Heart rendering, tear jerking brilliant read.
Made all the more hard hitting knowing it is a true story, and amongst all the hell these poor people endured love still shown through.
Even if war books are not your normal reading material I do honestly think you should give this book a read and you will not be disappointed that you took a chance on it.
Just have some tissues to hand as you will undoubtedly need them!

Definitely an interesting read. It's definitely not my first holocaust related memoir since there are quite a few well known ones that often enter school curriculums. It's an interesting story and definitely worth the read.

I am a huge fan of WWII history. This book did not disappoint. Even in the middle of hell, love proves to be stronger. I'm in awe of their bravery and triumph over pure evil.

**I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.** 4.5 stars

""What block are you in?"" 'Nine.' How many lives does a cat have?"

This book sat in my 'To Be Read' pile for a long time. Throughout my childhood I couldn't read enough about WWII, but after finding out that both of my grandparents were prisoners and hearing their stories, the books became too real for me. Fast forward to nearly 20 years later and this is the first interaction with historical fiction on the this topic that I've touched and I loved every second I spent with this book. You know those books where your time with them feels much too short? This is one of those books. At a little over 200 pages, this book could have easily been another couple of hundred pages long and it would have only benefited the already great story.
If you're on the fence about reading this book for reasons like mine, I highly encourage you to just pick up a copy of this book. It's both tragic and heart-warming. It's set primarily on the grounds of Auschwitz/Birkenau and follows Lale, a man who has been tasked with tattooing incoming prisoners. He marks the body's of thousands, but he does so much more for nearly everyone he encounters through his three long years in the concentration camp.

There is no shortage of Holocaust stories and I read enough psychological thriller/suspense/mystery books so why I would be attracted to The Tattooist of Aushwitz is beyond me. Based on years of interviews between the author and Lale Sokolov (“The Tattooist” ), the story of Lale and Gita Sokolov is quite extraordinary.

Lale holds the position of “Tattooist” at Aushwitz - marking those who have a chance at survival. It is when he tattoos Gita that he falls in love at first sight and vows that he and Gita will survive and know freedom together one day. What is so striking about this book is, amid the daily horror and wretchedness, Lale never loses his integrity and compassion - never loses his will to live nor his hope and belief that he will survive.

The story is quite emotional and often I wondered how two people could fall in love under such circumstances but more so I wondered how a person could have such strength and courage to hold on to the hope and belief that they would survive - how could a person still believe in the “goodness of mankind”; how could a person still see beauty in a lone flower; how could a person remain sane in such madness?

Lale and Gita do go on to survive Aushwitz, marry, and raise a son. The Tattooist of Auschwitz is an incredible story shows the power and deep capacity of the human spirit.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher so much for the advance digital copy!

This story tug at my heart more so because I know it's a true story. I can't even imagine having to tattoo numbers on the prisioners and this book provides a detailed description of what was going on at that point in time.
Their loved story touched me as well.

Touching, heartwrenching, tragic... even though the subject matter is horrific, the author still manages to make it a beautiful and touching book

Amazing! Have a box of tissue ready for this one ..

Even though the theme of this book is horrific, I love to hear how resilient people can be when put into difficult situations. How some can keep a glimmer of hope and to be able to act in a way opposite of what they normally would do to survive.
It is the true story of Lale and Gita, as Lale relays their story to the author.
It is the story of the will to live and how these two people meet and end up falling in love. Lale, soon after he arrives at Birkenau is assigned a job to help a fellow prisoner tattoo the numbers on the incoming prisoners, not a job he wants to do, but he has no choice and while tattooing some newly arrived women at the camp, he sees Gita, and he is smitten. Both of them are from Slovakia.
Being a tattooist comes with a bit more freedom and the chance to get some extra rations, which Lale ends up sharing with fellow inmates. Lale is very industrious, and learns a bit about working the system, helping him and his friends to be able to survive longer.
This was a book that was hard to put down, and gave me a slightly different perspective of what goes on in the camps, and who are imprisoned there (not all Jewish)
I would like to thank NetGalley and Bonnier Publishing Australia for the ARC of this book.

Everyone's talking about this book at the moment, and with good reason.

In 1942, when the Slovakian government demanded one adult child from every Jewish family to work for the German government, Lale Eisenberg put himself forward rather than let his older, married-with-children brother, sacrifice his family life. Before he really knew what's going on, he found himself transported to Poland by cattle-train, and rudely booted into his new working life at Auschwitz-Birkenau. Even in those first hours of his concentration camp nightmare, Lale made a promise to himself that he would live to leave the place as a free man.

Despite the dire circumstances, it could be said that the universe was looking after Lale, because in a short time he had been given a job (tattooist) that afforded him both privileges for himself and opportunities to help others in the camps, and he had fallen in love. The war rolled on, and Lale continued to live towards his goal.

If you didn't know that this story was based on the real-life, verified recollections of a Holocaust survivor, you might be forgiven for thinking it was a bit far-fetched. But Lale was a real person who worked with Heather Morris for years to bring this amazing story to light. I think the book is a true labour of love; it took Morris years to research and to write, and what she has delivered is a metaphorical love-letter to the life of her elderly Jewish friend and more of a literal love-letter from Lale to his beloved Gita, the young woman he fell in love with as he tattooed the number 34902 onto her arm. As a story of the Holocaust, it's what you would expect - bleak, violent and heart-wrenching, but as a story of humanity it is also hopeful and surprisingly uplifting.

With thanks to Echo Publishing and Netgalley for a free copy of this book to review.

I have read a number of books about the Holocaust and continue to learn something new with each read. In this case, I learned about tattooists. I hadn’t really thought about the numbering/marking of prisoners until I read this book. I also assumed that German soldiers would have been tasked with this. However, from this story, I learned about Lale and other prisoners who were tasked with tattooing new arrivals at the concentration camps.

Lale’s story is deeply moving and memorable. I can’t even begin to explain the horrors that he and others witnessed and experienced at Auschwitz. I admired how he was able to do so much for his fellow prisoners despite his own confinement. Lale heroism wasn’t only in saving lives; it was also in the little things that he did like being gentle when tattooing the prisoners.

This is a story of strength, survival and perseverance in one of the most horrendous times in history. The setting is tough, heart-wrenching and most of the events that take place in the book are horrifying. However, in the midst of all this, there is a story of love and humanity triumphing over adversity. This is memorable a story and I am glad that I had the opportunity to read Lale and Gita’s story

The Tattooist of Auschwitz reads like a fictional story set during the Holocaust, but what makes it remarkable is the fact that it is anything but formulated.

Lale Sokolov, a Slovakian Jew, was given the task of tattooing identification numbers on others at the notorious concentration camp. There he meets Gita, another Slovakian, and he sets himself on a mission to escape with her to freedom by trading food and jewels, revealing his incredible street smarts.
If he had been caught, he would have been killed - many owed him their survival.

There are elements where you do think it has been written for the screen, as the scenes fail to connect to one another fluidly. As a result, I did believe it to be a fictional story because the writing failed to completely flourish and the author struggles with the prose. In this respect, it is rather disappointing, however, the memoir is wonderful and it leaves you with huge respect for the Sokolovs.

There is something about books based on true stories that hit the reader harder than pure fiction. When that book is set in Auschwitz, when the book deals with the Holocaust in general--the horrors are more visceral than anything Stephen King can conjure. Amidst this dark moment in history, we get a love story. Knowing that these events actually happened with such a backdrop makes their love story even more powerful.

Pick this book up when you have time to sit down and read or on a night when you are willing to pay the consequences of staying up reading because you will not be able to put it down. Also, have tissues handy.

Lale is the person who tattoos the numbers on all the prisoners of Auschwitz and Birkenau. This gives him some advantages the other prisoners do not have. He has more freedom and more rations. He does his best to share with everyone. Lale is also a thief. He has to be to survive. Gita is another prisoner. She meets Lale when he tattoos her arm. This changes their lives forever.

When I read a holocaust book, it always brings forefront...Man's inhumanity to man. This book is no different. The starvation, the intelligence to survive, the pure meanness of the Nazis always amaze me. Lale and Gita have to be tough and smart to survive. And they did survive and find their way back to each other when the war ended.

However, for some reason, there is something missing in this novel. I think the character development could be so much better. I did not feel the connection to Lale and Gita as I should have. I also did not feel the connection BETWEEN Lale and Gita was very strong. But, this is still a good read with a strong love story throughout.

I received this novel from Netgalley for a honest review.

Like most Holocaust stories, this is sad and disturbing but the stories have to be told. We will never forget what happened to these people.

I’ve read quite a bit about the Holocaust, but I believe this is the first time I have read about a romance in Auschwitz concentration camp. The camp is full of hunger, despair and fear -- not really the atmosphere that encourages amorous thoughts. Most prisoners were consumed with the need to survive. However, love is a powerful motivator for the will to survive.

Lale Sokolov, a young man from Slovakia, was sent to Auschwitz to work. Fluent in several languages and possessing a charisma that others found appealing, Lale soon unwittingly lands the job of tattooing numbers onto the incoming prisoners. The freedom to move about the camp, extra rations and a better place to sleep set Lale apart from the other prisoners.

Lale realizes the need to help others and soon uses his perks to get extra food and medicine to his fellow prisoners. In doing so, he soon meets Gita, the girl who will become the love of his life.

Lale’s bravery during his time in the camp and immediately following the liberation is impressive. Also, the fact that both he and Gita survived until the liberation is a bit of a miracle. Both had brushes with death that they survived due to the kindness of others.

This story is based on the life of real people, their pictures added at the end of the book, along with a brief update on their lives following the war.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Bonnier Publishing Australia/Echo for providing me with an advance copy.

it seems wrong to love a book based on such a harrowing story based on true life. but whilst I loved the book its also a stark reminder of the awful atrocities of the concentration camps. beautifully told and I couldn't wait to read the book from cover to cover. recommending it you anyone I talk to.

The Tattooist of Auschwitz
by Heather Morris
Synopsis
The Tattooist of Auschwitz is based on the true story of Lale and Gita Sokolov, two Slovakian Jews who survived Auschwitz and eventually made their home in Australia. In that terrible place, Lale was given the job of tattooing the prisoners marked for survival - literally scratching numbers into his fellow victims' arms in indelible ink to create what would become one of the most potent symbols of the Holocaust. Lale used the infinitesimal freedom of movement that this position awarded him to exchange jewels and money taken from murdered Jews for food to keep others alive. If he had been caught, he would have been killed; many owed him their survival.

There have been many books about the Holocaust - and there will be many more. What makes this one so memorable is Lale Sokolov's incredible zest for life. He understood exactly what was in store for him and his fellow prisoners, and he was determined to survive - not just to survive but to leave the camp with his dignity and integrity intact, to live his life to the full. Terrible though this story is, it is also a story of hope and of courage. It is also - almost unbelievably - a love story. 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 determined not only to survive himself but to ensure that Gita did, too. His story - their story - will make you weep, but you will also find it uplifting. It shows the very best of humanity in the very worst of circumstances.

Review
Heather Morris is a New Zealand author living in Australia, who met Lale Sokolov in 2003. The Tattooist of Auschwitz is a compelling and unforgettable story of hope and courage that is written based on interviews with Holocaust Survivor Auschwitz-Birkenau Tattooist Ludwig (Lale) Sokolov.

"Save the one, save the world."
This was Lal's mantra,

Being Auschwitz's Tatowierer, allowed more freedom than his fellow prisoners, he had his own room, was given increased food rations, which he shared with his fellow prisoners. Yet he was also known as a Nazi collaborator, because of his position as tatowierer.

I'm drawn to reading stories of survival and Lale’s is one of the most inspiring I've ever read. Its a story of survival,courage and dignity and love.
Highly recommended.

This is a poignant yet heartwarming true story of Lale (Ludwig Eisenberg), a Holocaust survivor and the tattooist of Auschwitz, who found love and hope amid the appalling atrocities on Jews in World War II.

I read many memoirs and biographies of Holocaust survivors and each one of them holds a special place in my heart. Their fighting spirit despite the cruelty in Auschwitz and Auschwitz-Birkenau camps never cease to amaze me. While many of the stories I read were narrated from prisoners' POV, this is slightly different as it was told from the POV of Auschwitz's tattooist.

Lale Eisenberg (who later changed his name to Lale Solokov) a Slovakian Jew was transported to Auschwitz in 1942, was assigned as the assistant to the tattooist Pepan. His job was to tattoo numbers on prisoners' arms and one day when he tattooed prisoner #34902, it was love at first sight with her, Gita (Gisela Furman). Later, Pepan was taken away, and Lale became the Tatowierer. This position came with its benefits and privileges, although he was still living in constant fear of his life.

Lale's thoughts about his Tatowierer position: "I have been given the choice of participating in the destruction of our people, and I have chosen to do so in order to survive. I can only hope I am not one day judged as a perpetrator or collaborator."

The courtship between Lale and Gita was so sweet. They wrote little notes to each other, met in secret and enjoyed every minute they spent together. Time was so precious to them. They made it work no matter how trying those times were. Love is indeed patient.

The storytelling part was pretty good although it needed some refinement. Some sections felt disconnected but it did not alter the flow of the story in a major way. They were like little bumps on the roads, once you get passed them, it's smooth driving again.

Characters were quite well-developed. I could connect with both the main and side characters of this story. Each has their own stories and played an integral role in Lale's life. I like Lale's character. He was a humble, honest, helpful and resourceful man. Although his Tatowierer position means he was given more food rations, he did not forget his friends at the old block. He brought them food and helped them as much as he can.

Since this book was written from a tattooist POV and his position allowed him to move more freely around the camps, you will read less about the atrocities compared to other books which were written from the prisoners' POV. Please do not get me wrong. Lale was still a prisoner and his life was still at the mercy of these cold-hearted Nazis. He witnessed death all the time. People died from diseases, shot by Nazis, malnutrition, starvation, gassed, beaten to death, experimented on by Dr. Mengele, inclement cold weather, suicides through the electric fence, etc. The difference was that Lale was able to leverage his position for better access to medicine, things (e.g: chocolates, sausages) and to help his friends.

Language used is generally clean but there were the occasional use of profane words ("F" & "S" words).

My only complaint was the ending. I felt it ended too abruptly. I wish there were more story written about that part, slowly transitioning readers to the ending of Lale and Gita's remarkable story. I however, do appreciate the epilogue and author's note at the end of the book. They certainly provided a better insight into the main characters' lives and the reason for this book.

In a nutshell, this is an engaging read which left me teary-eyed with a gamut of roller-coaster emotions from sad to joy. If you have not read any Holocaust memoirs/biographies before, this would be a good book to start with. A must read!

*** Sincere gratitude to NetGalley and the publisher for a free ecopy of this book in exchange for an honest review.***

The setting for The Tattooist of Auschwitz, by Heather Morris, has the absolute bleakest, darkest and yet, memorable setting of all the books I have ever read! There are no rose coloured glasses on Morris' descriptions of either the physical conditions or the treatments encountered at Auschwitz. Morris was reportedly told this tale first hand by the main character in the novel, when she was his geriatric nurse. There is no reason that he wouldn't have been telling her the truth, and explains why so many concentration camp survivors have never spoken of their experiences. Auschwitz truly was an evil place.

Despite this shocking setting Morris regales us with a story of true love. One day the tattooist looked up from his assigned work of tattooing new prisoners, and fell in love with the woman whose arm he was inking. Their love story takes us through the misery and horror of life in Auschwitz and gives voice to the many horrendous scenes they witnessed first hand. Fortunately, both the tattooist and his true love lived to be liberated by the Russians and, through a serious of misadventures, manage to reunite on the outside.

Brace yourself for this recommended read!