Book review time... The Tattooist of Auschwitz

 The Tattooist of Auschwitz

My favourite books to read are biographies written in the form of a story or narrative. I find the stories people have to share about their lives amazing and I always end a biography feeling like I can understand a new life perspective. I credit a lot of the reading I have done, as well as my Yoga teacher training to the empathy and understanding I have for other people and my ability to put myself in other peoples’ shoes in a way to understand their perspective and behaviours.

The Tattooist of Auschwitz is perhaps the most amazing love story I have ever read! It details one man’s journey through one of humanities darkest time periods the Nazi regimes Holocaust. Whilst this story details many of the grim realities of life in a concentration camp, war, famine, disease and survival it is over all a story focused on love, friendship and hope. The description for book as given on the Big W website is as follows:

Based on a true story, The Tattooist of Auschwitz is about two Slovakian Jews who survived Auschwitz and eventually made their home in Australia. In that terrible place, Lale Sokolov was given the job of tattooing the prisoners marked for survival - and he used the tiny freedom of movement that this position awarded him to help keep others alive. His story - and the story of the woman he loved - will make you weep, but you will also find it uplifting. It shows the very best of humanity in the very worst of circumstances. Heart-wrenching and illuminating, this is a book you will not soon forget.

Lale Sokolov is well-dressed, a charmer, a ladies’ man. He is also a Jew. On the first transport from Slovakia to Auschwitz in 1942, Lale immediately stands out to his fellow prisoners. In the camp, he is looked up to, looked out for, and put to work in the privileged position of tätowierer – the tattooist – to mark his fellow prisoners, forever. One of them is a young woman, Gita, who steals his heart at first glance.

His life given new purpose, Lale does his best through the struggle and suffering to use his position for good.

This outstanding book is an absolute must read for 2019.

Available at Big W and Kmart and all leading bookstores such as Dymocks