph Mengele and his encounter with Lale. One thing that did sadden me was the tale of Ms. Morris saying that Lale held his story back for over 50 years because of the fear that he and Gita might be seen as collaborators of the Nazis and how fast he wanted to be back with his beloved Gita. I have to commend Miss Morris for a wonderful telling of the story…. she did a beautiful job. I would like to thank the author, the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy in return for an honest review

Whatever review I write here will never be able to do this book justice. I genuinely think this is one of the most important books to have been written, and the true events held within it are so powerful, utterly heartbreaking and devastating are something that everyone should read.

Lale Sokolov was one of the early volunteers to give himself up as a member of his family to go to Auschwitz, in the hope that he would save the rest of his family. He is transported to Auschwitz and is soon selected by chance (and by his saviour) to become the tattooist of both Auschwitz and Birkenau camps. A gentle kind man, he deeply feels the hurt and condemnation of every inked number he marks upon the new intakes in the concentration camp.

It is in such a desolate environment that Lale meets the love of his life: Gita. He was taken by her immediately upon branding her skin. It is this love story that is the real heart of the book. And one that stays with you long after reading.

I have to be completely honest, although the tattoos of Auschwitz are infamous, I have paid little thought to the person that had done so many of them. I didn’t even realise that it was a fellow prisoner who was forced to brand so many other victims (much to my shame).

This book makes you really think about the individuals that endured such torture, and not to look at it just a whole. Lale was given ‘special’ treatment as the tattooist in the form of separate living quarters and extra food rations. As such he was treated as an outsider by his fellow men and seen by some as a collaborator. What they didn’t realise is that he stole this extra food to give to others more needy and exchanged stolen goods for medicine and bribes to the guards to help others and spend time with his beloved.

He meets some of the most horrifying people that we have heard of from this era– Mengele being one of them. We get to hear about this abhorrent man and how his disregard for human life affected some of the people Lale knew personally.

We also learn of people who were punished following their imprisonment. Again this wasn’t something I had even thought much about, but broke my heart to learn. For example, Cilka: who was sentenced to 15 years after the war for being seen as a collaborator when in fact she was a plaything for a Nazi guard and broken to her core. Doing anything she can to survive and she was punished and judged for it.

I could go on and on about this book. A story of one incredible man whose love and faith in Gita does not diminish no matter what hardship, cruelty & barbarism it endures.

This is one book that shows the real juxtapositions of war; in amongst the brutality and devastation there still lies real love, humanity and kindness. It is not an easy read, I cried several times. Yet this is such an important part of history that should never be forgotten. We need to honour the millions that suffered by educating ourselves with books like this and keeping this period of time in our memories.

I would like to thank Netgalley & Bonnier Zaffre for an ARC of this book in exchange for a review.