The Tattooist of Auschwitz

by Heather Morris
The Tattooist of Auschwitz cover
Good Books rating 3.0
Historical Fiction
Technical
  • ID: 4033
  • Added: 2025-10-20
  • Updated: 2025-10-20
  • ISBN: 9781760403188
  • Publisher: Bonnier Zaffre Ltd.
  • Published: 2018-02-01
  • Reviews: 3

The Tattooist of Auschwitz is a poignant and illuminating story based on the real-life experiences of Holocaust survivor Ludwig (Lale) Sokolov. As a tattooist in Auschwitz, Lale uses his privileged position to help fellow prisoners, all while falling in love with a young woman named Gita. This novel, crafted from years of interviews with Lale, is a testament to the power of love and resilience in the face of unimaginable horror. /n/n Heather Morris's narrative is both heart-wrenching and hopeful, offering a unique perspective on the Holocaust through the lens of Lale's experiences. The story is not just about survival but also about the beauty and strength found in human connection, even in the most desperate circumstances.

Reviews
Man of la Book · 2023-01-31
Uplifting 3.00

The reviewer finds the story uplifting but criticizes the choice to distance the narrative from the misery, suggesting a missed opportunity for deeper emotional impact.

This review from Man of la Book praises the story as uplifting but critiques its approach to the subject matter. The reviewer believes the book could have been more impactful if it had delved deeper into the misery and emotional depth of the characters' experiences.

Quick quotes

    It is certainly an uplifting story, but I felt that the choice to tell it while distanced from the misery was misguided.

    The reviewer finds the story uplifting but criticizes the choice to distance the narrative from the misery, suggesting a missed opportunity for deeper emotional impact.

    I would have rather seen a more balanced approach that doesn't shy away from the horrors.

Takes Two to Book Review · 2018-12-11
Harrowing 3.50

The reviewer finds the story dark, harrowing, and resonant, acknowledging the difficulty in rating such a book given its sensitive subject matter.

This review from Takes Two to Book Review acknowledges the emotional weight of the story, describing it as dark and harrowing. The reviewer struggles with rating the book, recognizing the gravity of its subject matter while appreciating its resonance.

Quick quotes

    This is a hard book for me to rate. The story, as are all Holocaust stories, is dark, harrowing, and resonant.

    The reviewer finds the story dark, harrowing, and resonant, acknowledging the difficulty in rating such a book given its sensitive subject matter.

    The story, as are all Holocaust stories, is dark, harrowing, and resonant.

The Guardian · 2018-11-22
Critical 2.50

The reviewer critiques the book for glossing over the horrors of the concentration camps with a sugary romance, suggesting the storytelling approach undermines the gravity of the subject matter.

This review from The Guardian offers a critical perspective on the book, highlighting its tendency to focus on romance over the harsh realities of the Holocaust. The reviewer feels that the balance between the emotional depth of the story and the historical context is off, which might leave readers with a less impactful understanding of the atrocities.

Quick quotes

    Based on a real-life story, this bestselling debut novel glosses over the horrors of the concentration camps with sugary romance

    The reviewer critiques the book for glossing over the horrors of the concentration camps with a sugary romance, suggesting the storytelling approach undermines the gravity of the subject matter.

    The balance between the emotional depth of the story and the historical context is off.

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