Skip to main content

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.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Watching You by Lisa Jewell

Watching you by Lisa Jewell really didn’t disappoint. As I’ve said before I’m a big fan of Lisa Jewell books, they are usually gripping stories and easy to read. This one was both. The story starts with a murder scene but the author doesn’t tell you who it is and this makes you start questioning every character in the story. The story follows the main characters Joey, a newly married women, who with her husband, are living with her brother and sister in law in their house on the terrace which is the main setting of the story. The next main character is Tom Fitzwilliam who lives two doors away with his wife and son. Tom is a superhead who has been brought in to turn around the local academy school. His son, Freddie, is portrayed as a bit odd, constantly watching and photographing people who live in the village and recording their day to day goings on. Hence the “Watching You.” The other main characters are Jenna and Bess who go to the academy. Bess is infatuated by Mr F and Jenna...

The Ladies' Midnight Swim Club by Faith Hogan

Three women. Three different stages of life. United by one thing: the chance to start again. 'Uplifting, emotional and brimming with warmth and humour' – Cathy Bramley When Elizabeth's husband dies, leaving her with crippling debt, the only person she can turn to is her friend, Jo. Soon Jo has called in her daughter, Lucy, to help save Elizabeth from bankruptcy. Leaving her old life behind, Lucy is determined to make the most of her fresh start. As life slowly begins to return to normal, these three women, thrown together by circumstance, become fast friends. But then Jo's world is turned upside down when she receives some shocking news. In search of solace, Jo and Elizabeth find themselves enjoying midnight dips in the freezing Irish Sea. Here they can laugh, cry and wash away all their fears. As well as conjure a fundraising plan for the local hospice that will bring the whole community together... From bestselling Irish writer Faith Hogan, The Ladies' Midnight Sw...

Stationery Subscription box

You may have seen them or something similar. There are all sorts out there now from beauty products to Gin but my love is stationery (I do like the odd Gin too!). I am a member of the Bring Back Paper facebook page hosted by Jocelyn from The Reading Residence and I asked on there which were the best stationery subscription boxes out there. A few were recommended to me but the most popular one was The Sherbet Lane subscription.  I had a look at a few of those suggested including the Paper gang but decided that I would treat myself to six months subscription to The Sherbet Lane box. Immediately after I joined up, Claire who runs it added me to the facebook page and OMG! She designs all her own work and the variety of products have been amazing. Every Monday she runs a little competition for members of the facebook group as well as designing all the stationery for the boxes. You get anything from paperclips (beautiful ones not just bog standard!), pens, pencils, notebooks, m...