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The Tattooist of Auschwitz

By: Heather Morris
Narrated by: Richard Armitage
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Publisher's Summary

The Tattooist of Auschwitz is based on the true story of Lale and Gita Sokolov, two Slovakian Jews who survived Auschwitz and eventually made their home in Australia. In that terrible place, Lale was given the job of tattooing the prisoners marked for survival - literally scratching numbers into his fellow victims' arms in indelible ink to create what would become one of the most potent symbols of the Holocaust. Lale used the infinitesimal freedom of movement that this position awarded him to exchange jewels and money taken from murdered Jews for food to keep others alive. If he had been caught, he would have been killed; many owed him their survival.

There have been many books about the Holocaust - and there will be many more. What makes this one so memorable is Lale Sokolov's incredible zest for life. He understood exactly what was in store for him and his fellow prisoners, and he was determined to survive - not just to survive but to leave the camp with his dignity and integrity intact, to live his life to the full. Terrible though this story is, it is also a story of hope and of courage. It is also - almost unbelievably - a love story. Waiting in line to be tattooed, terrified and shaking, was a young girl. For Lale - a dandy, a jack-the-lad, a bit of a chancer - it was love at first sight, and he determined not only to survive himself but to ensure that Gita did, too. His story - their story - will make you weep, but you will also find it uplifting. It shows the very best of humanity in the very worst of circumstances.

Like many survivors, Lale and Gita told few people their story after the war. They eventually made their way to Australia, where they raised a son and had a successful life. But when Gita died, Lale felt he could no longer carry the burden of their past alone. He chose to tell his story.

©2018 Heather Morris (P)2018 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd

What listeners say about The Tattooist of Auschwitz

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    5 out of 5 stars
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I didn' want it to end (I know that seems ghastly)

Would you consider the audio edition of The Tattooist of Auschwitz to be better than the print version?

As the subject matter was so harrowing there was something very reassuring about the calm, gentle voice of Lale telling his journey. It made it somehow easier to get through.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Tattooist of Auschwitz?

The story of liberation for the two of them. While we know only a tiny percentage of those who were sent to the death camps survived, it seems extraordinary that anyone did - let alone surviving for three years.

What about Richard Armitage’s performance did you like?

Lale's voice was so gentle and calm and it really helped with the horror of the story. The german and other accents were very good. However - the female voices always seems overly breathy and weak (these were women who were enduring untold horror sure, but they seemed too feeble at times). Also there seems to be a huge section where Lale's name has been edited in. Its very distracting. Its like it was pronounced wrong in the original recording and had to be edited over.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes and no. I had to break it up (car journeys) and was always frustrated I couldn't keep listening. On the other hand the story was so harrowing you needed time for parts of it to sink in before you could progress.

Any additional comments?

By the end you were so committed to the characters you wanted to hear about the rest of their lives.

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35 people found this helpful

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Couldn’t stop listening

Wow what an amazing insight to the horrors that was Auschwitz! So moving I cried from sadness and I cried from happiness. Amazing thank you

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27 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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avoid the audio version

Sadly my experience of this book was ruined by the horrendous quality of this recording. The narrator was not my favourite, but couldn't be faulted in his performance - that was not the issue. The production and the glaringly obvious splicing was unbelievable. It is evident that chapters, pages, paragraphs, even sentences were not read in one sitting. At one point towards the end, every time the narrator said "Lale" it was spliced in. WHAT ON EARTH is going on? How could this happen in such a highly anticipated and reviewed book, arguably one of the most read and talked about this year? Quite disappointing.

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15 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Great read

Not a moment listening to this book did not either make me smile or cry.

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11 people found this helpful

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Captivating

Such an intense story of love that endures unfathomable hardships. So beautifully written and read with a postscript that satisfies the human need for closure. I recommend this book to everyone young and old, if just to help us recognise that our own lives are really not that difficult after all.

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Brilliant but hardest read yet

Lale's story was incredible. Horrific, sad, and entwined with a beautiful love story all at once. The hardest, most sobering book I have ever listened to.

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Fantastic story

Wow what a brilliantly written powerful story
Set in one of Mans darkest times, a story of 2 peoples love and the will to survive the horrors of war
Thoroughly recommend it to everyone

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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Terrible narration

The narration was so inappropriate I could not finish the book.

Don't waste your time

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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Narrative distracting

Coulld hear where "Lale" had been re-recorded in a large section. Not usual Bolinda quality.

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6 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Incredible story

So very well written, kept me enthralled to the end.
Ensure you listen to epilogue, authors note and last word as it wraps the story perfectly.

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6 people found this helpful

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.