The Tattooist of Auschwitz Book Review
The Tattooist of Auschwitz, a novel written by Heather Morris, tells the humbling tale of Lale Sokolov, a Slovakian Jew, who was imprisoned in a concentration camp during World War II. The novel is an international bestseller, and after reading Lale Sokolov’s story, I feel compelled to honor this book.
Based on Sokolov’s real life at Auschwitz, the novel blends his harrowing experiences in a concentration camp and the undying hope he discovers in his community and himself. In reading this book, I was reminded of how important it is to remember history. Even in the darkest days of humankind. Morris captures Sokolov’s daily life with exceptional detail.
Imprisoned for several years, Sokolov faces the peak of barbarism at Auschwitz but risks his life on multiple accounts to bring food into the camp for his community. Because of his ability to speak multiple languages, he is also tasked with tattooing the arms of incoming prisoners. It is here that Sokolov meets Gita Furman, the woman with whom he falls in love and eventually marries in the post-war days.
What amazed me about Sokolov’s life and Morris’s ability to capture the sentiments so well was the perpetual optimism of a man with the odds stacked against him. Throughout the novel, Sokolov is mindful of the surrounding atrocities but never lets his spirit die. The novel is a testament both to the brilliance of the human soul and to love. The story also serves as a reminder to readers that we must never let the horrors of this history become a daily reality again.
The novel gives such clairvoyance into a time many struggle to make sense of while highlighting the strength and perseverance of the imprisoned characters. I admire this approach, respecting Morris’s choice to say that love, forgiveness, and happiness prevail.
