For readers of Schindler's List, The Man Who Broke into Auschwitz and The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
Born in New Zealand, Heather Morris is passionate about stories of survival, resilience and hope. In 2003, while working in a large public hospital in Melbourne, Heather was introduced to an elderly gentleman who 'might just have a story worth telling'. The day she met Lale Sokolov changed both their lives. Lale's story formed the basis for The Tattooist of Auschwitz and the follow-up novel, Cilka's Journey. In 2021 she published the phenomenal conclusion to the Tattooist trilogy, Three Sisters, after being asked to tell the story of three Holocaust survivors who knew Lale from their time in Auschwitz-Birkenau. Together, her novels have sold more than 16 million copies worldwide. Her exceptional new novel, Sisters Under the Rising Sun, was published in 2023 bringing another heart-wrenching true story to life with experiences of women in Japanese POW camps, how they found bravery in sisterhood and the hope to survive in music.
Jenny Valentish (journalist) chooses The Tattooist of Auschwitz as
one of her reads of 2018
*The Guardian*
What an extraordinary and important book this is. We need as many
memories of the Holocaust as we can retain, and this is a moving
and ultimately uplifting story of love, loyalties and friendship
amidst the horrors of war. I'm so glad Lale and Gita were
eventually able to live long and happy lives together, and thankful
that Heather Morris was moved to record their incredible story.
It's a triumph
*Jill Mansell*
Extraordinary - moving, confronting and uplifting . . . a story
about the extremes of human behaviour: calculated brutality
alongside impulsive and selfless acts of love. I recommend it
unreservedly'
*Graeme Simsion, author of The Rosie Project*
Based on the true story of Lale Sokolov, who is forced to tattoo
numbers on his fellow concentration camp detainees' arms.
*The Bookseller*
Nothing that I could possibly write here would be eloquent enough
to convey to you how powerful and moving this book was. I could go
on for pages telling you how well this is written, nothing is
overdramatized...she just tell this tale that is at its bare bones
a love story. I cried entire buckets of tears. Finally I will use
the words of Lale "If you wake up in the morning, it is a good day"
that it is. That it is
*Netgalley Reviewer*
What I loved so much about this book is that it actually made me
stop and think; each and every one of those people, regardless of
their number or rank within the system or whether they survived or
didn't, had their own story. A quite unexpected story in fact of
love, despite the odds, within the concentration camps. What's so
beautiful about this book is not actually that it's true. Because
it is both too beautiful and too ugly to really "enjoy" reading
such an honest first hand account. What struck me the most was how
quickly relationships, and very strong friendships almost akin to
family, develop when times are so terrible. A hard-hitting,
important book with love at it's core. A brave story shared with an
author who delivers it perfectly for one man, and his love affair,
who would not be defeated
*Netgalley Reviewer*
I don't like reading war time books because they get too depressing
or too political. But this one was so different, it gave you hope,
that even in the darkest of times if your willpower and faith is
strong you can come out successful
*Book Ninja*
It is one of the rarer stories of the Holocaust, that dares to
feature romance in such a place of misery, hopelessness and the
dearth of birdsong. Love happened, and the unlikely, nay downright
impossible, happened, and this heartfelt book is a very enjoyable
presentation of that.
*The Bookbag*
A beautifully written harrowing story of one man's will to survive
in Auschwitz...it is a story of hope and endurance and a beauty
that emerges when all around is painted in black. As a reader you
cannot help but be affected by this account the simplicity of the
story telling only adds to the poignancy...
*Library Thing*
This is an outstanding read...An extremely powerful and absorbing
read that had me in tears at the most surprising moments and it
will be making an appearance in my Top Ten of 2017. It is due to be
published in January 2018 and I hand on heart urge everyone to read
it.
*Batty About Books*
Though very hard to read in places, this story is full of hope,
love, courage and kindness. It made me cry a lot, but in places it
also made me smile, as it shows humanity at its best in the worst
of times. Lale had nothing but positivity and determination and,
along with Gita and many of the other prisoners, is one of the
bravest people you will ever read about. This review doesn't come
close to doing The Tattooist of Auschwitz justice. It's such a
heartbreaking, beautiful story and one I'm so glad Lale got to
tell
*Foreword Books*
The Tattooist of Auschwitz is a very moving book, showing the
survival of humanity in a brutal place. I love this story
*The Reading Life*
Lale Sokolov's story not only moving and heart-breaking, but also
humbling and inspiring hope. I was so totally blown away by this
book that I am really struggling to find words for the emotions it
evoked in me. In her writing, Morris manages to convey the spirit
of a young man trying to survive, but also hold on to his humanity
the best he can. It was heart-breaking and humbling to see the
strength of the human spirit in the face of death. What an amazing
man. What an amazing story. Everyone should read this unforgettable
book
*But Books Are Better*
I don't think I've ever felt happier about a love story than
now.
I really admired Lale from the very start of this novel, his
positivity and his determination to survive shine through from the
very beginning and it was wonderful to see how he tries to give
Gita hope when she sees none. Heather Morris did a brilliant job
writing Lale's personal story, and even though it was a very
compelling testimony and there were still many sad moments to get
through, the overruling feeling after I finished it is one of
warmth and contentment for these two individuals. Lale and Gita's
love story was a perfect counterweight for the predominant
harshness of this novel.
*The Belgian Reviewer*
I absolutely loved this book and thought it was a powerful and
emotional story of survival in such an awful time. Lale is such a
wonderful, amazing man who uses his power as the tattooist to help
others, he is truly an amazing man...This story is such an
emotional one that I found myself really pacing through this book,
I found it so difficult to put down. It was beautiful and inspiring
and I hope others pick up this book when it is released next year.
I highly recommend this
*Life and Tea*
This was such an emotional read, so many highs of Lale and Gita and
then so many lows of friends lost along the way
*Lozzi Book Reviews*
I've always held a deep respect for books that remind us how
terribly bad human nature can be if left unbridled, so it went
without question that this book was a must-read. I very much
enjoyed reading this, and I envy the author for the precious hours
she was able to spend with such a forgiving, peaceful human being.
It would be an honor to have met Lale Sokolov
*Slightly Cracked Belle*
'Lale did what had to be done to survive, but he also boosted
morale and saved inestimable lives by appropriating food and
medical supplies from right under the noses of the SS Death's Head
Units. He was naturally empathetic, well liked by his fellow
prisoners and held out to the end with his dignity and integrity
unblemished. More amazingly, perhaps, is that he developed a deep
and enduring love for a women he had branded upon entering the
camp.
The Tattooist of Auschwitz is the remarkable, percipient, utterly
unforgettable novel based on Lale's experiences as camp
tätowierer
*Book Jotter*
Even when we think we've heard enough we will never be free of the
stories of the Holocaust and we shouldn't be. As long as there is
ink and paper the stories need to be told because there is always
one we haven't heard. The Tattooist of Auschwitz was one of those
for me...we know at the outset they survive but it's in the how
that keeps us riveted and shaking our heads in amazement at the
courage, the determination to survive and the love these two have
for each other
*WeeSied*
The Tattooist of Auschwitz is a very powerful and emotional read.
At times it is overwhelmingly harrowing, yet at the same time there
is always a hint of hope.
*Little Miss No Sleep*
A powerful evocation of the everyday horrors of life as a prisoner
in a concentration camp . . . message of how true love can
transcend even the most hellishly inhuman environments. This is a
perfect novel for book clubs and readers of historical fiction
*Publisher's Weekly*
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