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4.32 AVERAGE
4.32 AVERAGE
A sequel of sorts to The Tattooist of Auschwitz, this is also a book that stands alone. After surviving Auschwitz-Birkenau, young Cilka is sent to Siberia, and this is the story of her years there. She was not an ordinary prisoner and took advantage of her few privileges to help fellow prisoners. This was inspired by a true story and I recommend reading the epilogue. I both read the book and listened to the audiobook, as I was doing a lot of driving at the time. I don't usually like audiobooks but loved this narrator and her beautiful accent.
I know most of this is fiction, but it gives us a good idea of how life must have been for Cilka. I can’t imagine being judged for doing what I had to do to survive. Morris makes a statement in this book that resonated with me so well. I’m just gonna paraphrase it, but it’s basically saying that people who have not been through war may think they know how they would feel or the decisions they would make if they were in one, but they would never really know. That pretty much sums up the purpose of this book.
This was really heartbreaking and Cilka is indeed one of the bravest and strongest people I’ve read about. It almost feels impossible that a human will go through all that she has went through and still find the will to live. She was so selfless even to the people who did not deserve her selflessness. Amidst all of this we also got a cute love story.
Great Job Morris!!
This was really heartbreaking and Cilka is indeed one of the bravest and strongest people I’ve read about. It almost feels impossible that a human will go through all that she has went through and still find the will to live. She was so selfless even to the people who did not deserve her selflessness. Amidst all of this we also got a cute love story.
Great Job Morris!!
dark
emotional
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
4.5 stars because the ending was so rushed. But anyways.
Oh, my heart. It aches for Cilka and Josie and everyone in their hut. While historical fiction, it is based on real-life accounts. Imagine surviving the Holocaust to then be put in a gulag, the emotions that must accompany that. Normally I don’t like flashbacks, but they were well done here and really helped show who Cilka was; she was not perfect, was a Kapo herself, but she survived. And the important question is raised: who are we to judge, and even can we when faced with impossible choices?
Oh, my heart. It aches for Cilka and Josie and everyone in their hut. While historical fiction, it is based on real-life accounts. Imagine surviving the Holocaust to then be put in a gulag, the emotions that must accompany that. Normally I don’t like flashbacks, but they were well done here and really helped show who Cilka was; she was not perfect, was a Kapo herself, but she survived. And the important question is raised: who are we to judge, and even can we when faced with impossible choices?
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes