I received this book for Christmas last year and I have to admit this is one of the most difficult and heart-wrenching book I've ever read. I was crying by the end of it.
This book is a fiction based on accounts to the author by a holocaust surviver and the main character, Lale Sokolov. It's a dark account of what he went through in the concentration camp in Auschwitz.
Lale was taken to the camp in April 1942. He ends up as the tattooist for Auschwitz. This allows him to move freely through the camp and even some special privileges like extra ration for food.
In the camp he meets Gita, a woman who is waiting to be branded with her serial number, and falls in love with her. He vows to live and be free to marry this woman. They both take extreme risks to be together. At some places, my heart races so fast thinking they were going to get caught.
Lale's positive mindset, willingness to help others even in this horrific situation and courage adds an extra life to this sad story.
I'm a fictional reader but I liked it more than I thought I would. I'm looking forward to reading Cilka's Journey - the sequel to this.
This book is a fiction based on accounts to the author by a holocaust surviver and the main character, Lale Sokolov. It's a dark account of what he went through in the concentration camp in Auschwitz.
Lale was taken to the camp in April 1942. He ends up as the tattooist for Auschwitz. This allows him to move freely through the camp and even some special privileges like extra ration for food.
In the camp he meets Gita, a woman who is waiting to be branded with her serial number, and falls in love with her. He vows to live and be free to marry this woman. They both take extreme risks to be together. At some places, my heart races so fast thinking they were going to get caught.
Lale's positive mindset, willingness to help others even in this horrific situation and courage adds an extra life to this sad story.
I'm a fictional reader but I liked it more than I thought I would. I'm looking forward to reading Cilka's Journey - the sequel to this.