I have to admit this book is one of those which is difficult to review because the author has written it so beautifully I don't want to take anything away from that achievement. Many books have been written about Auschwitz and the atrocities which happened there, yet this is a book which understands that enough has been said on the awful events and speaks predominantly of the acts of human kindness which happened there instead. The author has captured Lale's personality and his voice in the telling of his story of how he met and fell in love with Gita. It is the ultimate tale of love conquering all - and there were so many times during Lale and Gita's imprisonment when either one of them could easily have given in to the hardships they encountered. The risks that the prisoners took in order to help one another make for scary reading, and on more than one occasion I was worried that they would be discovered and become yet another statistic of the war machine.
The respectful relationship which the author and Lale clearly built up during the writing of this book shines through on every page. To say I enjoyed this book seems so wrong considering its content yet I am so glad Lale felt able to share his experiences with the world. As Lale himself stressed the world cannot allow such horrifying events to ever happen again.
Thank you so much for approving my request to read this book, the author really has done a fantastic job with such sensitive subject matter.

I had heard so many things about The Tattooist of Auschwitz and knew I wanted to read this book so was thrilled when it became available on NetGalley.

The Second World War was horrific and although I have some knowledge it is books like this that not only put what happened into perspective, but also tell the tale with sympathy and reverence.

This book is based on the true story of Lale and Gita Sokolov, two Slovakian Jews. They meet at Auschwitz where Lale has been employed as the tattooist and must tattoo a five digit number on the arm of everyone who comes through the camp entrance. These numbers were one of the most potent symbols of the Holocaust.

Lale had a skill for languages and a zest for life. He also became an expert at trading contraband to help his fellow prisoners.

This is a harrowing story describing in great detail the horrors and brutality faced on a daily basis. But, there is also hope and love and you find yourself willing Lale and Gita to survive.

This book is by far one of the best books I’ve read this year. I started it late Sunday evening and finished it by Monday afternoon. From the first page I was drawn in and eager to follow Lale and Gita on their journey. A very worthy 5 star read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bonnier Zafre and the author for the chance to review.

The Tattooist of Auschwitz is based on the true story of Lale and Gita Sokolov. In April 1942, Lale finds himself on a train being transported from his hometown in Slovakia because the Germans needed men to work for him. Lale wasn't supposed to be on this train. His older brother should have been. But Lale sacrificed himself as his brother was married and had children.

What Lale doesn't know, is that his final destination will be the concentration camp of Auschwitz. It's incredibly confronting to think of Lale in his suit and tie, completely oblivious, while the reader knows perfectly well where he's heading. But even when Lale arrives at his destination, he holds his head up high, is kind, positive and determined to survive. Especially when he meets Gita, the love of his life. Lale meets Gita in his job as the tattooist of Auschwitz. He's the person who inks his fellow Jews with the number on their arm by which they will be known from then on. 

There are many stories out there about life in the concentration camps, some of which will never be told. Lale deserves the utmost admiration for telling his story, a harrowing and haunting tale of cruelty and inhumanity, a part of history that should never be forgotten. Lale sees opportunities everywhere and does what is necessary to survive. As the tattooist, Lale "enjoyed" a privileged position, able to get away with a bit more than his fellow prisoners did. But it's also here where I had some issues with the novel as some events seemed a tad too far-fetched, or even impossible, for me. 

It's really rather incredible to think that amidst all this horror, a beautiful love story blossoms. A love that will endure all the vile things that's thrown at it. Despite everything, Lale continues to give Gita hope, determined that they will both survive and live a long and happy life together. It's moving and at times quite emotional but also full of hope, uplifting and inspirational. 

But for me, the writing lets this book down. It all felt rather matter-of-fact to me, lacking sympathy and Lale and Gita's story deserved so much more.

Of all the Holocaust books I have read this book was probably the best. The descriptions of every detail were incredible.
Lale was so inspiring and his story is just so distressing but heart warming at the same time if that is possible.
The book is written beautifully. The topic is never easy but Heather managed to tell us Lales story amazingly.

In 1942, Lale Sokolov arrived in Auschwitz-Birkenau. He was given the job of tattooing the prisoners marked for survival - scratching numbers into his fellow victims' arms in indelible ink to create what would become one of the most potent symbols of the Holocaust.

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 was determined not only to survive himself, but to ensure this woman, Gita, did, too.

So begins one of the most life-affirming, courageous, unforgettable and human stories of the Holocaust: the love story of the tattooist of Auschwitz.

This book is by far the best book I have read this year and in my top 10 for all time!!!!!
A very sad, heart warming book about love and the thirst for staying alive. I didn't want the book to finish.
It tell a story of the journey of one man and how he survived the terrors of a war camp.

3.5 stars

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.

The Tattooist of Auschwitz is the true story of Lale Sokolov, retold by Heather Morris. Who in 1942 became the tattooist of Auschwitz and Birkenau concentration camps. Who tattooed the thousands of people that came through these camps. He did whatever he had to do to survive the camp and also helped as may people that he could, whilst there. And during these atrocities he managed to fall in love with a woman called Gita and vowed to marry her one day.
Heather Morris spent 4 years taking notes of Lale’s experience to retell it. Although this is a horrific subject, this is a beautifully written account of what went on in these camps on a day to day basis that everyone should know. A story of survival, hope, death and against all odds Love.
This is an emotional story of what happened in these camps and Heather Morris retold it very well and I enjoyed it very much. Only downside was that I thought the story after he escaped these camps was a bit rushed in my opinion, But, it’s still well worth the read.

Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC copy of this book.

This is the most incredible and moving book I have read for a long time. I could not put it down. This is the true story of Lale and Gita who met in Auschwitz where Lale was the person who tattooed numbers on his fellow camp mates.

Some of the things he saw was quite barbaric. This book is a must read and one I will be recommending.

When I picked up The Tattooist Of Auschwitz I knew I would be in for a highly emotional read. A book that deals with the Holocaust is never going to be an easy read due to the atrocities that took place, but despite covering such an difficult and heartbreaking subject this book is so much more than a reminder of past events.It's a beautiful and haunting book that's based on the true story of Lale Sokolov, prisoner 34902. A Slovakian Jew who was held during World War 2 in the infamous Auschwitz prison camp and worked as the tattooist
who is forced to mark each prisoner with one of the most potent symbols of the Holocaust - the blue numbers tattooed on prisoners' arms. This is the story one man’s determination to survive and and live a life with Gita he fell in love with.


This book is simply written but it is such a wonderfully told story, even though it's very much a love story Heather Morris doesn't shy away from describing the living conditions and the treatment of prisoners of Auschwitz, she very much tells the story in line with the facts, there is no way you can “sugar coat” what happened at Auschwitz, in doing so I think it would be a disservice to all the millions who lost their life's and the survivors. This book is a stark and very real reminder of the atrocities that took place at Auschwitz and all the other concentration camps during World War Two.

Despite the ugliness and the gut wrenching setting there is beauty in this book, the resilience that Lale finds deep in himself, his courage and above all his strength of character shine through, as does his love for Gita. The author has done an incredible job of retelling Lale and his Gita’s story, at times I felt I was there alongside him, I felt his despair, his pain and those moments when it would have been easier to have given up. I found the end of the book very emotional as the reader learns what happened to Lale and Gita in the years after Auschwitz. This is one book that will haunt me for a long time to come, but I think it's a book everyone should read… lest we forget. Highly recommended

Review maybe altered slightly and edited prior to publication on my blog

Having just finished this book I am completely at a loss what to write. If it was just a story, it would be an amazing story, but many would say a little far fetched. This isn’t just a story, this is someone’s life. This is the life of Lale, who in the worst place imaginable, a living hell, meets the love of his life. He then makes a choice. A choice to stay a live, and to keep his love alive, until they can be together and free. Unfortunately his story is not unique, and there are many such stories of people doing whatever they needed to stay alive in a living hell. It is a reminder that each of the 6 million Jews who were killed were real people with real lives, loved and ambitions. These people were not just numbers, tattooed on their arms by Lale and his colleagues, each was an individual. The story is well written, but the kudos must go to Lale and his friends whose stories needed to be told. An amazing book which everyone should read.

The Tattooist of Auschwitz is based on the true story of Lale and Gita Sokolov, two Slovakian Jews who survived the death camp and eventually made their home in Australia.

This is a story of love and survival and the will to live and so anything to help yourselves and others to get through the worst ordeals.

I read this book in one sitting, it moved me to tears. It is so well written it drags you into the horrors and depravity of that time. It really is incredible how humans can be so brutal and cruel in these so-called ‘enlightened ‘times.

The only problem I have with this book is how ‘lucky’ Lale was, inasmuch as everything he needed or wanted was easily available. It all seemed too easy and it doesn’t give the right impression of what it was really like to live in such a horrifying and frightening time.

The book is a really good read and will make you pause to think of the strength some people have to endure, to live and be free.

Seshat

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review

A harrowing story of love and strength from the holocaust which tugs at your heart strings.

What would one do to survive? A great deal of this book is about survival even when it means being forced to do things like tattoo innocent men and women with a number so the Nazis can keep track of them. I cannot fathom being in Lale Sokolov's shoes and being "the Tattooist of Auschwitz".

I felt like there were some gaps that could have tied more together. Granted this story was told over 50 years later when Mr. Sokolov was in his 80s. The author formed a friendship with Mr. Sokolov and his story was allowed to be told.

There are some gut wrenching scenes that are hard to process and a love story for the ages tied in as well. It appears to also be being classified as 'fiction' and not a biography. I hope this does not cause people do dismiss what is contained.

No matter how many historical novels of this nature I read – and I’ve read about a dozen books about WWII already – it’ll never ever be enough to grasp the entirity of monstrocities that fell upon those held captive and how they found the strength to survive these atrocities. The number of testimonies from survivors is unfortunately dwindling fast as time goes by and I’m very grateful that Lale Sokolov found the courage to revisit his past and share his personal story. It’s a cruel legacy of an era but so important that we never forget.

I’ve actually met Lale as a character in plenty of books before, without him ever being named. He was always someone in the periphery of a story but I never thought about the person who actually saw everyone still so unknowing of what was waiting for them when they entered those gates of Birkenau or Auschwitz, and gave them their camp number. Lale has the job of Tettovierer, one of the better jobs that gives him a better place to sleep, more food and a little bit more freedom to help others. He has a guard with him every time he goes to work called Baretski but he was able to talk to his guard and was treated fairly well by him given the circumstances.

He’s such a gentle soul and Lale felt particularly bad tattooing old people and young girls because he knew the first group’s fate was sealed and that Mengele had an unhealthy interest in the second group. Mengele often came by to inspect the new arrivals and to select new girls for whatever he had in mind. Lale didn’t want to hurt the girls so he did his best to be tender. He grew up with respect for girls and women, his mother taught him well.

However barbaric and hellish life was, there is beauty to be found in this novel as well. It’s hard to believe but in these grisly circumstances, where there’s nothing left to enjoy and happiness is nothing but an alien feeling, two people were able to find love. Lale falls in love the moment he lays eyes on a girl waiting to be tattooed. It’s quite incredible that the ability to still feel so much for someone never dies. The contrast with his surroundings couldn’t be bigger and made me feel it even deeper. Lale falls heads over heels for Gita and it strengthens his resolve to go on another day and another… I don’t think I’ve ever felt happier about a love story than now. I wished it so hard for them, they were so deserving of each other and I could only hope with all my heart it wouldn’t come to a cruel end. Loving someone when you don’t have the power to safeguard them, when you don’t know if they are still going to be there the next day, is dangerous but a risk Lale is willing to take. The heart can’t be dictated and I found tremendous joy in the fact the SS weren’t able to take that away at least.

I really admired Lale from the very start of this novel, his positivity and his determination to survive shine through from the very beginning and it was wonderful to see how he tries to give Gita hope when she sees none. He’s her light at the end of the tunnel and she means everything to him too. Heather Morris did a brilliant job writing Lale’s personal story, and even though it was a very compelling testimony and there were still many sad moments to get through, the overruling feeling after I finished it is one of warmth and contentment for these two individuals. Lale and Gita’s love story was a perfect counterweight for the predominant harshness of this novel.

A sad, haunting, powerful and beautiful read. This is the story of Lale, who is taken to Auschwitz and is given the job of tattooing the prisoners numbers on their arms. He meets the love of his life there and this is his story.

To even think love could blossom in such a place is a miracle in itself.

The book gives a great insight into the day to day life of anyone in Auschwitz including all the horrors that are seen but also of how the prisoners also looked after own another.

Above all it’s the story of Lale and how he met the love of his life, how they lived through the horror of Auschwitz and I honestly thought this was an amazing book and I’m so glad I read it, I felt honorees to have been able to share in Lale’s story.

Heartbreakingly beautiful, The Tattooist of Auschwitz is Heather Morris's account of the true story of Lale, a Slovakian Jew doing his best to survive in Auschwitz. Following all his life skills to put himself in the best position for survivial, Lale finds himself working as the tattooist, inscribing the numbers onto the arms of each fellow prisoner. While in Auschwitz he falls in love with Gita, and his dreams for the future revolve around a life with her. Incredibly, unlike so many of their friends and family, both Lale and Gita survive, and it is only upon Gita's death that Lale decides to share his story. An incredible read, one to keep in your heart.

The Tattooist Of Auschwitz is not just any Holocaust story, because it’s not really a story as much as it is a retelling of a life lived. Lale Sokolov was the actual tattooist of Auschwitz and he was a Jewish man. That blew me away as I imagined the tattooist to be a Nazi, not a Jewish prisoner. When author Heather Morris met Lale (pronounced Lahlay) her life changed forever as she was destined to write his story. What started as a screenplay turned into this wonderful book about courage, resilience and love.

In these wretched and horrific conditions of the concentration camp, you could consider Lale lucky to have been chosen as the tattooist. The special treatment he received, although minimal at best, and his knack for bartering made him a leader among the other prisoners. His spirit, courage, belief system and love for humankind is shown throughout the book. Ultimately, this book is a love story yet be warned, there are some very graphic and unpleasant scenes.

Adding more to this review would only spoil the reading experience and be a re-telling of the story. If you’re interested in Holocaust books, this one shouldn’t be missed.

Even when we think we’ve heard enough we will never be free of the stories of the Holocaust and we shouldn’t be. As long as there is ink and paper the stories need to be told because there is always one we haven’t heard.
The Tattooist of Auschwitz was one of those for me. This is a true story of Lale and Gita Sokolov. Lale was lucky enough, as if there is anything else but luck that keeps a person alive in Auschwitz, to be singled out to ink a new identity onto the arms of the Jews chosen to live. This job gave him certain freedoms that surprised me.
One of the people standing before Lale was Gita, a trembling young woman who Lale was immediately smitten with. In his role with his freedoms Lale is determined to keep Gita alive by bartering for food and medicines with money and jewels taken from Jews who didn’t survive, who were immediately executed and incinerated. It’s a dangerous role and he is all too aware he might be executed on the spot when found out.
Somehow both Lale and Gita survive – this isn’t a spoiler, this is a true story and so we know at the outset they survive but it’s in the how that keeps us riveted and shaking our heads in amazement at the courage, the determination to survive and the love these two have for each other. I can only imagine a person could only survive if there was cunning and courage and caring involved.
Eventually, Lale and Gita emigrate to Australia where they raise and son and like many survivors, remain silent about what they endured and conquered. But once Gita dies in old age, Lale feels their story should be told because we need to listen.

Wow! This was such an emotional book to read. I had to keep putting it down just to think about what I'd read and then pick it up again when I was ready to continue.
Lale is a man who tattooed numbers on to the arms of thousands in a concentration camp. He looks into Gita's eyes before he tattoos her and falls instantly in love. Many horrendous things happen to Lale but the strength he has in himself and his love for Gita get him through. Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this fantastic book.

Wow, what a book.

I felt so many emotions reading this book that I struggle to find the words to adequately describe Lale's time in the prisoner of war camp. It certainly puts life in to perspective and am certainly going to remember 'if you wake up in the morning, it is a good day'. Although truly harrowing I recommend that you read this book.