Set in 1942, The Tattooist of Auschwitz is the remarkable story about a Slovakian Jew named Lale Sokolov, who is forced to spend three torturous years in a concentration camp in Poland under Nazi Germany.

During his captivity, Lale unwittingly becomes the ‘Tätowierer’ of
Auschwitz-Birkenau, responsible for inking his fellow inmates with their prison numbers. It was not long after his appointment to this pain-inflicting occupation that he met the woman of his dreams, a fellow Slovakian named Gita. A beautiful romance ensues with his beloved, giving them both hope that they will survive their plight and a share a future together.

This book is truly unputdownable. I was hooked from the very outset and deeply moved not just from the horrors that occurred but also from Lale’s arresting romanticism and determination. T

My interest was also held by the raw image Morris drew of life in a concentration camp. It was an insightful lens into the unending sense of fear and uncertainty each day brings as with the need for cunning and secrecy in order to maintain one’s survival. I was also provided with a greater understanding of the interactions between the inmates and their oppressors, which apart from their usual cruelness explored another side as well, such as the unlikely friendship that grew between Lale and the German officer, Baretski and the gathering together of both Jewish prisoners and German officers for a football match.

The only gripe I have with the book is that the story-telling started to falter towards to end. The events were told in a rushed fashion that seemed very matter-of-fact and pragmatic. The Tattooist Of Auschwitz was nonetheless a beautifully heart-rending tale with an integral quality of optimism.

I rate The Tattooist Of Auschwitz.. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

One of the reasons why I was extremely eager to read this book was because of all the hype on social media which normally worries and repels me. But this book completely lived up to the hype and deserves all the praise it gets! For more reviews like this one, please visit the Book Reviews page.