In the book we get to see Auschwitz through the eyes of Lale, who I found was a kind man. He wanted to help people whilst also trying to do what he needed to do to survive. Those that he helps, try and help him in return which shows that even during horrific times, people will still try and help each other. I also found that Lale was incredibly loyal and he cared. There’s a flashback to Lale’s home life as a child and specifically the one where he is young and asks his mum about girls and what they like which is adorable. Then we have Gita, the girl that Lale falls in love with. I like Gita and her friends Dana, Cilka and Ivana, who were all strong in their own way. I liked Gita the most out of the girls we see. The promise of a life together outside of the camp is what keeps Lale and Gita going throughout the story.
The story that is told is emotional and I found that although Lale and Gita were witnessing the worst of humanity, they were also finding a little bit of happiness during the horrible time. It is a book about a romance in a very dark time. There was a quote in the book that said something like you “honour the dead by staying alive” which has stuck with me.
We also see Mengele (Angel of Death) through Lale’s eyes and I have to say although he only turns up a few times, I felt a little ill whenever he did. The book doesn’t describe all the horrors but we do see some of them through Lale. Overall I enjoyed the book more than I expected to and it is a book that will stick with me.