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The Tattooist of Auschwitz #1-2
The Tattooist of Auschwitz / Cilka's Journey
Please Note That The Following Individual Books As Per Original ISBN and Cover Image In this Listing shall be Dispatched Collectively:
Heather Morris Collection 2 Books Set:
Cilka's Journey:
In 1942 Cilka Klein is just sixteen years old when she is taken to Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp. The Commandant at Birkenau, Schwarzhuber, notices her long beautiful hair, and forces her separation from the other women prisoners. Cilka learns quickly that power, even unwillingly given, equals survival. After liberation, Cilka is charged as a collaborator by the Russians and sent to a desolate, brutal prison camp in Siberia known as Vorkuta, inside the Arctic Circle.
The Tattooist of Auschwitz:
In 1942, Lale Sokolov arrived in Auschwitz-Birkenau. He was given the job of tattooing the prisoners marked for survival - scratching numbers into his fellow victims' arms in indelible ink to create what would become one of the most potent symbols of the Holocaust. 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 was determined not only to survive himself, but to ensure this woman, Gita, did, too.
Heather Morris Collection 2 Books Set:
Cilka's Journey:
In 1942 Cilka Klein is just sixteen years old when she is taken to Auschwitz-Birkenau Concentration Camp. The Commandant at Birkenau, Schwarzhuber, notices her long beautiful hair, and forces her separation from the other women prisoners. Cilka learns quickly that power, even unwillingly given, equals survival. After liberation, Cilka is charged as a collaborator by the Russians and sent to a desolate, brutal prison camp in Siberia known as Vorkuta, inside the Arctic Circle.
The Tattooist of Auschwitz:
In 1942, Lale Sokolov arrived in Auschwitz-Birkenau. He was given the job of tattooing the prisoners marked for survival - scratching numbers into his fellow victims' arms in indelible ink to create what would become one of the most potent symbols of the Holocaust. 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 was determined not only to survive himself, but to ensure this woman, Gita, did, too.
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Published January 1, 2019
70 people are currently reading
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About the author
Heather Morris
26 books9,421 followersI am a Native of New Zealand now resident in Australia, working in a large public hospital in Melbourne. For several years I studied and wrote screenplays, one of which was optioned by an academy award winning Screenwriter in the U.S. In 2003, I was introduced to an elderly gentleman "who might just have a story worth telling". The day I met Lale Sokolov changed my life, as our friendship grew and he embarked on a journey of self scrutiny, entrusting the inner most details of his life during the Holocaust. I originally wrote Lale's story as a screenplay - which ranked high in international competitions - before reshaping it into my debut novel, The Tattooist of Auschwitz.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
January 20, 2021
These books are both really interesting, I absolutely loved reading them. They are both so emotional and captivating to read, I wasn't able to put them down once I had started to read them!
May 15, 2020
|| The Tattooist of Auschwitz & Cilka’s Journey || Heather Morris || • Book Review 5⭐️ || • - “He is a man whose soul has died and whose body is yet to catch up with it” Morris. •
Powerful, haunting, distressing. •
Morris retells the true stories of the forgotten. Lale is sent to Auschwitz surviving by being forced to be the ‘Tatowierer”, the man who scratched the numbers into his fellow victims arms. Using his position to help keep others alive, he meets Gita, they will do whatever it takes to be together and free. •
Cilka is 16 years old when taken to Auschwitz, her beauty is noticed by a commanding officer and she is forced into a position of power, forced to do things she will have to live with forever. After it is liberated she is sent to Vorkuta, a Russian prison camp in Siberia and faces her own demons, whilst trying to survive another harsh environment. Using every ounce of strength to help others as she did in Auschwitz. •
I read the first book before visiting Auschwitz back in February 2020 and I feel that anyone who has the means to, should visit, because it is hard to comprehend the scale without stepping foot inside. There really are no words. •
Morris has retold such excruciatingly painful stories with tenderness, in a way that doesn’t deflect from the brutality of the experiences but helps us to relate to the emotions, the families, the strength. There is no way to sugar coat the atrocities that took place, to do so would be to disrespect the millions who had to experience them. •
The books help to spark the conversation again, to bring the truth to light to anyone that hasn’t heard or believed it. They really bring home the strength that you had to have to survive, to help others and to love. •
Powerful, haunting, distressing. •
Morris retells the true stories of the forgotten. Lale is sent to Auschwitz surviving by being forced to be the ‘Tatowierer”, the man who scratched the numbers into his fellow victims arms. Using his position to help keep others alive, he meets Gita, they will do whatever it takes to be together and free. •
Cilka is 16 years old when taken to Auschwitz, her beauty is noticed by a commanding officer and she is forced into a position of power, forced to do things she will have to live with forever. After it is liberated she is sent to Vorkuta, a Russian prison camp in Siberia and faces her own demons, whilst trying to survive another harsh environment. Using every ounce of strength to help others as she did in Auschwitz. •
I read the first book before visiting Auschwitz back in February 2020 and I feel that anyone who has the means to, should visit, because it is hard to comprehend the scale without stepping foot inside. There really are no words. •
Morris has retold such excruciatingly painful stories with tenderness, in a way that doesn’t deflect from the brutality of the experiences but helps us to relate to the emotions, the families, the strength. There is no way to sugar coat the atrocities that took place, to do so would be to disrespect the millions who had to experience them. •
The books help to spark the conversation again, to bring the truth to light to anyone that hasn’t heard or believed it. They really bring home the strength that you had to have to survive, to help others and to love. •
March 10, 2024
This is a harrowing account of utterly heart wrenching human devastation. The prose is written to appeal to a wide audience. It will leave you speechless and reflective of your own freedom. What is overwhelmingly obvious is, as cliche as it is, the power of simple raw love. Huge admiration for the author whom no doubt will have lived the events second hand herself. We owe soooo much, without judgement 😔
December 9, 2021
Saying that I enjoyed both these books seems wrong but they used all of my senses to express just how appalling the concentration camps were. They are both great historical novels with a fictional element that makes them into, although horrific, stories of love and community.
Both were fantastic but I definitely found myself drawn to Cilka's Journey more. I think this is because being a female I could relate to the female characters in this novel, there were times where I found myself tensing up in fear or wondering if the next page was going to be a tale of something more horrific than the last.
If anything both these books put my life into perspective.
Both were fantastic but I definitely found myself drawn to Cilka's Journey more. I think this is because being a female I could relate to the female characters in this novel, there were times where I found myself tensing up in fear or wondering if the next page was going to be a tale of something more horrific than the last.
If anything both these books put my life into perspective.
June 11, 2023
Outstanding storytelling, full of tragedy and deeply moving. Quick page turner!
January 15, 2024
Very interesting in sight into what actually happened, very beautiful story of how they managed to find love and each other through all the horror
August 22, 2022
I was hesitant to read this story. I am Jewish, and I had heard some people I know say that this book was not accurate. However, I had seen many recommendations and positive reviews for this book and decided to try it. I got only about 30 pages in and gave up on this story.
First, the writing is flat. It is like reading Someone list the events of their day with little description and no real emotion. I felt that scenes For this author to take a real survivor’s story and was heartbreaking to me. Scenes like being transported to the camp had little emotion and what little there was was sanitized with platitudes. I felt even in that one scene the author was setting us up to see Lale ,real name Lali, as somehow smarter or more positive or above other prisoners. This to is unforgivable and where I stopped reading.
I caught several inaccuracies in the few pages I read. At one point they are being described as transported in Wagons… which did not happen. Then just a few pages later they are in cattle cars of a train, which is accurate. This shows me that a similar lack of historical accuracy and care will be replicated throughout the books.
I don’t think this author has take the care and understanding and nuance and deep raw emotion it requires to write a survivor’s story. I felt as I was reading this was going to be a romance tale that happened to be set in Auschwitz, not in spite of it. If you want to get into Holocaust literature please start with books written by survivors there are many many memoirs told in their own words with their own perspective and not money as the aim of publishing. If you don’t want to read the horrors or are looking for a soft introduction look to novels such as Number The Stars.
I will stop by saying this, you are not owed entertainment or “uplifting” stories stories from the Holocaust. This feels like a cheapening and monetization of one of the most horrific chapters of history. After attempting this story I feel these stories should be left to survivors and people committed to writing truth not romance.
First, the writing is flat. It is like reading Someone list the events of their day with little description and no real emotion. I felt that scenes For this author to take a real survivor’s story and was heartbreaking to me. Scenes like being transported to the camp had little emotion and what little there was was sanitized with platitudes. I felt even in that one scene the author was setting us up to see Lale ,real name Lali, as somehow smarter or more positive or above other prisoners. This to is unforgivable and where I stopped reading.
I caught several inaccuracies in the few pages I read. At one point they are being described as transported in Wagons… which did not happen. Then just a few pages later they are in cattle cars of a train, which is accurate. This shows me that a similar lack of historical accuracy and care will be replicated throughout the books.
I don’t think this author has take the care and understanding and nuance and deep raw emotion it requires to write a survivor’s story. I felt as I was reading this was going to be a romance tale that happened to be set in Auschwitz, not in spite of it. If you want to get into Holocaust literature please start with books written by survivors there are many many memoirs told in their own words with their own perspective and not money as the aim of publishing. If you don’t want to read the horrors or are looking for a soft introduction look to novels such as Number The Stars.
I will stop by saying this, you are not owed entertainment or “uplifting” stories stories from the Holocaust. This feels like a cheapening and monetization of one of the most horrific chapters of history. After attempting this story I feel these stories should be left to survivors and people committed to writing truth not romance.
October 3, 2022
The Tattooist of Auschwitz, by Heather Morris
I wanted to get started on my next light reading novel, but I just can't get the story I have just read out of mind. Not a good read at all but a must read lest we forget this horrific period in our history. The personal account of Lale Sokolov the tattooist in Auschwitz. He was subsequently assigned to become one of the camp's Tätowierer (tattooist) when he was chosen by another fellow tattooist to help with the influx of people herded in off the Cattle trucks. This is his account of his three years imprisonment into Auschwitz. He describes not only the horrors of cruelty and evil perpetrated at the camp, but also of finding his lifelong love within it. As a result, his determination to survive and after escaping his new camp, a new determination to find the woman he had fallen in love with. To actually finding her, marrying and remaining so until her death in 2003 and then his in 2006.
"During World War II, six million Jews died at the hands of the Nazis—many at concentration camps. One of the worst camps was Auschwitz-Birkenau, where hundreds of thousands of Jews and other German enemies were imprisoned. Yet one man found a way to survive the camp. He became the tattooist, marking each arriving prisoner with a six-digit number that would become their new identity. This work protected him from the worst treatment and helped him meet the young woman he would fall madly in love with. The Tattooist of Auschwitz is the fictionalized harrowing tale of love and perseverance in one of the darkest moments in history." Wikipedia
A tragic time in history that cannot be forgotten much like we see happening right now as Russia invade Ukraine with the bodies of those killed buried in mass graves. We cannot stand by and let this type of evil prevail. As it did with the innocent Jewish civilians, people who either starved to death within these death camps, shot and buried in mass grave or gassed in chambers and their bodies burnt in the crematorium furnaces.
I wanted to get started on my next light reading novel, but I just can't get the story I have just read out of mind. Not a good read at all but a must read lest we forget this horrific period in our history. The personal account of Lale Sokolov the tattooist in Auschwitz. He was subsequently assigned to become one of the camp's Tätowierer (tattooist) when he was chosen by another fellow tattooist to help with the influx of people herded in off the Cattle trucks. This is his account of his three years imprisonment into Auschwitz. He describes not only the horrors of cruelty and evil perpetrated at the camp, but also of finding his lifelong love within it. As a result, his determination to survive and after escaping his new camp, a new determination to find the woman he had fallen in love with. To actually finding her, marrying and remaining so until her death in 2003 and then his in 2006.
"During World War II, six million Jews died at the hands of the Nazis—many at concentration camps. One of the worst camps was Auschwitz-Birkenau, where hundreds of thousands of Jews and other German enemies were imprisoned. Yet one man found a way to survive the camp. He became the tattooist, marking each arriving prisoner with a six-digit number that would become their new identity. This work protected him from the worst treatment and helped him meet the young woman he would fall madly in love with. The Tattooist of Auschwitz is the fictionalized harrowing tale of love and perseverance in one of the darkest moments in history." Wikipedia
A tragic time in history that cannot be forgotten much like we see happening right now as Russia invade Ukraine with the bodies of those killed buried in mass graves. We cannot stand by and let this type of evil prevail. As it did with the innocent Jewish civilians, people who either starved to death within these death camps, shot and buried in mass grave or gassed in chambers and their bodies burnt in the crematorium furnaces.
April 22, 2020
After reading The tattooist of Auschwitz (which I was absolutely glued to from beginning to end) due to isolation I finally got time to read my Christmas present.
It wasn't as hard hitting as the tattooist, although still emotional in parts especially due to the fact this women was still facing punishment after Auschwitz. It taught me a great deal, as I feel this is rarely portrayed in history and in fact I had no idea that punishment continued in Russia.
Lale commented that Cilka Klien was the bravest person he had ever met, I now understand why. How someone can survive so much trauma and still take every opportunity to improve herself is astounding. Her lack of selfishness and care for others is heart warming is something to aspire to.
Cilka Klien- some woman.
It wasn't as hard hitting as the tattooist, although still emotional in parts especially due to the fact this women was still facing punishment after Auschwitz. It taught me a great deal, as I feel this is rarely portrayed in history and in fact I had no idea that punishment continued in Russia.
Lale commented that Cilka Klien was the bravest person he had ever met, I now understand why. How someone can survive so much trauma and still take every opportunity to improve herself is astounding. Her lack of selfishness and care for others is heart warming is something to aspire to.
Cilka Klien- some woman.
May 22, 2022
Although Lale’s story is as memorable and sweet as it is heartbreaking, Morris’ writing leaves much to be desired. It is as though this book were unreviewed prior to publication - unedited - with scattered typos, awkward phrasing and syntax throughout, and less than creative descriptions and retellings of this man’s genuine life story.
If you are seeking a compelling true story and care not about its linguistic trappings, this is one. An easy read to take on a beach trip or holiday and discard once completed. If you are looking for a new favorite author to inspire and delight you, who will leave you begging for more, keep searching.
If you are seeking a compelling true story and care not about its linguistic trappings, this is one. An easy read to take on a beach trip or holiday and discard once completed. If you are looking for a new favorite author to inspire and delight you, who will leave you begging for more, keep searching.
January 26, 2023
After enduring an endless finish of the first book about Lale Sokolov, I thought that the second book is better. I was wrong!
Again, the narrator(because she is not a writer) describes what Cilka did here and what Cilka did there without sending any form of affection to the reader. The same Cilka that in the first book “had” to act strongly with her peer females is often described now as a tough cookie that, on more than one occasion, she tends to be impulsive. The truth, I think, is that Cilka did everything she could to stay alive without caring about others.
I couldn’t finish the last 15% of the book.
Again, the narrator(because she is not a writer) describes what Cilka did here and what Cilka did there without sending any form of affection to the reader. The same Cilka that in the first book “had” to act strongly with her peer females is often described now as a tough cookie that, on more than one occasion, she tends to be impulsive. The truth, I think, is that Cilka did everything she could to stay alive without caring about others.
I couldn’t finish the last 15% of the book.
October 15, 2023
This is a harrowing tale, which is in my opinion entirely necessary to be read. It highlights the pitfalls of human nature in how those in power treated those in the concentration camps. Despite it being a traumatic read for myself, there was a feature of hope running throughout the entire storyline as we followed the character.
I think the authors note alone is so worthwhile to understand the context of this story. The fact this piece of fiction is based on non-fiction events and real life survivor experiences says it all about that time.
Very sad, very raw and very real.
I think the authors note alone is so worthwhile to understand the context of this story. The fact this piece of fiction is based on non-fiction events and real life survivor experiences says it all about that time.
Very sad, very raw and very real.
August 12, 2020
Recently I’ve just started reading books as I’m needing to up my skills with writing, I can honestly say these two books having given me an amazing start to my obsession with books now, probably the best books I will ever read. There was an instant grip on both of books. I’ve went on a tour to auschwitz birkenau 2 years ago so while reading them I found them even more intense and surreal. I do hope Heather Morris writes more of these stories or similar as I found them truest amazing x
October 4, 2020
Based on a true story , but this is still a novel and a romantic one at that .The story is intriguing since it is set in real surrounding and true events . What I found surprising is the way that opportunities which came the way of the main character were not grasped but left for others to benefit . Admittedly she is said to have been a great person but she was out to do anything to live and not be put down ,
January 28, 2021
Heather Morris writes in a style that keeps you turning page after page, her books are difficult to put down especially if you read about how she came to write them.
She writes about a very difficult subject drawing the reader into the book, enabling them to emphasize with the characters.
I could not put the books down and was quite sad when I finished them, I wanted to know more, I wanted to keep their story alive and tell other people they must read these stories too. Brilliant!!
She writes about a very difficult subject drawing the reader into the book, enabling them to emphasize with the characters.
I could not put the books down and was quite sad when I finished them, I wanted to know more, I wanted to keep their story alive and tell other people they must read these stories too. Brilliant!!
July 24, 2024
[ The tattooist of Auswitz ]
I’d give it a 4,5 ⭐️ if I could and only because I reserve 5 ⭐️ to very few special books.
I really liked this book, the right proportion of history mixed with fiction and emotions for us to enjoy it without it feeling too heavy as other books tackling similar topics could. If you like books on that topic or want to try one, go for this one ! It’s not my first one and I really don’t regret having read it. Can’t wait to read the others !!
I’d give it a 4,5 ⭐️ if I could and only because I reserve 5 ⭐️ to very few special books.
I really liked this book, the right proportion of history mixed with fiction and emotions for us to enjoy it without it feeling too heavy as other books tackling similar topics could. If you like books on that topic or want to try one, go for this one ! It’s not my first one and I really don’t regret having read it. Can’t wait to read the others !!
July 5, 2020
Definitely worth the read, I loved the way the characters cross over within the books, it was very clever. A real insight into the rarely explored stories of the Jews labelled as ‘privileged prisoners’ and their individual plights and determination for survival, a viewpoint on the holocaust I haven’t considered previously. I would recommend.
August 4, 2021
They are both amazing books and definitely worth a read but I would personally recommend reading the tattooist first if u do consider reading Cilka’s Journey and even though they are both slightly different they both definitely bring out lots of emotions and it still saddens me that we will never fully know Cilka’s true story aka journey.
October 13, 2021
This was one of the books that was chosen by my book club. For those of us who are old enough to have learned about the horrors Of the Nazis during World War II this book brings it to life and I hope for this to not happen again, but it is still going on. It could be a tough book to get through at times but these things actually happened
January 11, 2022
These two books are a marvel. In-depth perspectives on how life was for the people imprisoned, looking at the strength and endurance the people showed. Absolute must reads for anyone who is interested in such genres. You emerge yourself in the characters' lives, picturing and feeling every emotion portrayed in the books.
December 18, 2023
This book is a must read for everyone. It shares with us the incredible journey of one man and how he survives in the most horrendous and harrowing conditions possible, in Concentration Camps during World War 2.
It’s a triumph of the human spirit in never giving up. To always have hope and believe that goodness and love will prevail over evil.
We must never let this happen again.
It’s a triumph of the human spirit in never giving up. To always have hope and believe that goodness and love will prevail over evil.
We must never let this happen again.
September 16, 2024
These books were so inspirational, a true testimony that love is the strongest power in the world and always finds its way on us. It is so well written that my reading was so smooth and I did not want to stop. My heart was touched by these stories. I will definitely read the rest of Heather's books.
November 16, 2024
I read these books a few years back when I wasn't that into reading and found them absolutely captivating books and a very emotional read. Was pleasantly surprised to read / see the research at the back of the books as you can tell the author, Heather Morris, did a huge amount of research to write these and I think she did an incredible job capturing these unique and harrowing stories.
January 2, 2025
Kam lexuar tautistin dhe tani jam duke lexuar rruegtimin e silkes. Per librin e pare mendoj se nuk ka asgje per tu shtuar eshte nje histori reale qe edhe ne na kthen ne realitet,gjithashtu dhe pjesa e Lejlit dhe Gites eshte nje histori mallegjyse.Shpresoj qe edhe “Rrugetimi i Silkes” te jete i tille.
September 10, 2021
An emotional, factual (not all), romantic novel as Heather Morris cleverly describes the harrowing events that took place in Auschwitz. It was both captivating and memorable, a book everyone should read.
October 31, 2021
I was worried I wouldn't be able to enjoy this book as I imagined it would be a distressing read due to the subject matter. On the contrary I found it to be a tale of resilience and strength of the human spirit.
May 9, 2022
Excellent book. Great insight into the Gulag (Siberian concentration camp). Now keen to reread A Day in the life of Ivan Denisovich by Alexander Solzhenitsyn which had a very strong impression on me as a teenager as I had read nothing like it .
May 21, 2022
The story is absolutely breathtaking! I loved it soo much, I don’t think I can even put it into words. Honestly, I didn’t love the writing style of the author that much but that was overshadowed by the wonderful story anyways. Just heartwarming
July 11, 2022
So glad I have finally got around to reading this. It's been sat on my bookshelf waiting for the right time.
The moment came and it was disturbingly easy to read.
For some reason the positivity of the protagonist made the book so bearable. The distressing scenes were made more readable by the love affair unfolding in front of my eyes.
What an amazing couple to find love and hope against such devastating experiences. I am in awe of the courageousness of the victims and I thank them for letting their story be told.
The moment came and it was disturbingly easy to read.
For some reason the positivity of the protagonist made the book so bearable. The distressing scenes were made more readable by the love affair unfolding in front of my eyes.
What an amazing couple to find love and hope against such devastating experiences. I am in awe of the courageousness of the victims and I thank them for letting their story be told.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 7, 2022
Not an easy novel to read. I was sad for all those who suffered. It's shocking how we as a human race allowed it to happen it. But it is also a book of hope. It's great to see how those people overcame such horror and managed to found love.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews