This is definitely a 5 star book! I so love books like this. The book is about Lale Sokolov and how be became the head tattooist of Aushwitz and his wife Gita, whom he met there. The terror, horror, and holding my breath, oh goodness. This book was from a different angle, not just a prisoner, but someone who actually worked for the SS within the camp. Each time the SS guards or Dr. Mengele would come by his table to inspect his work you could not help but squint your eyes to see if he made out ok. You can feel the tension between the SS guards and Lale and Leon when that happens. When Lale falls in love with Gita, you can see and feel the attraction, love, and sincerity. There are a couple of times (I don't want to spoil too much) you gasp and tear up. Because of circumstances Lale and Gita are separated. In the end you feel the happiness that they eventually find each other. I did feel the end when they find each other kind of rushed, I wish it would have been a little longer. This book keeps you on your toes and you cannot keep from turning the pages to see what happens next. I liked how she gave the description of the camp and how it was separated, where everyone lived and worked. The epilogue to the book really brought it full circle for me, hearing about Lale's parents was heartbreaking. This is a book I would definitely recommend to anyone, it is a great eyeopener to those that do not read a lot about the holocaust or do not know a lot about it.

This wonderful novel is rooted in the true story of Lale and Gita. It was written after three years of interviews by the author with Lale Sokolov and consultations thereafter with his family. It is a tender love story but it is also so much more than that, because Lale and Gita met when they were taken to Auschwitz-Birkenau to slave in captivity for the Germans. Lale was charged with tattooing every person in minority groups that was held there from 1942 until the concentration camp was deserted by the Germans. It is a remarkable story of intelligence, resilience, determination, courage, loyalty, friendship and love: it is also an unforgettable tale of the atrocities committed during the Holocaust. What’s more, it is so beautifully written with compassion and empathy abounding and is a testimony to Lale’s unfailing love for the young girl he fell in love when he tattooed her arm with her identity number. She survived because he always put her first and loved her until the day she died.
I really loved this fact based story. It’s certainly the best book I’ve read in 2017 in terms of educating me about the Holocaust and the reign of terror and brutality metered out by the Nazi captors and in terms of the roller coaster of emotions I experienced during the time I spent reading the book. It had a profound effect on me. It was both incredibly moving and yet I felt joyous that they both survived when so many died horrible deaths. However Lale and Gita did survive and were reunited in Bratislava after the war was over. This reunion in itself was miraculous. This is a story not to be missed. It is fantastic.
I would like to thank NetGalley and publisher Zaffre for my copy of this novel, sent to me in return for an honest review. It is top marks from me and highly recommended as an excellent, thought provoking and absorbing read. I will never forget this novel.

From the title I expected this book to be harrowing and it is but the overwhelming aspects of the book are a portrayal of love, hope friendship and kindness in the face of a cruelty beyond belief. A cruelty to fellow human beings which we all now know to be true. I purposely didn't read the blurb for this book and didn't realise it was an actual true story told by one of the survivors. Although you may think it's going to be an upsetting and depressing read I found it to be the opposite. I thought the writing was brilliant and it is a story that will stay with me.

I am so happy that I read this book. The true story of Lale and Gita Solkov about their time spent in a Nazis camp during WWII and then after the war. The kindness of Lale to fellow prisoners was incredible. He had a huge heart and put others before himself. He was also so very smart when dealing with officers so that he could continue helping others. The kindness and generosity of this couple continued after the war also. I am glad that Lale shared his story with the author. It is a story that needed to be told!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2167894931?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1

Wow, this is the first book I have gotten from Netgalley and let me say I am not disappointed. It was an absolutely incredible read. Not only was it based on a true story which made me fall in love with it even more, but it gave great insight to the concentration camps and how love really can survive anything. Lale's story was amazing to read and captivated me until the very end. The love he expressed not only for Gita, but his mother really had an impact on me in the best way. This book really makes me want to read more about their lives and the lives of other survivors.

I thought this book was an excellent account of a horrific period of time. Lale’s story conveyed those horrors to give depth and detail to the already infamous Auschwitz but the highlight of this book was the story of perseverance, kindness and the triumph of humanity over such a dark period. To save one is to save them all seems a trite quote considering what happened but by telling Lale’s story it further opens our eyes to the fact that this happened less than 100 years ago and perhaps we can use books like this to ensure that this could never happen again.

A fantastically well written book. Thank you for the opportunity to read this.

If you are looking for a (another) heart-wrenching holocaust story, you'll find it here. Based on the true story of Lale, the tattooist at Auschwitz for a period of time, I thought the story was, of course, tragic and compelling. The writing felt flat to me, I finished because I wanted to make sure Lale survived, but I wasn't completely swept up in the narrative or story. It felt the way you would expect it to feel - as someone tying together a string of interviews to tell an entire story.

Heather Morris has done a wonderful job in creating this special book. She has brought to life a man’s journey, from one of the worst places and times on this earth. It’s utterly gripping, and I sat for many hours completely mesmerised amongst the pages. We all read for pleasure, but occasionally along comes a book that certainly captures your attention, and leaves you thinking about it, long after you turn the last page. This is certainly one of those!
Of course, Lale had no idea what he was really volunteering for, when he put his hand up to represent his family, for the working order from the Government. His only crime was being a Jew, and for that he was being sent to the Auschwitz Concentration camp. Herded onto the train into cattle cars like animals, the men would find their new home very different from their last one. Auschwitz was its own kind of hell. It didn’t matter if you were Russian, Slovakian or simply a Jew, as far as the Germans were concerned, you were beneath them, and you would do as your told or be shot. Lale was luckier than most of the men when he scored the job as one of the tattooist. Certainly, a job that may keep him alive longer than most. Of course, Lale is conflicted by having to mark each person’s arm with a number, and not knowing what would happen to them. However, he is lucky enough to find Gita, a beautiful Slovakian girl that he instantly falls in love with. All he can hope for is to one day walk out of the nightmare alive. This is an emotional and moving novel, which I think everyone would thoroughly enjoy. It really is that good.

https://andsoshethinks.wordpress.com/2017/12/15/the-tattooist-of-auschwitz-by-heather-morris/

The Tattooist of Auschwitz is a novel about love, courage and human tenacity in the face of destruction and devestation. It is based on years of interviews author Heather Morris conducted with real-life Holocaust survivor and Auschwitz-Birkenau tattooist Ludwig (Lale) Sokolov. Lale is comes ffrom Slovakia to Auschwitz in 1942, and immediately stands out to both the guards and fellow prisoners. Given the privileged position of Tätowierer– the tattooist – his role is to mark his fellow prisoners with an identification number. One of them is a young woman, Gita, who Lale falls in love with immediately. The book follows their romanc and relationship through the hardest of circumstances, and the warmth they have for one another radiates through the prose. Lale is a compelling character who raised morale of those he was with as Prisoner Number 32407 at Auschwitz II–Birkenau and provides a lightbeam of humanity to the reader. Despite its setting, the focus is not on atrocities committed in the concentration camps, although murder, gassing and rape are alluded to. Instead this is a book about hope and a fierce desire for life that can keep pulling people through even the darkest of times.

I was afraid to read this book as my part of my family was lost in the Holocaust. The utter horror of the whole thing is well represented by this author. What people have to suddenly face, the ear, the humiliation, the confusion was really hard to experience and I confess to wanting to have each of the torturers have to endure what they gave out.

What survival costs is extraordinary- choices can be agonizing.

I warn you, this is lyrically written, but incredibly painful. There is hope at the end. Never forget.

What an amazing story. I’ve read many books based on the holocaust but this one just made you realise the exact horrors that people endured, but also the strength that Lale and Gita found in order to survive. Also, now knowing it was based on Lale and Gita’s true story made it so much more thought provoking.

There are many fine stories that have come from the WW2 time period. This one is exceptional! The human spirit flies high here. Absolutely one of the best. PERIOD.

I found this story so interesting, I read it in one day, which I rarely do anymore. I was so invested in this book, found myself caring so much for the people in it, that I couldn't put it down. This book follows Lale, a young Jewish man sent to Auschwitz/Birkenau concentration camp, who manages to do whatever jobs he can to stay alive for himself, his friends, and Gita, a fellow prisoner who catches his eye and his heart. It's both fascinating and heartbreaking to learn more about the realities of some people who were imprisoned there: the meager diet, jobs available to a chosen few, the living conditions, the torture and death, the sense of family, friendship, and competition among prisoners. The rich detail in the story - from the color of ink used to tattoo the prisoners' numbers on their arms to the types of currency confiscated from incoming prisoners - paints a vivid picture. These details, along with descriptions of activities and events and emotions, give just a small sense of what it might have been like to live there. This is based on a true story, as told by Lale to the author, so it was satisfying to be able to read more information about Lale and Gita after finishing the book. I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A beautiful novel. I love this genre in general, but this one was better than most.

To find tenderness amongst the depravity of the setting takes a strong mind and will. I continue to stand in reverence to those who will share their story. Heather Morris, you made the inhumane humane in your beautiful sharing of the pain and tragedy. I salute you.

Funded via Kickstarter, Morris brings us the story of two people who will come to be known as Lale and Gita Sokolov - both born under other names, but through the horrific events of Auschwitz and surroundings, and what they had to go through even when they weren't behind barbed wire any longer, they found reason to seek other names for their future. Both Slovakian, introduced as prisoners, and finally winding up in Melbourne to tell Morris their story, we are drip fed their life from before, during, and after the war.

Lale was somehow fortunate (a weighted use of the word) to become, as the title says, the tattooist of Auschwitz. Sometimes working elsewhere but mainly there, he was one of those who cut into the arms of fellow prisoners, marked the numbers, then rubbed ink into the wound to create the tattoo. Gita, who had been a prisoner a little longer than Lale when they first meet, was also fortunate enough to work in administration - which however leaves each victim's name blazoned in her memory where Lale only has numbers. They meet when Lale has to re-tattoo Gita's faded numbers, and from there they keep meeting for short snatched minutes wherever possible, giving each other the strength when everything is hell in the limited hope they will someday be free and be able to marry.

During their years of incarceration, through intelligence, charm and charisma Lale manages to carve out ways to survive and look after those he can. There are women who are responsible for separating the shit personal items from the useful - when collected, the prisoners often didn't know where they would be going and so would bring what wealth they could - and Lale makes connects with them to be smuggled money and jewels where possible. He endeavours to read people and situations, make himself invaluable, and treads as carefully as he can in order to barter limited food and medicine to dole out to those who need it to most. He's not always careful enough, and comes close to death many times, however somehow manages (with a whole lot of luck, also) to make his way back to Gita every time. 

This is a heartbreaking and deserving story. There are countless historical fiction novels out there about this subject, but Lale and Gita are both marvellous people who, yes, did terrible things, but also saved the lives of many others, and were people who were kind where - if they weren't there - their place may have been taken with someone cruel and desperate, and in turn many more people may have perished. 

This was a fast read. It's not pleasant, it's hard, and you can only feel shame that this was what was experienced by such a staggering amount of people. Lale says he tells his story so it won't happen again. It's now up to readers to take the time to understand the horrific past, and individually do whatever necessary to make this world a better place.

Unfortunately, as much as I wanted to love this book, it fell quite short for me. Perhaps it was the expectation I always harbor for a book about the Holocaust, or perhaps the book contained things that I just had a hard time believing.

This was basically a love story between two people, Lale and Gita who met while she was waiting to be tattooed by Lale and instantly fell in love. They manage to meet on many occasions and share time together and even make love. Lale, meanwhile is able to collect diamonds, money, and other jewels from people working in the sorting of prisoners' clothes which he barters for food, chocolate, and other things with a Russian workman and his son. He shares his food with those that he can which of course is a wonderful thing to have done. Eventually, when the war is close to ending, he is freed and while Gita has been sent away from Auschwitz he eventually meets up with her and they marry and have a son after immigrating to Australia.

In thinking about this novel, I believe it was the writing of the story which held it down for me. It seemed that the author made the telling so matter of fact and I could not perceive an emotional empathy that one is ever so sure any prisoner in Auschwitz would certainly have had.

I know that both Lale and Gita were real people who suffered immensely in the camp and of course lost so many family and friends. My heart breaks ever time I read a book that details the atrocities that were done to the Jews, Gypsies, handicapped and others during the war.

So, I am very sad that I did not connect with this story. At the end of the book, Lale and Gita's son wrote a foreword which was quite good with the right amount of emotion and love for his parents. I think perhaps he should have taken up the task of writing his parents' story. For through his few short pages, I saw more of Lale and Gita than the author showed me with the entire book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Zaffre for allowing an ARC for my honest review.

There is nothing like falling in love with the characters of a fiction story and then finding out that it is a true story! This was a beautifully engaging tale of a resilient hero. I am looking forward to owning it in paperback.

Simply written but moving all the same. There isn't much more that can be said about the horrors of the Holocaust except that I feel it's important to keep writing and reading books about it. It feels weird to say that a book about such atrocities is GREAT but I really did enjoy this story.