What I m Reading: The Tattooist Of Auschwitz I just finished listening to the audio book The Tattooist Of Auschwitz by Heather Morris. I saw the title of the book and immediately checked out the book. I didn t read the description admittedly, I judged the book by the title. So did I like the book. YES. I did. The book wasn t really long 288 pages under 10 hours of listening. Often books are 12 hours. This book took place at Auschwitz during WWII. The main character of the book, Lale, is a man who worked as a tattooist, tattooing on the numbers of the prisoners as they entered the concentration camp. The story is a testament in
the craftiness of a man who desperately wants to survive. He was able to get extra food and even medicine smuggled in helping so many other to survive. Here s what Amazon had to say: This beautiful, illuminating tale of hope and courage is based on interviews that were conducted with Holocaust survivor and Auschwitz-Birkenau tattooist Ludwig (Lale) Sokolov an unforgettable love story in the midst of atrocity. The Tattooist of Auschwitz is an extraordinary document, a story about the extremes of human behavior existing side by side: calculated brutality alongside impulsive and selfless acts of love. I find it hard to imagine anyone who would not be drawn in, confronted and moved. I would recommend it unreservedly to anyone, whether they d read a hundred Holocaust stories or none. Graeme Simsion, internationallybestselling author of The Rosie Project In April 1942, Lale Sokolov, a Slovakian Jew, is forcibly transported to the concentration camps at Auschwitz-Birkenau. When his captors discover that he speaks several languages, he is put to work as a Tätowierer (the German word for tattooist), tasked with permanently marking his fellow prisoners. Imprisoned for over two and a half years, Lale witnesses horrific atrocities and barbarism but also incredible acts of bravery and compassion. Risking his own life, he uses his privileged position to exchange jewels and money from murdered Jews for food to keep his fellow prisoners alive. One day in July 1942, Lale, prisoner 32407, comforts a trembling young woman waiting in line to have the number 34902 tattooed onto her arm. Her name is Gita, and in that first encounter, Lale vows to somehow survive the camp and marry her. A vivid, harrowing, and ultimately hopeful re-creation of Lale
Sokolov s experiences as the man who tattooed the arms of thousands of prisoners with what would become one of the most potent symbols of the Holocaust, The Tattooist of Auschwitz is also a testament to the endurance of love and humanity under the darkest possible conditions. Amazon readers gave the book 4.6 stars. I d likely agree. I found myself finding ways to get time to listen. That is always a good sign. What I m Reading: Girl Unbroken I just finished up reading the book Girl Unbroken by Regina Calcaterra and Rosie Maloney. If you remember you might know that I read the book Etched in Sand not to long ago. The two books tell the story of the abuse this family endured. First I heard the story of Regina. Now I read the story of the youngest in the family, Rosie.
The book got my attention immediately. I do suggest reading Etched in Sand first. I get so frustrated by these types of books. How do people get by with inflicting abuse like this?? It s crazy and plain and simple not right. It s so good to see a girl be strong like Rosie was. Knowing she can grow and get past the abuse is so uplifting!! Here s what Amazon had to say: In the highly anticipated sequel to her New York Times bestseller Etched in Sand, Regina Calcaterra pairs with her youngest sister Rosie to tell Rosie s harrowing, yet ultimately triumphant, story of childhood abuse and survival. They were five kids with five different fathers and an alcoholic mother who left them to fend for themselves for weeks at a time. Yet through it all they had each other. Rosie, the youngest, is fawned over and shielded by her older
sister, Regina. Their mother, Cookie, blows in and out of their lives like a hurricane, blind and uncaring to everything in her path. But when Regina discloses the truth about her abusive mother to her social worker, she is separated from her younger siblings Norman and Rosie. And as Rosie discovers after Cookie kidnaps her from foster care, the one thing worse than being abandoned by her mother is living in Cookie s presence. Beaten physically, abused emotionally, and forced to labor at the farm where Cookie settles in Idaho, Rosie refuses to give in. Like her sister Regina, Rosie has an unfathomable strength in the face of unimaginable hardship enough to propel her out of Idaho and out of a nightmare. Filled with maturity and grace, Rosie s memoir continues the compelling story begun in Etched in Sand a shocking yet profoundly moving testament to sisterhood and indomitable courage. Amazon readers gave the book 4.9 stars..i started the book and was quickly hooked. It always amazes me at how many chances a child will give a parent. I m so glad that Rosie finally found some peace. I d give the book 4.7 stars. What I m Reading: One Good Dog I just finished the audio book One Good Dog by Susan Wilson. I had just listened to The Dog Who Saved Me also by her. That says a lot that I listened to two books by the same author almost back to back.
In this book the dog tells it s side of the story and the human tells his side of the story. At first I thought that was weird but then I was okay with it and now, it doesn t bother me at all. The book didn t make me cry. I know I am always hesitant that I don t want to read animal books because I don t want to read about animal abuse and I certainly don t want the dog to die. This one is good.you might shed a tear you might get mad but you won t be a bawling blubbery mess-at least I wasn t. Here s what Amazon had to say: Acclaimed author Susan Wilson brings us a touching yet unblinkingly authentic tale of loss and rediscovery, of true friendship and learning what s truly important in life. One note. Three words. And Adam March s well-ordered life and well-laid plans are shattered. The very definition of a hard-nosed businessman, Adam March has no room in his life for anything but the cold drive to succeed. Not for his social-climbing wife or for his rebellious teenage daughter. Then, in an instant, he loses everything. Due to an untimely collision of arrogance, stress, circumstance, and a momentary loss of self-control, Adam finds himself alone, unemployed, and reduced to bussing tables in a homeless shelter, serving men he d always gone out of his way
to avoid. One instant of opportunity. Enough for one dog to find his freedom. Chance was born in an inner-city cellar, a mix of pit bull and God-knows-what. Bred to fight, and damn good at it, he lived in a dank, dark, and vicious world. Not that he wished for something better; that world was all he knew. But when the moment presented itself, Chance made the most of it in a new life on the street, for a little while. Two lives. Two second chances. Thrown together, Adam and Chance fill the holes in each other s lives. Adam gives Chance his first real home, a haven he never could have imagined, while Chance gives Adam a new start. And a new heart. That s One Good Dog. Amazon readers gave the book 4.6 stars. I d have to agree. I liked the book. I think I m going to check and see if Hoopla has any other books by her. If you like dog books, I suggest giving this author a try. Review: The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society So a few years ago I read the book The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. I LOVED it. I recommended it to everyone. It s on my top ten books of mine. That s saying a lot.
Well imagine my joy when I heard that Netflix was making a movie of the book. I was so full of anticipation then dread. What if they screw it up? Well the movie came out earlier this month and even though I ve been super busy, I took time and watched it. I didn t stitch when I watched. I didn t pin. I only watched. Again, that is saying a lot for me.
Here s the Billboard from the movie so you know what to look for in case you want to give it a try. So what did I think??? Me I loved it. I loved it a lot. The scenery was wonderful.
The cast was well done. The second I was done with it I was messaging Kayla telling her she MUST watch it.
It s made me want to read the book again. It s made me want to watch the movie again. That is a lot coming from me. I rarely watch movies twice. RARELY. So if you have Netflix, give this a try.and please do recommend anything else you re watching there. P.S. If you don t have Netflix, it s worth signing up just for a month to see it!!