"The Tattooist of Auschwitz is a story of two ordinary people, living in an extraordinary time, deprived not only of their freedom but their dignity, their names, and their identities, and it is Lale's account of what they needed to do to survive." (Pg. 260)
There are so many emotions I wish I could put down after reading this story, but I can't seem to find words that are strong enough. The word hope is defined as a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen, but it is so much more than that. Hope is a feeling, an emotion and it has the ability inspire and the ability to lift. In this story particularly, hope is what moves our hero and heroine to survive.
The Tattooist of Auschwitz is a moving dissertation of the life and tragedies of Lale Solokov during the Holocaust. It is a story that will cause anguish and despair. It will break hearts and bring tears, but above all, it will move you, dear reader. For all the distractions in the world, I could not put down The Tattooist of Auschwitz. While am done reading it for now, I will continue to turn to it in my thoughts and in my dreams.
There are many excerpts from the book I would like to share with you, but for now I will just pull out a few that really struck me. Please, if you have not read the book yet and do not wish to read spoilers, feel free to skip to the end of my review.
"He grasps his arm, staring at the number. 'How can someone do this to another human being?' He wonders if for the rest of his life, be it short or long, he will be defined by this moment, this irregular number: 32407." (pg 12) This is just after Lale receives his tattoo from the tatowierer (tah-to-vee-rra). This breaks my heart. I can't imagine someone marking me against my will, let alone marking me with a number to register me like cattle.
"'Best meal I've got in ages.' 'Are you always so upbeat?' 'Ask me at the end of the day' Lale says with a wink." (pg 23) Though we lose Aron rather early in the story, this is one of the first looks we get at Lale's incredibly positive outlook on life. Of course there are times further on in the story he breaks down, but this first glimpse into his resilience is what kept me rooting for him to persevere.
"To save one is to save the world." (pg 35) This line from Lale after being helped stuck with me for much of the book. When Victor and his son Yuri finally started helping Lale, I felt relieved and terrified at the same time. What if he got caught? I wondered about other stories of villagers helping the prisoners, and started looking for documentation of their stories. I know if I had lived during this time, I would have done everything in my power to help the prisoners and survivors. Especially if it meant death. Imagine witnessing this and doing nothing! I would be ashamed if anyone in my family had witnessed these horrors and done nothing.
"As the second half begins, ash rains down on players and spectators. The crematoria are in action and this core task of Birkenau has not been interrupted by sport." (pg 122) First of all, this football game made me want to scream. Second of all, the idea that the prisoners had to even build a crematoria that they might even wind up burning in is just disturbing all around.
"How can a race spread out across multiple countries be considered a threat? For as long as he lives, be it short or long, he knows he will never comprehend this." (pg 168) You and me both, Lale. I have long questioned the reasons behind Jewish persecution and it is my belief that a bonafide reason cannot and will not ever present itself. There is nothing in this world that could justify the horrors of the Holocaust and without the reaffirmation of its existence, those that perished cannot receive the justice they are owed. 1 in 3 people do not believe the Holocaust is real and an even greater percentage of young people are uneducated of its occurrence. That in itself, is the greatest tragedy of all.
"He takes Dana by both hands. 'Dana, I don't know what's going to happen, but while i have the chance I want to tell you how much I will always be grateful to you for being Gita's friend. I know you have kept her going many times when she has wanted to give up.'" (Pg 210) If it weren't for Gita's friends in her bunk, I know she would not have made it. The promise of her future with Lale gave her hope, but it was her friends that really kept her going. Lale's sincere gratitude toward Dana made me cry for a very, very long time. Further on Dana will sacrifice herself, but you'll need to read the book for further information.
"Lale looks at these young women and realizes that there is nothing left to say...The visions they once had of themselves as daughters, sisters, wives and mothers, workers, travelers, and lovers, will forever be tainted by what they've witnessed and endured." (pg 211). Just imagine for moment that you have survived the Holocaust. It has been 50 years, and you look back on your life. Do you think you could have been the person you once dreamed of being? Do you think the survivors of the Holocaust went/go a single day without thinking of their traumas? That's a question only you can answer for yourself.
Heather Morris has honored both Ludvig Eisenberg and Gita Furman by sharing their incredible story. As a masterpiece of both truth and historical fiction, generations will be reading this book for years to come. A must on all TBR lists, and one that deserves to be shared in deep conversation, The Tattooist of Auschwitz is one of the greatest books of our time. Wherever you are Lale, I hope you and Gita are smiling together.
There are so many emotions I wish I could put down after reading this story, but I can't seem to find words that are strong enough. The word hope is defined as a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen, but it is so much more than that. Hope is a feeling, an emotion and it has the ability inspire and the ability to lift. In this story particularly, hope is what moves our hero and heroine to survive.
The Tattooist of Auschwitz is a moving dissertation of the life and tragedies of Lale Solokov during the Holocaust. It is a story that will cause anguish and despair. It will break hearts and bring tears, but above all, it will move you, dear reader. For all the distractions in the world, I could not put down The Tattooist of Auschwitz. While am done reading it for now, I will continue to turn to it in my thoughts and in my dreams.
There are many excerpts from the book I would like to share with you, but for now I will just pull out a few that really struck me. Please, if you have not read the book yet and do not wish to read spoilers, feel free to skip to the end of my review.
"He grasps his arm, staring at the number. 'How can someone do this to another human being?' He wonders if for the rest of his life, be it short or long, he will be defined by this moment, this irregular number: 32407." (pg 12) This is just after Lale receives his tattoo from the tatowierer (tah-to-vee-rra). This breaks my heart. I can't imagine someone marking me against my will, let alone marking me with a number to register me like cattle.
"'Best meal I've got in ages.' 'Are you always so upbeat?' 'Ask me at the end of the day' Lale says with a wink." (pg 23) Though we lose Aron rather early in the story, this is one of the first looks we get at Lale's incredibly positive outlook on life. Of course there are times further on in the story he breaks down, but this first glimpse into his resilience is what kept me rooting for him to persevere.
"To save one is to save the world." (pg 35) This line from Lale after being helped stuck with me for much of the book. When Victor and his son Yuri finally started helping Lale, I felt relieved and terrified at the same time. What if he got caught? I wondered about other stories of villagers helping the prisoners, and started looking for documentation of their stories. I know if I had lived during this time, I would have done everything in my power to help the prisoners and survivors. Especially if it meant death. Imagine witnessing this and doing nothing! I would be ashamed if anyone in my family had witnessed these horrors and done nothing.
"As the second half begins, ash rains down on players and spectators. The crematoria are in action and this core task of Birkenau has not been interrupted by sport." (pg 122) First of all, this football game made me want to scream. Second of all, the idea that the prisoners had to even build a crematoria that they might even wind up burning in is just disturbing all around.
"How can a race spread out across multiple countries be considered a threat? For as long as he lives, be it short or long, he knows he will never comprehend this." (pg 168) You and me both, Lale. I have long questioned the reasons behind Jewish persecution and it is my belief that a bonafide reason cannot and will not ever present itself. There is nothing in this world that could justify the horrors of the Holocaust and without the reaffirmation of its existence, those that perished cannot receive the justice they are owed. 1 in 3 people do not believe the Holocaust is real and an even greater percentage of young people are uneducated of its occurrence. That in itself, is the greatest tragedy of all.
"He takes Dana by both hands. 'Dana, I don't know what's going to happen, but while i have the chance I want to tell you how much I will always be grateful to you for being Gita's friend. I know you have kept her going many times when she has wanted to give up.'" (Pg 210) If it weren't for Gita's friends in her bunk, I know she would not have made it. The promise of her future with Lale gave her hope, but it was her friends that really kept her going. Lale's sincere gratitude toward Dana made me cry for a very, very long time. Further on Dana will sacrifice herself, but you'll need to read the book for further information.
"Lale looks at these young women and realizes that there is nothing left to say...The visions they once had of themselves as daughters, sisters, wives and mothers, workers, travelers, and lovers, will forever be tainted by what they've witnessed and endured." (pg 211). Just imagine for moment that you have survived the Holocaust. It has been 50 years, and you look back on your life. Do you think you could have been the person you once dreamed of being? Do you think the survivors of the Holocaust went/go a single day without thinking of their traumas? That's a question only you can answer for yourself.
Heather Morris has honored both Ludvig Eisenberg and Gita Furman by sharing their incredible story. As a masterpiece of both truth and historical fiction, generations will be reading this book for years to come. A must on all TBR lists, and one that deserves to be shared in deep conversation, The Tattooist of Auschwitz is one of the greatest books of our time. Wherever you are Lale, I hope you and Gita are smiling together.