In the 8th grade, our teacher gave us each an assignment - a book report written about a book focused on the Holocaust. I still remember mine - a collection of stories, each about a different race or religion impacted. I remember reading it, and visiting the Holocaust Museum as we wrapped up the lesson (that includes a group of 8th grade girls offering to sing Baby Got Back in order get on the radio… only to end up in a tunnel when we had our shot).

This next read reminds me of that read in the 8th grade. While it is focused on a Jewish man, his friends are of all races and religion. It’s a story of survival and hope.

Book Read: The Tattooist of Auschwitz
Author: Heather Morris
Number of Books Read, 2019 Edition: 10

A true story, Lale Sokolov, a Slokovian Jew, volunteers to be the family member sent to work for the Germans. He is transported to the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camps, vowing to make it out alive, no matter how long it takes.

Lale is an intelligent man, who speaks several languages. A fellow prisoner takes Lale under his wings, and Lale becomes a Tatowierer, marking his fellow prisoners with identification numbers. One day, he marks Gita. After marking her number, Lale vows to marry her.

A vivid story, Lale witnesses the barbaric events of the camps, but uses his status of the Tattooer to provide his fellow prisoners with extra food, information and protection. Gita keeps the hope that they will be able to marry one day. Friendships are formed, lives are risked both inside and outside the camps, and somehow, in the horror of their day to day lives, a glimmer of hope never fades.

For almost three years, Lale marks his fellow prisoners, and for three years, a love story is made.

The Holocaust is never an easy event to read about. This story is vivid and clear it the descriptions of events, as they were told from Lale himself. You’ll read descriptions of beatings, shots fired, too many tattoos, and the building of the gas chambers. But you’ll also read of friendships between people who would’ve walked by each other on the street, and a hope that carries on, despite the circumstances.

Morris originally wrote this to be a screenplay. At times, you can tell that was the plan, rather than the novel that came about. However, this is a story worthy of reading. I can’t remember another novel like it, and the story in The Tattooist of Auschwitz deserves to be told.

Following the novel, Lale’s and Gita’s son wrote an afterward, describing how the Holocaust impacted his parents daily, how they made him learn about it but wouldn’t watch, and how their love never dwindled. It was a fitting end to a inspirational read.

Lale and Gita’s story is unique and moving. So take my advice and pick up this read. It’s worth the time.

Next Read: The Bucket List by Georgia Clark