The Tattooist of Auschwitz

How do you survive one of the most heinous events in human history? 
I asked myself this regularly while reading The Tattooist.     
Author Heather Morris told us what happened to prisoners in Auschwitz in a somewhat journalistic style, through her interviews with a ninety year old survivor. 
How can a story taking place in Auschwitz be a romance?
Well, it's because Lale speaks many languages that he's seen as an asset by the SS, and made the Tätowierer. He goes through his cruel task of branding other prisoners with their numbers. Most other prisoners understandably succumb mentally and physically to their starvation, the cold weather and torture. But because Lale is a romantic, he finds hope through his attraction to a woman he tattooed. Even in the deplorable death camp that was Auschwitz, astonishingly, he tracks her down, and they manage to begin a romance. 
Their story is astounding, because amidst all the atrocities, Lale and Gita find and cling to love, which ultimately helps them survive. They often talk of faith, which is something Lale said he lost, but Gita still had.  

It was necessary after all Lale and Gita had been through to read how their lives ended up. In the afterword by their son, I was pleased to hear how they continued to adore each other. The author's note told us how Morris came to meet Lale and interview him for 3 years, slowly getting his story. 

While certainly not a typical romance, it is a story of survival, love and faith, and an vital book to read. 

I received The Tattooist of Auschwitz in a giveaway. 

Until next time,

Kara 

The Most Fun We Ever Had

I'm not sure I'd be enthusiastic reading 500 pages about this privileged family, but as an audio book, I was engaged and motivated to continue to hear how it would end.

Parents of 4 daughters Marilyn & David are that affectionate, loving couple we all envy. Nothing that's thrown their way can come between them, they remain crazy about each other throughout the years. Their thoughts & feelings did get repetitive towards the end though. We get it, they're madly in love!
Perfect daughter Violet had the biggest skeleton in her closet, making her imperfect and therefore interesting. She annoyed me to no end. I wanted someone to (figuratively) smack some sense into her over Jonah. Well done Claire Lombardo! Grace was just ridiculous, and Liza sad, both not as interesting as their older sisters Violet and Wendy.

The narration by Emily Rankin was wonderfully done, especially Wendy's character. She nailed the snooty, spoiled rich bitch voice I expected her to have.
It was the skilled narration and many moments of lovely prose that kept me going with this lengthy book, and made it awesome audio.
You know I've voted for this in the 2 categories it's nominated for in the Goodreads Choice Awards. 

Until next time,

Kara