What an extraordinary book.
Heather Morris writes the true story of Lale Sokolov, who arrived at Auschwitz-Birkenau in 1942 and swears to survive this nightmare in any way he can. It is because of this motto that he becomes the tattooist of Auschwitz, permanently marking prisoners with a number they now branded with. Stripped of all identity and freedom, the tale of each individual prisoner is heart-breaking and powerful. No words I can ever convey will explain how powerful and important this novel is. What I loved most about the character of Lale was his will to survive, and his will to help others survive as best as he can. In particular, he sets out to aid Gita, a girl he falls in love with, as he attempts to keep her alive and promises a better future outside of the camp together. Their story is a reminder that love and hope can survive where everything is bleak, and it is their endurance that I admire so much. There are some harrowing images throughout the novel, which Morris depicts perfectly from the perspective of Lale without dramatizing. The horrific atrocities Lale and his fellow prisoners witnessed and encountered on an every day basis become the norm to them, and this is portrayed perfectly in the simplistic narration of events. As Lale works to save those he comes to love, he doesn't depict himself as a hero. He is merely obtaining his humanity in a place that has been deprived of it. It is so important to remember the Holocaust, the people that lost their lives and the loyalties and relationships that remained even as death surrounded them. It is these stories of friendship, survival and endurance that fills us with hope that even in the darkest days, a shred of humanity survives. This story brought me to tears and even made me wretch with disgust at times, and it is for that reason that we must always remember the unthinkable crimes committed, not just in Auschwitz, but all over the world, so that no one has to endure such torture and humiliation ever again. I encourage everyone to read this heart-wrenching tale about a man who refused to be defeated and a love that prevails all.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
December 2022
Categories
All
Author
Part-time student/bar-associate |