Book Review — The Tattooist of Auschwitz

 

Title: The Tattooist of Auschwitz
Author: Heather Morris
Genre: Historical Fiction/Biography
Pages: Oversize paperback 265
ISBN: 978-1-78576-367-0
Opening Lines:  "Lale tries not to look up. He reaches out to take a piece of paper being handed to him."

Rating

"In 1942, Lale Sokolov arrived in Auschwitz-Birkenau. He was given the job of tattooing the prisonhers marked for survival—scratching numbers into his fellow victims' arms in indelible ink to create what would become one of the most potent symbol of the Holocaust.

"Waiting in line to be tattooed, terrified and shaking, was a young girl. For Lale—a dandy, jack-the-lad, a bit of a chancer—it was love at first sight. And he was determined not only to survive himself, but to ensure this woman, Gita, did too.

"And then the hallucinations start.

"So begins one of the most life-affirming, courageous, unforgettable and human stories of the Holocaust: the love story of the Tattooist of Auschwitz."

~ Jacket copy

Part historical fiction, part biography, The Tattooist of Auschwitz gives readers a different perspective of the Holocaust—the view of a Jew turned "traitor" and what he did to survive. Unlike many of the heart-rending stories of the victims, The Tattooist of Auschwitz finds joy and hope in the gray, desolate landscape of the most infamous concentration camp and dares readers to consider what they would do for love.

The Tattooist of Auschwitz opens with Lale's cramped train ride to Auschwitz, and follows to unlikely journey to become the traitorous tattooist set to permanently mark peoples' fate on their arms. However, despite his role, he befriends his SS guard, makes deals with workers brought into Auschwitz, and provides addition food/rations to his people. Because of his work, he meets and falls in love with a beautiful woman in the middle of Auschwitz. Through the connections he makes—and charm—he helps people escape the fate of death and secures a safe place for his love.

This book has been on my radar for while; however, despite loving these books, they usually end up on the back burning because of the emotional toll they take on me. Unfortunately, after listening to the audiobook, my husband took it upon himself to buy me a copy. And so I could no longer put off reading it.  

The book tells a rich story of the actual tattooist of Auschwitz, Lale Sokolov; however, Heather Morris did take some creative liberties. The story is both heart-felt and horrifying, as well as sterile and removed. Morris' writing style reads more like a screenplay/script, which pulls the reader from the immersive experience of a narrative. She uses shorter sentences and does not use sensory detail to pull the reader into Lale's story. Usually, these books find my bawling my eyes out; however, I read this one from an emotional detachment brought on by the writing style. Despite the antiseptic writing, Lale's harrowing tale is interesting and demonstrates the power of hope/love.

Because the writing style was so detached, it only receives 3 skulls from me. It is a shame; the story is quick excellent! If you enjoy Holocaust literature, I would suggest this one. It is a relatively quick read.