The Tattooist of AuschwitzThe Tattooist of Auschwitz
Score Modern
What it's about
In 1942, Lale Sokolov, a Slovakian Jew, arrives in Auschwitz-Birkenau and is put to work tattooing numbers on the arms of fellow prisoners. There he meets Gita, a young woman he tattoos, and falls in love, and he risks his life to help other prisoners survive. The novel is based on Heather Morris's interviews with the real Lale.
Why it's worth reading
It was one of the ten best-selling books of 2019, according to Publishers Weekly. It's a story of love and courage amid atrocity.
You'll love it if you liked
The Nightingale
All the Light We Cannot See
The Book ThiefGood to know
It's a novel based on a true story, and some historians have criticized its accuracy. It's short and emotional.
By the numbers
- Readers71 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller81 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #41 of the 116 historical novels we rank
- #223 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #440 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving
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Quick answers
Is The Tattooist of Auschwitz worth reading?
Yes. It was one of the ten best-selling books of 2019, according to Publishers Weekly. It ranks #440 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 79.2 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Tattooist of Auschwitz about?
In 1942, Lale Sokolov, a Slovakian Jew, arrives in Auschwitz-Birkenau and is put to work tattooing numbers on the arms of fellow prisoners. There he meets Gita, a young woman he tattoos, and falls in love, and he risks his life to help other prisoners survive. The novel is based on Heather Morris's interviews with the real Lale.
How long does it take to read The Tattooist of Auschwitz?
About 7 hours (288 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Tattooist of Auschwitz?
If you liked it, try The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr or The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.