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klbaughn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Minor: Sexual assault, Rape, and Child death
jade_allkins'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
3.75
Graphic: Rape, Child death, Death, Death of parent, and Physical abuse
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: Antisemitism, Genocide, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Violence
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Death, Grief, and Medical trauma
Minor: Addiction and Pregnancy
stillbirthalvenb00's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
Graphic: Sexual assault, Medical content, Medical trauma, Sexual harassment, Rape, Physical abuse, Hate crime, Forced institutionalization, Death, and Child death
neelamds's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Graphic: Hate crime, Rape, and Genocide
Moderate: Torture, Sexual violence, and Child death
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: Antisemitism, Blood, Body horror, Child death, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Excrement, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Hate crime, Medical content, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Pregnancy, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, and Vomit
saramschacht's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Antisemitism, Blood, Child death, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Genocide, Gore, Grief, Medical content, Rape, and Sexual assault
lucys_library's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Antisemitism, Child death, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Gun violence, Medical trauma, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Murder, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, and Violence
waterbridge147's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Antisemitism, Blood, Child death, Confinement, Death, Drug use, Genocide, Grief, Hate crime, Medical content, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Torture
ravensandlace's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Antisemitism, Blood, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Excrement, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Grief, Medical trauma, Medical content, Physical abuse, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Violence
This is about a young woman's journey, trying to live through the Soviet Gulags. These were horrible places to live in and often times, death happened.