Author: Heather Morris
Publication details: September 4, 2018 by Harper (first published January 27, 2018)
Genre: Historical fiction, World War II
I did not read any synopsis or reviews when I read The Tattooist of Auschwitz.
From the cover, I only knew that it is historical fiction and that it is based
on true story. But since historical fiction is one of my favorite genres, I
automatically put this in my TBR.
The Tattooist of Auschwitz
presents another face to the World War II stories- another side to the
atrocious stories of Holocaust, but nevertheless poignant and teeming with
lessons and reminders for readers.
The story starts when our main
character, Lale, is transported to Auschwitz, the infamous concentration camp
not only for the Jews, but also for the political enemies, enemy soldiers and
even the Romani people, also known as 'gypsies'. In the beginning of the
story, Auschwitz was still on going construction. Many buildings were not yet
finished, and some camps were not yet fully occupied. Hope was still alive in
many.
And so we follow Lale as he go through each day, trying to
survive as a "regular" prisoner and then as a Tatowierer of Auschwitz; as he
hold on to life but also risking it to help others survive; as he found the
love of his life in the middle of adversities; and as he found his way
home.
I couldn't say that I have read and watched many
concentration camp stories. But from those I have read and watched, I remember
feeling the atmosphere of cruelty, depression and hurt. Weirdly though, with
The Tattooist of Auschwitz I was not able to experience that heavy feeling
while I was reading. Of course, it was a horrible and sad event in our
history, and there were events in the book that made me sad, but in general,
this book did not have a depressing effect on me. Perhaps it can be attributed
to the "relatively light" situation of Lale, but I am not entirely sure.
Regardless,
the book still depicts the horror of Holocaust, that some men are just made
evil, blinded by their personal ideologies and successes. The book, like many
other stories of this genre, tells the story of how one can survive despite
probable death, how one can still hold on to humanity through the most
difficult times, and how one can do anything just to survive, just to live.
Another
aspect I liked about the book is how it also gave a glimpse of what it was
like during the last days, the end of concentration camps and the coming of
Russians. I don't think I have ever read those events in a fiction before, so
it was quite a refreshing perspective. It also added depth to Lale and Gita's
love story and told a lot about their bravery and resiliency.
And
speaking of love story, another thing that makes The Tattooist of Auschwitz a
refreshing war historical fiction novel is the love story element. Who would
have thought that someone found love during these times? I honestly had a hard
time believing it at first, but as I read and especially the in the end, it
made me realize that yeah, it could work. Love at first sight can happen. Love
can be the main driving force for survival.
Like most books in this
genre, the ending is a bittersweet one. And it definitely sealed the point
that true love can be real despite whatever difficulties.
Lastly, the characters. I don't think it is appropriate to 'review' them since this book is based on a true story. However, I liked how the author was able to convey their stories, even the secondary characters', giving me a wider view of what was happening and how they relate to the main characters and/or to each other. It definitely added depth and value to the importance of relationships even through the difficult times, and the importance of preserving humanity in the face of brutality and death.
Overall,
I really liked The Tattooist of Auschwitz. It is poignant and is a good
reminder for readers of what it's like to not just survive life but also live,
not losing hope and love.
I definitely recommend this book. And I
will definitely be in the look-out for future works of the author.
