I read a lot of WWII books, so I was excited to get an ARC of The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris from NetGalley. This book is a moving true story of tragedy, survival, hope and love. Lale Sokolov's experience as a Jewish prisoner chosen to tattoo numbers onto the arriving prisoners of Auschwitz is a surprising and interesting point of view. In the midst of horrific circumstances, Lale found a way to survive, to help many of his fellow prisoners and met the love of his life. Sometimes the worst of humanity can bring out the best in others. This book made me wonder about the countless other Holocaust stories that will never be told, and made me thankful that I got a chance to read this one.

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.

It tells the story of survival, horror, love, hope and sadness. It tells the story of two people in horrifying circumstances of the camps of Auschwitz-Birkenau and the things humans can do to other humans.

This is an incredible account of a prisoner of war in Auschwitz, the things they saw, shared and lived. It is one of the only books I have read all year that I started and finished on the same day. This is a very harrowing book, with such descriptions of life in a prisoner of war camp, the ways Lale used to survive during his three years there. He was very resourceful. The books is well written, from the point of view of Lale and occasionally from Gita, who Lale later marries and spends the rest of his life with.

This is a fantastic book to read, even though there have been so many other books written about the holocaust this one is special.

As a Reader, are there certain themes that you know will break your heart when you pick a book to read?
I have three themes: war, genocide and abuse. If there's a book has any of these three as a theme or it's set in a time where a historic catastrophe occurred then I do my best to steer clear of it. So, clicking on this book on NetGalley was a conscious choice because based on the bit of history I read about the World Wars and Concentration camps, I learned that they branded people with numbers. I knew this book was going to break to my heart. I expected it to remind me of how cruel we can be as humans, but instead Lale's account of what happened at the concentration camps shattered my heart. Having been taken from his country Slovakia, Lale finds himself in a camp, he's tattooed and stripped of everything he knows- his name, identity, dignity but not his will to live.
I'd recommend reading this book till the very end for I found his son's insight on their life and outlook in life very inspiring.
I know that we can never write enough books, or have just one account of the greatest tragedies against humanity in history, but one thing is certain, this book's narration and writing style gives you a first hand insight into the atrocities committed in those camps and you'll never be the same after reading it.

Harrowing, inspirational and deeply moving

Heather Morris spent 3 years with Lale, a Slovakian Jew and has made a wonderful job of retelling the story of his time in Auschwitz where he was tasked with tattooing those not immediately slaughtered by the Nazis.

It is an unflinching portrayal of the atrocities the Nazi guards and officials inflicted on the people in this hideous camp but is also a story of enduring, all-consuming love and loyalty, compassion amongst truly desperate people and the bravery and determination to survive that got Lale through the three horrific Auscwitz years and the chaos and uncertainty of life after liberation.

This is a story of 'normal people' doing unspeakable things to their fellow human beings that needed telling and must be read ..... Lest we forget

4-4.5 stars Many thanks to Netgalley and Bonnier Australia for the opportunity to read this amazing true story.