Friday, March 29, 2019

The Tattooist of Auschwitz

Book: The Tattooist of Auschwitz
Author: Heather Morris

In April 1942, Lale Sokolov, a Slovakian Jew, is forcibly transported to the concentration camps at Auschwitz-Birkenau. When his captors discover that he speaks several languages, he is put to work as a Tätowierer (the German word for tattooist), tasked with permanently marking his fellow prisoners.

Imprisoned for more than two and a half years, Lale witnesses horrific atrocities and barbarism—but also incredible acts of bravery and compassion. Risking his own life, he uses his privileged position to exchange jewels and money from murdered Jews for food to keep his fellow prisoners alive.

One day in July 1942, Lale, prisoner 32407, comforts a trembling young woman waiting in line to have the number 34902 tattooed onto her arm. Her name is Gita, and in that first encounter, Lale vows to somehow survive the camp and marry her.-Goodreads
Review: This is the incredible story of Lale Sokolov, a Slovakian Jew who becomes a tattooist at Auschwitz. Lale not only survives the camp, but he also finds his future wife there. 

This is based on a true person and simply remarkable. While I enjoyed the story the writing was rather dry and the characters never came to life for me. The book failed to elicit any real emotion while I was reading it. 

Grade: 3/5

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