Reviews tagging 'Forced institutionalization'

The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris

48 reviews

ally_sim's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Antisemitism, Forced institutionalization, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Violence, Child death, Hate crime, and War

khaosreignswithin's review against another edition

adventurous emotional informative inspiring sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• 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

This book is a tear jerking, but also very inspiring. They never give up and find ways to survive such a horrific fate that was handed to them. MUST READ!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Vomit, Abandonment, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail, Hate crime, Classism, Bullying, Body horror, Death of parent, Death, Child abuse, Child death, Rape, Physical abuse, Sexism, Pandemic/Epidemic, Mass/school shootings, Genocide, Gaslighting, Forced institutionalization, Emotional abuse, Blood, Violence, Torture, Slavery, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Murder, Kidnapping, Gun violence, Grief, and Cultural appropriation

booksborrowed's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

"Are you sure you're not a cat?" 

This novel follows the life events of Lale, a Slovakian Jew, during the years he was persecuted at Auschwitz-Birkenau. The author uses the stories, told by the real-life Lale, to show just a glimpse of the horrors of the Nazi regime. 

Lale is a survivor. His story is far from what the ordinary man could endure. Lale throughout is stuck between working a high-ranking prison job and the guilt the privilege of this position provides while so many others are literally burning. 

Lale offsets this privileged position by smuggling the extra rations to his fellow prisoners and is quickly regarded as a kind man. In this kindness, he falls in love with a fellow prisoner, Gita. He no longer is only surviving for himself, but helping the woman who captures his heart. 

I enjoyed the audiobook very much. The narrator, Armitage, does a wonderful job differentiating the characters' voices and tones and was easy to follow along. 

This dramatic romance is beautifully written. The emotions bled through the pages. I did need to keep reminding myself that although this tale was based on fact, it is still historical fiction. The romantic themes did overshadow the tragic reality of what was happening around Lale. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, and Genocide

lexkazokas's review against another edition

challenging dark informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Genocide, Death, Religious bigotry, War, Forced institutionalization, and Physical abuse

chapters_and_pages's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.0

This is a very difficult book to review. Not only is this book covering a sensitive topic, but it is also based on the lives of real people. 

The Tattooist of Auschwitz tells the real life story of Lale Sokolov, a Holocaust survivor, who spent around 3 years in Auschwitz and became a tattooist, tattooing numbers into his fellow inmates. 

I find books centred around World War Two to be very moving and emotional, and while I have read many based on completely fictional characters, this was the first one I’ve read about someone who was actually there. 

I can’t comment on the accuracy of the story, however it was a moving story that, although difficult to read about, should be read and told. 

While this wasn’t my favourite WW2 book I’ve ever read, I enjoyed it and I’m glad I read it. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Physical abuse, Antisemitism, War, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Xenophobia, Forced institutionalization, and Violence

dev921's review against another edition

dark emotional informative sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: War, Grief, Sexual assault, Xenophobia, Cursing, Death of parent, Death, Antisemitism, Deportation, Forced institutionalization, Genocide, Gun violence, Murder, Child death, Confinement, Police brutality, Trafficking, and Sexual violence

am4man's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Racism, War, Rape, Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Antisemitism, Gun violence, Violence, Child death, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Deportation, Forced institutionalization, Hate crime, Murder, Sexual violence, and Torture

shelbi's review against another edition

dark informative sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cultural appropriation, Violence, War, Physical abuse, Hate crime, Genocide, and Forced institutionalization

cesca_natalia's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Hate crime, Genocide, Death, Forced institutionalization, Emotional abuse, Violence, Antisemitism, and Confinement

Moderate: Torture, Sexual violence, Racial slurs, Sexual harassment, and Sexual assault

gillianengelbrecht's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Violence, Genocide, and Child death

Moderate: Gore, Sexual violence, Torture, Murder, Physical abuse, Forced institutionalization, Trafficking, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Mass/school shootings, Kidnapping, Grief, Blood, Antisemitism, and Suicide attempt

Minor: Death of parent and War