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The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris


So I have seen this book many times whilst out shopping but have never bought it. On Thursday I went shopping and picked it up, read the blurb and put it back on the shelf.  When I got home I downloaded it onto my kindle ready for a weekend at the beach house. Unfortunately I was still reading The Winter Secret and with a poorly child I didn't get that finished until yesterday.

With the 10 year old flaked out on the sofa all day, I decided to start reading it. I knew the reviews were good, but quickly realised how good this book is.  It is based on a true story, one that Heather Morris has researched and written with the help of Lale (the main character) and his son.

It is a beautiful moving love story surrounded by the horrific day to day happenings of Auschwitz.  Morris brings very clear and vivid imagery to her writing, and part of me, even though I know what happened in concentration camps, when it's written from the mouth of one survivor, it still left me numb. It is beautifully written, there are elements of fun and laughter within the story too, but not many and you really do get a feeling  for what it would have been like there. They are parts where you know the outcome will be good and other parts where the brutality of what went on really hit home. It follows the story of Lale, a prisoner who quickly finds himself as the tattooist who tattoos the number onto the new prisoners. It follows his relationship with the other prisoners, as well as the SS staff, and outsiders who help him by smuggling in goods. Whilst in Auschwitz he falls in love with Gita, a fellow prisoner and the story follows them until after they have left Auschwitz in 1945.

When I say I couldn't put this book down I really meant it. I started reading it at around 6pm and with a few stops for dinner and putting children to bed, I'd finished it just after mid night! If you haven't read it I would read it at your first opportunity to - it really is very good.
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