This is the second book in a month where the book is worthy of the all the praise and hype for making it so famous. ‘The Tattooist of Auschwitz’ is such a remarkable book containing such a fragile and fantabulous love story. Although people have already used cliché to describe its existence, I would simply call it a love against all odds.
As the name goes, the major part of the story takes place in the infamous hellhole called Auschwitz during the Second World War. It’s suffice to say that the book shades more light on the barbaric practices and subhuman lives in this ‘workcamp’ of the conquerors. The prisoners are all the unwanted people gathered across the borders of the Third Reich.
One such prisoner is Lale; born Ludwig Eisenberg in Slovakia and transported to the concentration camp as a bargaining chip to save his rest of the family, he enters the infamous camp gates in April 1942. As was the routine, the first and foremost thing he looses is his identity. He is no longer Lale but prisoner 32407, the digits inked on his hand for rest of his life.
That black ink oozing death and destruction not only wipes Lale’s past but also puts serious questions on his future. Because there is nothing more prominent and punishing than surviving the present in this hellish situation. But armed with his inherent charm and wit, Lale manages to secure a job as the assistant of the Tattooist- Pepan.
Pepan saves Lale in more ways than one, it’s because of him and the work which he passes on that Lale becomes the main Tattooist eventually. It is this work which makes it possible to meet new arrivals and reach out to many people other than his old blockmates.
One such new arrival is Gita who Lale meets at the registration site and immediately falls in love at the first glance. Considering Lale’s work as part of the political wing, many prisoners keep a distance from him. But Lale manages to win over their trust by providing food and medicines smuggled from nearby villagers. That’s how he manages to win the confidence and eventually heart of Gita.
And how does love story blossoming under the shadows of death flourish? What happened to their individual lives and whether they were able to fulfil the promises they made to each other? Well, as many readers might be aware of this story being based on reality and they can guess what happens next to Lale and Gita. But even if you are aware, this book is worth reading for all the pains and pleasures which this admirable leading pair endures.
Agreed that this book seems to be taking a simplistic view of this entire monstrous place but as the author explains is for a reason. Basically she is more focused on telling a love story which bloomed and continued despite being surrounded by such inhuman circumstances. So, according to me we can put this as a fictionalised version of the actual events taken place in an unprecedented period of world history.
Having said that, it is a book which I cannot recommend enough. Even if you cringe at love stories or you would like to stay away from this story looking at the mixed reviews, I urge you not to do so. This living life to the fullest while loving each other in all times and every time is such an important life lesson for anybody and every time.
