Gripping. Could not put this down. A triumph of human spirit against all odds.
I got this book as a Christmas present and couldn’t wait to read it. Once I started I knew I needed to read it all straight away. It follows the true story of Lale and Gita and millions of others in the concentration camp of Aushwitz-Birkenau. Retelling the stories in a non sentimental way that makes the reality of life in the camps even more horrific.
I order to survive many of the prisoners are forced to carry out roles or duties that go against their sense of morality but each must decide what they need to do to survive. Lale as the tattooist should be one of the most hated prosioners for it is he who is branding the others and replacing their names by giving them a number. But nothing is that straightforward and Lake finds ways to help himself and others when and how he can. His trusted position gives him access to things he would rather not see or know but it is his spirit, intelligence and sheer determination not to die that will sustain him.
I order to survive many of the prisoners are forced to carry out roles or duties that go against their sense of morality but each must decide what they need to do to survive. Lale as the tattooist should be one of the most hated prosioners for it is he who is branding the others and replacing their names by giving them a number. But nothing is that straightforward and Lake finds ways to help himself and others when and how he can. His trusted position gives him access to things he would rather not see or know but it is his spirit, intelligence and sheer determination not to die that will sustain him.