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Stefe's Reviews > The Tattooist of Auschwitz

The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris
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did not like it

As much as I loathe to give a book with such a serious subject matter a low rating, I found after having read my fair share of books about the Holocaust, by comparison, this book did not convey the horror depravity and inhumanity suffered in these camps. It should have made the reader feel uncomfortable but the writing lacked credibility, feeling or emotion. - I wasn’t convinced that Lale was in a concentration camp - it just seemed all too easy for him. I feel the author concentrated more on the love story and less on the horror this poor man, his wife to be and fellow inmates endured. As one reviewer aptly described it she felt as if she was reading about a “Disney version” concentration camp.
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Reading Progress

January 31, 2018 – Shelved
January 31, 2018 – Shelved as: to-read
May 26, 2018 – Started Reading
May 29, 2018 – Finished Reading

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Comments Showing 1-29 of 29 (29 new)

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message 1: by Amanda (new) - rated it 2 stars
Sep 22, 2018 05:11AM

Amanda I agree with you completely. I was really disappointed with this one.


message 2: by Stefe (new) - rated it 1 star
Sep 24, 2018 07:00AM

Stefe Thanks Amanda I’m glad I’m not the only one that was so disappointed by this book.


message 3: by Stefe (new) - rated it 1 star
Oct 07, 2018 11:45PM

Stefe Couldn’t agree more Ian, I think the author didn’t do them justice. They were so much more than the love story.


message 4: by Caryn (new) - rated it 1 star
Nov 24, 2018 02:01PM

Caryn I said the same thing in my 1 Star review—this could have been set in a summer camp rather than a concentration camp. I’m so tired of getting my hopes up for a 5 star book and being so disappointed. River of Darkness was another one.


message 5: by Stefe (new) - rated it 1 star
Nov 26, 2018 03:45AM

Stefe I read your review Caryn and think it said it all, more so than mine. I loved your “tongue in cheek” comments!!


message 6: by Reeves (new) - rated it 1 star
Dec 03, 2018 04:08AM

Reeves Honey I agree with all the comments. Having read maybe over a hundred books on the Holocaust this one's depiction seemed impossible to believe. I do not think anybody as a prisoner had the freedom of movement that this story depicts. I am sure all the unfortunate individuals who worked in " Canada" we're subject to the most brutal searches every time they left the area for instance. This is a false history. I am halfway thru the book. I want to evoke the Readers Bill of Rights and give up but will not in memory of those who suffered unimaginable horror.


message 7: by Stefe (new) - rated it 1 star
Dec 04, 2018 04:54AM

Stefe Hi R yes it’s definitely ‘false history’. I would hate for a young person reading their first holocaust book to pick this one up.


message 8: by Bloss ♡ (new) - rated it 2 stars
Apr 06, 2019 10:59AM

Bloss ♡ Your review it spot-on.

It felt like the author used the horror of Auschwitz as a mere backdrop for a cheesy and ridiculous romance. Lale’s experience was such a huge departure from the countless other memoirs that I’ve read by holocaust victims that I was truly flummoxed to find out this was a true story.


message 9: by Stefe (new) - rated it 1 star
Apr 07, 2019 09:42AM

Stefe You’re so right Bloss I had read prior to starting this book that it was a true story, but it did read as you so eloquently put it “ a cheesy ridiculous romance”.


message 10: by Donna (new) - rated it 1 star
May 19, 2019 04:30PM

Donna I agree with all of these comments. The story did not feel real at all — felt like a made up, white washed version of Auschwitz.


message 11: by Stefe (new) - rated it 1 star
May 21, 2019 07:44AM

Stefe Yes Donna there seems to be quite a number of us with the same opinion


message 12: by Jasmine (new) - rated it 1 star
Jun 11, 2019 02:34PM

Jasmine It’s based on a true story, but published as fiction. So I wonder what parts are actually true. The romanticising of Auschwitz leaves a pretty bad taste in my mouth. Really disliked this book


message 13: by Stefe (new) - rated it 1 star
Jun 12, 2019 12:30PM

Stefe Yes I read where the author interviewed Lale for a few years before the book was written and published. It’s such a shame she did not convey it well and do his story justice.


message 14: by Nicole (new) - rated it 2 stars
Nov 28, 2019 09:46PM

Nicole Lara Spot on review


message 15: by Stefe (new) - rated it 1 star
Dec 05, 2019 10:56PM

Stefe Thanks Nicole I dislike giving a book a poor review but I think this one deserved it.


message 16: by Brittany (new) - rated it 1 star
Nov 03, 2020 01:33AM

Brittany Agreed! I couldn’t even finish this
Book! So disappointed! Well said.


message 17: by Stefe (new) - rated it 1 star
Nov 05, 2020 10:30AM

Stefe Hi Brittany why am I not surprised you struggled to finish this book. I persisted hoping it would improve but unfortunately it didn’t happen.


message 18: by MariaGaivao (new) - rated it 4 stars
Feb 13, 2021 10:42PM

MariaGaivao Hi. Can you please advise on good books about the Holocaust? Thank you in advance :)


message 19: by Stefe (new) - rated it 1 star
Feb 13, 2021 11:25PM

Stefe Hi Maria my initial interest in the holocaust came from my parents who as young teens witnessed the treatment of Jewish people in their homeland but rarely spoke of it. Wanting to know more I went to my local library and read numerous books in the 940.53 section. The majority of these were read many years ago - in my teens and early twenties, before Goodreads- so I no longer recall titles. Sorry I can’t be more specific but if you go to this section at your local library you should find a reasonable choice but much of it is very distressing reading as they are real accounts of people’s experiences.


message 20: by MariaGaivao (new) - rated it 4 stars
Feb 14, 2021 07:45AM

MariaGaivao Thank you for your time


message 21: by Ginny (new) - rated it 2 stars
May 07, 2023 06:07PM

Ginny Dutt I agree. The storytelling wasn't upto the mark.


message 22: by Stefe (new) - rated it 1 star
May 10, 2023 10:12AM

Stefe Hi Ginny. I also tried to read the second in the series, hoping it would be better but found it equally as bad.


message 23: by Elena (new) - rated it 5 stars
Jun 29, 2023 06:54AM

Elena LaGrange I don't completely agree but I do understand where you are coming from though they could have gone a bit more in depth of the struggles and suffering of the camp, I do feel that Morris described plenty of inhumane things happening in the camp.


message 24: by Stefe (new) - rated it 1 star
Jul 01, 2023 01:21PM

Stefe Hello Elena
Whilst I respect your opinion of this book, I’m afraid we’ll have to agree to disagree. Many years ago, I went through a period of reading quite a number of accounts by survivors of concentration camps (pretty much all the books my local library had at the time on this subject). Their stories were so horrifying and shocking that they have stayed with me to this day. In comparison Heather Morris’ book, had very little impact. For me personally, her story seemed to be sugar coated.
But fortunately we’re all different and have different opinions. It would be a very boring world if we all agreed on every subject.


message 25: by Elena (new) - rated it 5 stars
Jul 01, 2023 03:07PM

Elena LaGrange Thanks for the respectful response and I'll try to look at the book from a different perspective if I ever re-read it.


message 26: by Georgina (new) - rated it 1 star
Dec 07, 2023 02:49PM

Georgina Roberts This is exactly what I thought when I read it, it was like a "Disney Version" concentration camp and very historically inaccurate.


message 27: by Lori (new) - added it
Feb 13, 2024 10:03PM

Lori Nameth I’ve read several books about the Holocaust and found them heartbreaking. This book lacked the emotional connection to the main character, Lale. The author wrote in such a way that you felt as though he was just floating through this experience. He seemed to be able to walk about freely in these camps, socialize with friends and meet with his girlfriend behind the administration offices. This did not reflect any of the horrors that I have read about the SS’s hyper vigilant watch over the prisoners. I agree with Georgina. Definitely a Disney Version. DNF


message 28: by Stefe (new) - rated it 1 star
Feb 19, 2024 11:37AM

Stefe Hi Lori, apologies I’ve been away for a few weeks. I wholeheartedly agree with everything you say.


message 29: by Maureen (new) - rated it 2 stars
Nov 13, 2024 09:58PM

Maureen I ended up describing this as 'the soft focus Holocaust'. The book did not go down well at our book group, many expressing the same reservations mentioned here.


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