To write a review on a book that is based on someone’s life and the experiences they had is not an easy thing to do, especially when the events of their life have been traumatic.
Ever so often you come across a book that can get you quite emotional and The Tattooist of Auschwitz is one of those books for me. Not in a million years will I be able to relate or even fully comprehend what Lale and Gita Sokolov, as with so many others, experienced during their imprisonment by the Nazi’s in the Jewish concentration camps.
As a human being, I can’t begin to fathom the level of evil one must be, in order to inflict this type of hatred on another person.
“Tattooing the arms of men is one thing; defiling the bodies of young girls is horrifying”.
Cited from The Tattooist of Auschwitz – Heather Morris
The night before I finished this book I lay in bed, unable to sleep, thinking about what I have read and how incredibly heart sore it made me. The unforgivable torture that they all went through, the inhumane treatment they experienced, and the life-altering moments they had to endure, completely overwhelmed me. Despite, and without discrediting the trauma experienced, the constant theme throughout the book is that of hope, love and courage!
The Tattooist of Auschwitz is classified as a fictionalized memoir and therefore, based on true events. Author Heather Morris, met with Lale Sokolov and spent three years earning his trust, becoming friends and recording his story. After Gita passed away, Lale wanted to tell their story as soon as he could because he wanted to get to Gita.
There have been some reports of inaccuracies in the book, specifically the number that Lale tattooed on Gita the day that they met. Regardless, to me as a reader, these alleged inaccuracies don’t change the weight you feel when reading their story. Morris, I believe produced a brilliant piece of work. The voice she gave to Lale in the story was exactly what it needed to be. She portrayed his brave heart and courageous nature with great dignity. I was instantly drawn to Lale and Gita’s story and the whole way through I couldn’t wait to find out how their lives turned out.
The unconditional love these two people had for one another is unbelievable and to come out of the war; their youths stolen from them, and still choosing to build a wonderful life together is inspiring!
This photo was taken from the Daily Mail website https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6448487/Controversy-Tattooist-Auschwitz-author-son-survivors-clash-mistakes.html
Blurb
The Tattooist of Auschwitz is based on the true story of Lale Sokolov. In 1942, Lale found himself leaving his home in hopes of saving his family from the war. He arrived in Auschwitz-Birkenau, where he was a prisoner in the Nazi concentration camp. Lale, with incredible survival instincts and his ability to speak several languages, is soon appointed as the tattooist at the camp.
For several years he would tattoo thousands of prisoners with a serial number on their left arm. This is also how he met the love of his life, Gita.
The story follows their experience in the concentration camp and how through love, courage and hope they managed to survive.
“Inside, my mum was packing up all our belongings. She was singing. Wow, I thought to myself, they have just lost everything and Mum is singing? She sat me down to tell me what was going on and I asked her, ‘How can you just pack and sing?’ With a big smile on her face she said that when spend years not knowing if in five minutes’ time you will be dead, there is not much that you can’t deal with”.
From the Afterword from Gary Sokolov – The Tattooist of Auschwitz
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