The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris

******UPDATE: I had the incredible opportunity to connect with Heather Morris, the author of this story, and ask her some questions about the story and her experience. See the “Q&As with the Authors” page to see our conversation.

I have always loved history and learning something new about experiences in the world’s past and I especially enjoy visiting old churches and historical sites no matter where my journey takes me.

As someone who minored in history in college, I was required to have a specific focus, which was on American and European history. I had specific interest in World War 2 history and had several classes surrounding the time period. To this day, almost five years out of college, I still have extreme interest in the subject, so when I was strolling through the bookstore and spotted “The Tattooist of Auschwitz, I became extremely intrigued, especially learning that it was a historical fiction.

This book did not disappoint and I finished the book in less than 24 hours. I was roped into the story within the first sentences, drawn in by Heather’s complex and detailed writing. She wrote the book with a grace and flow that made it easy to follow along and her scenic description made it seem as though I was sitting next to the characters throughout the entire story.

As I journeyed through the story, I had a lot of little things, as well as larger themes that tugged at me from a reader’s perspective. The first thing I noticed, early in the story, was how Lale, the main character, was willing to sacrifice his life and security at home to go to the unknown in hopes he could save his family. Throughout the story, Lale had his family on his mind and continued to make it a goal to come out of the concentration camp alive to go back to them.

As the story progresses, I loved how Heather picked out a few of her characters and brought them into the limelight. At the camp, everyone was meant to be a nobody - not allowed to stand out, not allowed to be their own person, but trapped inside this deathly prison with no intent of coming out alive. But she picks out Gita, Cilka and others along Lale’s journey. The importance of the characters grows from beginning to end and continually enhances the story.

One main theme I absolutely adore in the story is Lale’s determination to stay with Gita. Despite not being allowed to be with anyone from other areas of the camp and almost forbidden to intermix with females, Lale is determined to be with Gita from the moment he tattoos her arm. They sneak behind the administration building on Sundays, visit or casually pass by each other and slowly build their romance. Early in the relationship, Lale’s love for Gita shines through when Gita contracts typhus and is nearly carted off by the SS. Lale enlists the help of workers from the nearby community to smuggle in some penicillin and some extra food for Gita, as well as instructing Gita’s friends from her block to help ensure the SS do not notice Gita’s illness.

Lale and Gita get separated on short notice on the day the Russians invade the concentration camps, but Lale’s determination keeps him searching for her. It is truly a genuine love and I encourage everyone to read the novel and experience Lale and Gita’s love story for themselves. It was a book I thoroughly enjoyed, despite the heavy background and the devastating deaths happening around the couple.

Anyone who enjoys history mixed with a little fiction and a lot of love will fall deeply into Heather Morris’ story “The Tattooist of Auschwitz.”