Reviews

Cilka's Journey by Heather Morris

davansa83's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

books_by_blue's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

melissa_bookworm's review against another edition

4.0

This book follows the story of Cilka, a minor character from The Tattooist of Auschwitz, following the closure of the Birkenau concentration camp. It is mentioned in the first book that Cilka is given a privileged position in the camp because of a sexual relationship she has with a commandant (clearly non-consensual though). Looking into this, the Auschwitz Memorial has said that this sort of relationship would not have taken place between an SS officer and a prisoner (https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/feb/01/cilkas-journey-the-tattooist-of-auschwitz-heather-morris) but first person accounts refutes this. Due to this accusation, the Soviet Army charges Cilka with fraternizing with the enemy, which result in a sentence of 15 years hard labour in a Russian Gulag.

It is a devastating narrative, to be granted 'freedom' from the Nazi's only to be thrust into another labour camp. There is lots of sad events that happen in the years that Cilka is in the gulag, but there is also small pockets of hope which keeps the book from being overly depressing.

Spoiler

I think it ended a little 'hallmark'-y. Not that I don't like happy endings, it just seemed a little convenient that Cilka and her love interest would find each other so easily

lynne_booksquares's review against another edition

challenging dark informative reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.0

drubyy's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

ebonya's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

beezy_alexander's review against another edition

dark emotional informative inspiring medium-paced

4.0

mrbrownsays's review against another edition

5.0

This was a tough lesson. You know the story is harrowing when the gulags are presented as the nicer of two evils.

aswafford17's review against another edition

5.0

Absolutely loved this book! I loved the flashbacks of Cilka’s life in Auschwitz. It was so easy to empathize with her. Well done!

dianazheng's review against another edition

challenging hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.5