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kelly_e's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
Author: Heather Morris
Series: The Tattooist of Auschwitz, #2
Genre: Historical Fiction
Rating: 3.25
Pub Date: October 1 2019
T H R E E • W O R D S
Heartbreaking • Triumphant • Well Researched
📖 S Y N O P S I S
At the age of sixteen, Cilka was sent to Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. While there she catches the eye of one of the commandants and is given special living arrangements to ensure she's available to him as needed. Upon liberation, Cilka is charged with collaboration for sleeping with the enemy, and is sentenced to fifteen years in Siberian prison camp. Based on a true story, it is a story of survival and determination, of friendship and love in the face of such atrocities.
💭 T H O U G H T S
Having met Cilka in The Tattooist of Auschwitz, a book I absolutely loved, I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy of this book. It may have been my expectations but I felt a bit let down. I'll start out by saying Heather Morris' research of the Siberian Gulags was extremely well done. This is an aspect of WWII that I knew very little about, and I appreciate learning about it. Cilka's character is truly a strong and inspiring woman, her courage and determination in the face of such horrific circumstances are what makes this book emotional. However, I did feel myself questioning what was fiction and what wasn't, because throughout this book fact and fiction are weaved together.
With that said, the subject matter was compelling, but I felt as though the author faltered in the execution. There just wasn't anything that stood out for me. And at time it even felt as though the author was looking to add shock value. While I normally enjoy alternating timeline narratives, this one wasn't as strong for me.
Overall, Cilka's Journey was an unsettling and difficult read due to content, and I wanted to love it, but it ended up just being okay for me. This is a follow up to The Tattooist of Auschwitz however it could just as easily be read as a standalone.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• WWII historical fiction fans
• readers looking to learn about post-WWII camps
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"'Hannah,' Olga says sharply, 'finding a little hope in the darkness is not a weakness.'"
Graphic: Genocide, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, and Antisemitism
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Death, Grief, and Medical trauma
Minor: Addiction and Pregnancy
stillbirthjamiejanae_6's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Medical content, Murder, and Pregnancy
bexwalsh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Medical content, Grief, and Pregnancy
Minor: Suicidal thoughts
bexh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Xenophobia, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
punnypenguin's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Death, Infertility, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Medical content, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Infertility, Rape, and Violence
Minor: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Gun violence, Self harm, Sexual assault, Vomit, and Suicide attempt