@William this was inspirational. That two people could find love amidst that horror. The small kindnesses they experienced. How people worked together to make the best of the worst situation.
Me neither! Very disappointed with it as I was expecting so much more But, it introduced the atrocities of the Holocaust to a wider audience, so that can only be a good thing
@Samantha yeah absolutely, I went to Dachau and did a walk through, heard so many stories of how it was like there, and it was a hell on earth that none of us could imagine living, they even had a building there where the men could go there to use the women for their purposes and most of them didn’t go. Going through hell like that, someone being able to beat you for chipping a button or any other small infraction, or torchure you or kill you at any moment kind of takes that romance feeling right away, I felt sick to my stomach just doing the walk through.
Wow. That’s amazing. I have been to a bunch of museums and read a lot of works and I can’t even begin to imagine what it was like for these people. I guess that’s one of the reasons I struggled with this book. The emotional impact just wasn’t there for me
@Samantha it definetly felt more light and airy then other true stories I have read. I guess anything is possible, and maybe in a time like this that is when people need love the most, Idk, people just looked like death, they probably didn’t smell good, and they worked and starved people to death so I just find it hard to swallow. It reminded me of the movie Life Is Beautiful where they made a heartwarming story out of the holocaust. Idk. Something feels off anyway.
It’s not actually an unpopular opinion, I started it with high hopes as books about the holocaust appeal to me and I couldn’t finish this, I think a lot of people felt the same way. I think a lot of the descriptions and scenes were written in there just to shock without actually adding anything to the story. I’m about to read The Choice which is about a ballerina at a concentration camp, I think it’s a true story too and it sounds much better than The Tattooist of Auschwitz.
@Jenny i have read the choice and gave it 5 stars also i have read my father and I in Auchwitch another 5 stars and is released on 24/ 1 by Jeremy Dronfield hope this helps
That’s ok If you didn’t like that book. You don’t have to like every book you read. I know I am probly not going to like every book I read that’s normal.
“Given the number of factual errors, therefore, this book cannot be recommended as a valuable title for persons who want to explore and understand the history of Auschwitz.”
@Suzanna Lol. Maybe “young” wouldn’t be appropriate. I felt it only lightly skimmed the facts and characters. Too vague. Also VERY unrealistic for a book supposedly based on a true story.
@Robin agree that probably wasnt as ‘hardcore’ (?) / indepth. Perhaps thats why i read it? Tho pwrsonally i did find myself filling in what wasnt laid out bare?
@Suzanna I know plenty of people love the book. It just wasn’t for me. I read a lot of Holocaust/WWII books and this would have been more enjoyable if I had read it first.
I read Nightingale and hated the beginning. It wasn’t interesting at all after so many people said it was great. Young it started getting good. For the most part, I have agreed with the reviews.
To each their own. I quite enjoyed it. One of my top 5 this year.
I did find it a bit too ‘glossy’ – I’ve read other books of WWII and the concentration camps. This one really glossed over the horrors. Likely easier reading for many people.
@Tamara I really liked it too. Different perspective than the others I’ve read in that genre. Did you read Lilac Girls? Sarah’s Key or Under a Scarlet Sky?
@Stella I haven’t yet read lilac girls or under a scarlet sky. I didn’t really like Sarah’s key. I enjoyed the Nazi officers wife, the nightingale, the Alice network. The most profound for me was a train in winter.
Went back to find my goodreads review. I rarely leave a review, but I was so disappointed with how this book was written.
“I wish that this story had had a better writer. I felt the writing was naive, too factual, and there was no character development. In all honesty it didn’t leave me feeling much at its conclusion, in fact the son’s afterword had more impact than the actual novel. With a different author it could have been told beautifully, which I find a real shame.”
I agree! The actual story and plot are amazing, but the way it was written was just a disappointment! My favorite part was the afterword as well. I feel like if a different author had written this as more of a true non-fiction novel, it would have been amazing
Actually, I am more of a non-fiction reader, but historical fiction is my next most loved genre! But the writing style really threw me off, and it was just not what I anticipated it was going to be
I read it in 2 days. Couldn’t put it down. Gripping from start to finish and was a change from the normal – reading both sides of the people involved in such horrific circumstances
@Leticia I think shallow is how I’d best describe it. I gave it 2*. Mainly because of Lale being a real person, and having lived through absolute horror.
The fact I was told it made out to be very close to a true story to find out its far from a true story and hearing many dissatisfied reviews. I’m staying away
Ah right. I actually enjoyed it, and the afterword by the author, but I totally take on board what people are saying about it sounding so much less horrific than it actually truly was.
Haven’t read it but I feel like it lies in one of those “glorifying the holocaust” genres. All these people are so obsessed with WWII that they don’t realise that the US has been at war almost my whole life. I’m 24.
I felt like it romanticized the prison camps. While I’m glad these people didn’t have the horrific experience that most did, I didn’t like the fact that it made these camps seem like no big deal. While I can’t begin to comprehend what people went through, I feel like this book was a vastly different experience than the majority of prisoners. We need to learn from history, not ignore the atrocities.
What I loved most about tattooist was that it got people talking again. I took it for what it was. If it was too heavy and overloaded with death, people would have complained as they do with the Ken Follets of the world when faced with too much blood and gore. No matter what people say, fluff sells.
It was a gateway book if you will. A light read to spark an interest and conversation for the next generation.
Because of tattooist, I wanted more. I picked up quite a few authentic autobiographies. First One in, Last One Out, Eye Witness Auschwitz and the list goes on. Each as moving as the last.
It was never written to be a literary master piece. But if that’s what I was after, I wouldn’t have picked it up in the first place.
It upsets me that whilst we are quite happy to buy this book, knowing we picked it off the fiction shelf, people still moan about the facts and figures of it all. We are happy to read Kirsten Hannah and her nightingale or a Ronald Balson WW2 saga and not question it’s authenticity yet Tattooist is slaughtered for doing the very same thing. Romanticizing the war. Don’t ever watch Ben Afleck in Pearl Harbour cause man alive… if that didn’t make war seem beautiful…
All I’m saying is, take it for what it was. If you want literary genius, buy a Stephen King or Charlotte Bronte. Whichever tickles your fancy.
If you want to read the heavy, bloody gore or want all the facts and figures, the death toll and the pure evil that was the real Auschwitz, there are many heavies available. For the smaller audiences.
Tattooist was the perfect book for a large audience to start a conversation.
Sometimes when a book gets too much hype, it sets people up for dissapointment. You begin to expect something it can never deliver.
Personally it was one of my favorites this year and I read it before the hype on it picked up. I will agree it wasn’t written as well as I would have hoped. But I thought the story itself was beautiful.
I did not like it at all. Im Polish and grew up learning a lot about Aushwitz. The way book depicts the camp is almost as if it wasnt too hard to survive. They had time to mingle and rest, develop relationships. As a matter of fact the protagonist is basicsly a collaborator. It says he did what he needed to do to survive, but teuthfully he was robbing his own brothers, using money of those who died to get food. After war he collaborated with Russians as well. I am uphauled that this book is getting such high ratings. The writing style is basic and lacking depth.
I think if you have never read a WWII book, you might enjoy it but for those that have read Beneath a Scarlett Sky or the Nightingale, this book just seems very weak.
I feel like your opinion is a little more popular than you think. I am reading it now and although it is an easy read, I am just not feeling it too much.
@Stella I can’t agree more. But sometimes it gets the better of me as I sit on my couch with 5 books going, nope nope nope after the first paragraph. lol
I didn’t think it was terrible but not great either. Just ok and think has been overhyped. I thought the writing was quite basic and rushed towards the end. Just my opinion.
Not the only one x
I’m so sorry to hear this why not?
The writing style just wasn’t for me! And it was just not what I was hoping for
@Samantha it was a little different I agree with that
It’s ok!! I didn’t love Where The Crawdads Sing! Reading Lilac Girls presently!
I would rather read something inspirational rather than depressing.
@William then read The Choice by Edith Eger
@William this was inspirational. That two people could find love amidst that horror. The small kindnesses they experienced. How people worked together to make the best of the worst situation.
Me neither!
Very disappointed with it as I was expecting so much more
But, it introduced the atrocities of the Holocaust to a wider audience, so that can only be a good thing
I agree! And for that, I am happy that a lot of people like it. But I was just expecting something.. more?
I’m reading it right now and enjoying it. Find it hard to put down.
I really enjoyed reading a different spin of what happened
My father and i in Auchwitch is so much better very emotional 5stars ????
I haven’t heard of that one, but I will be checking it out!
Peggy Beaver, who wrote that book?
@Roberta Jeremy Dronfield and is published by Penguin it is released 24/ 1??
@Peggy thank you
Not enjoying it either. Don’t like the style of writing. Reading it for s book club and it’s a struggle.
Yes, Yes, Yes!
For me, it wasn’t that I downright didn’t like it, it was just not the emotional punch I was expecting. I guess I was underwhelmed.
That’s a great way to put it! Underwhelmed and disappointed for me!
Me neither xx
I do nt think anyone from my book club enjoyed it either. The style of writing was quite shallow!
@Dee I’m reading it right now and am finding this same thing. I am having a really hard time picking it back up again.
I felt it was geared for Young Adult reading.
Me either
I feel like its maybe not a true story?
It was based on a true story, but I feel like certain aspects were more overdone to please a certain audience
@Samantha yeah absolutely, I went to Dachau and did a walk through, heard so many stories of how it was like there, and it was a hell on earth that none of us could imagine living, they even had a building there where the men could go there to use the women for their purposes and most of them didn’t go. Going through hell like that, someone being able to beat you for chipping a button or any other small infraction, or torchure you or kill you at any moment kind of takes that romance feeling right away, I felt sick to my stomach just doing the walk through.
Wow. That’s amazing. I have been to a bunch of museums and read a lot of works and I can’t even begin to imagine what it was like for these people.
I guess that’s one of the reasons I struggled with this book. The emotional impact just wasn’t there for me
@Samantha it definetly felt more light and airy then other true stories I have read. I guess anything is possible, and maybe in a time like this that is when people need love the most, Idk, people just looked like death, they probably didn’t smell good, and they worked and starved people to death so I just find it hard to swallow. It reminded me of the movie Life Is Beautiful where they made a heartwarming story out of the holocaust. Idk. Something feels off anyway.
Me neither lol
Oh no, I just went out and bought it two days ago! Oh well, I’ll try and keep an open mind. I’ll pretend I didn’t read all these negative reviews. ?
Oh no! I really hope you like it more than us! ??
I for one really enjoyed it.
@Maria me too
I didn’t either. Didn’t even finish it
I didn’t rate it. I didn’t think it conveyed the horror of Auschwitz.
@Marsha agree. It glossed over what others have related as life being like there
I loved the Tattoist of Auschwitz. One of my top ten books this year. I always find it so interesting the differing opinions of books.
I agree! It’s always interesting how people can have such different feelings about books!
In my opinion, it was just Meh…
I loved it!
One of the things I live about reading is differences in opinion about books! One of the great things about book clubs.
Didn’t like it either.
Neither did I, it was poorly written and trivialized a heart-wrenching experience.
Yes!!
It’s not actually an unpopular opinion, I started it with high hopes as books about the holocaust appeal to me and I couldn’t finish this, I think a lot of people felt the same way. I think a lot of the descriptions and scenes were written in there just to shock without actually adding anything to the story. I’m about to read The Choice which is about a ballerina at a concentration camp, I think it’s a true story too and it sounds much better than The Tattooist of Auschwitz.
@Jenny i have read the choice and gave it 5 stars also i have read my father and I in Auchwitch another 5 stars and is released on 24/ 1 by Jeremy Dronfield hope this helps
@Jenny it’s a much better book
@Jenny https://youtu.be/A-yEB1cxL-M
I think I am going to read that one now too!
I didn’t either
I thought it could have been way deeper .. I think there needed to be more character development … it was very surface level in my opinion
Yes! Thank you for putting what I was feeling into words!
Yes, this is exactly how I felt about it.
That’s ok If you didn’t like that book. You don’t have to like every book you read. I know I am probly not going to like every book I read that’s normal.
Me either!! It could have been fantastic. It wasn’t. It lacked so much.
I read neither of those books, but I like the different opinions and appreciate the honesty.
I loved that book
That is why ice cream comes in so many flavors.
I didn’t like it@
all.
https://jewishnews.timesofisrael.com/topic/the-tattooist-of-auschwitz/
@Sarah-Anne this article is pretty worrying!!!!
“Given the number of factual errors, therefore, this book cannot be recommended as a valuable title for persons who want to explore and understand the history of Auschwitz.”
Sarah-Anne, Thank you for sharing.
My friend didnt when I loaned… I did
I hated it. It is only good as a book for a very young child.
@Robin young child? Really? How so?
@Suzanna Lol. Maybe “young” wouldn’t be appropriate. I felt it only lightly skimmed the facts and characters. Too vague. Also VERY unrealistic for a book supposedly based on a true story.
@Robin agree that probably wasnt as ‘hardcore’ (?) / indepth. Perhaps thats why i read it? Tho pwrsonally i did find myself filling in what wasnt laid out bare?
@Robin hmmm interesting… Perhaps will read again… You’ve given me food for thought
@Suzanna I know plenty of people love the book. It just wasn’t for me. I read a lot of Holocaust/WWII books and this would have been more enjoyable if I had read it first.
I read Nightingale and hated the beginning. It wasn’t interesting at all after so many people said it was great. Young it started getting good. For the most part, I have agreed with the reviews.
I haven’t read it but I don’t think it’s an unpopular opinion
I thought it would be an unpopular opinion because I kept seeing this book on everyone’s “Best/Favorite Books of the Year” type of lists!
@Samantha couple of my friends read it and found it quite weak and not ver well written
I thought it was very weak too
I didn’t either but I liked the Liberian of Auschwitz
I didn’t love it, but it was ok.
And I LIKE nerdy video game references. It almost pained me not to like it, lol.
Shhhh neither did I
Me neither!
Shhhhhh I’m getting ready to read it!?
Oh no! Well, hopefully you like it more than the rest of us did!
@Samantha I’ll read anything so I’m hopeful!!!
I just read it and absolutely loved it…..
I didn’t like it either. But I often find over-hyped books & films often do not live up to expectations.
@Corinne agreed.
It was ok
It was more fair than fair to middling.
To each their own. I quite enjoyed it. One of my top 5 this year.
I did find it a bit too ‘glossy’ – I’ve read other books of WWII and the concentration camps. This one really glossed over the horrors. Likely easier reading for many people.
@Tamara I really liked it too. Different perspective than the others I’ve read in that genre. Did you read Lilac Girls? Sarah’s Key or Under a Scarlet Sky?
@Stella Sarah’s key!!!?
@Stella I haven’t yet read lilac girls or under a scarlet sky. I didn’t really like Sarah’s key.
I enjoyed the Nazi officers wife, the nightingale, the Alice network. The most profound for me was a train in winter.
@Tamara I’ll look for that one, thank you!
its a true account, not particularly well written, but painfully raw
I gave up on it about 100 pages in, thought it was boring and I had such high hopes for this book.
I had to pick it up a second time to finish it, but it was not better the second time around
I think I’m not going to bother there so many other fabulous books to read.
@Lisa me too!!
@Samantha me too
Great story, crap writing
I didn’t enjoy it either. I thought it was badly written.
Went back to find my goodreads review. I rarely leave a review, but I was so disappointed with how this book was written.
“I wish that this story had had a better writer. I felt the writing was naive, too factual, and there was no character development. In all honesty it didn’t leave me feeling much at its conclusion, in fact the son’s afterword had more impact than the actual novel. With a different author it could have been told beautifully, which I find a real shame.”
I agree! The actual story and plot are amazing, but the way it was written was just a disappointment! My favorite part was the afterword as well. I feel like if a different author had written this as more of a true non-fiction novel, it would have been amazing
Really? What did you not like? Do you usually like historical fiction?
Actually, I am more of a non-fiction reader, but historical fiction is my next most loved genre! But the writing style really threw me off, and it was just not what I anticipated it was going to be
@Samantha that’s completely understandable.
I read it in 2 days. Couldn’t put it down. Gripping from start to finish and was a change from the normal – reading both sides of the people involved in such horrific circumstances
Neither did I! My most disappointing read of 2018.
That’s exactly what I am labeling it as!
Same here, I found it quick and shallow.
@Leticia I think shallow is how I’d best describe it. I gave it 2*. Mainly because of Lale being a real person, and having lived through absolute horror.
Left me cold too after all the hype ?
The fact I was told it made out to be very close to a true story to find out its far from a true story and hearing many dissatisfied reviews. I’m staying away
Same. Found all the hype to be for nothing
I don’t think you are alone. I found it really irritating. It made Auschwitz feel like Butlins
I wouldn’t bother to read it to form an opinion. Is that opinion less popular?
From what I have seen about this book it doesn’t interest me. I’ve heard it’s not fact based and has errors in it.
Where did you hear it wasn’t fact based?
@Jennie There have been a lot of articles stating that there are inaccuracies within this book, someone posted one in the comments earlier
@Jennie I don’t remember where exactly but I believe it was on a news story online
Ah right. I actually enjoyed it, and the afterword by the author, but I totally take on board what people are saying about it sounding so much less horrific than it actually truly was.
Haven’t read it but I feel like it lies in one of those “glorifying the holocaust” genres. All these people are so obsessed with WWII that they don’t realise that the US has been at war almost my whole life. I’m 24.
I felt like it romanticized the prison camps. While I’m glad these people didn’t have the horrific experience that most did, I didn’t like the fact that it made these camps seem like no big deal. While I can’t begin to comprehend what people went through, I feel like this book was a vastly different experience than the majority of prisoners. We need to learn from history, not ignore the atrocities.
@Julie YES!
I liked it because it was a true story, not for the prose. I thi k it describes some pretty horrific events.
It made auschwitz seem like you could survive if you were charming enough.
Me to, not well written.
I loved it!
Better looks out there!!
I liked it but didn’t quite live up to the hype
Agreed. Could’ve been a great novel but the writing failed to move me unfortunately.
I have chosen to not read because I think it is one of those over hyped books.
I enjoyed it but, it was definitely overrated
What I loved most about tattooist was that it got people talking again. I took it for what it was. If it was too heavy and overloaded with death, people would have complained as they do with the Ken Follets of the world when faced with too much blood and gore. No matter what people say, fluff sells.
It was a gateway book if you will. A light read to spark an interest and conversation for the next generation.
Because of tattooist, I wanted more. I picked up quite a few authentic autobiographies. First One in, Last One Out, Eye Witness Auschwitz and the list goes on. Each as moving as the last.
It was never written to be a literary master piece. But if that’s what I was after, I wouldn’t have picked it up in the first place.
It upsets me that whilst we are quite happy to buy this book, knowing we picked it off the fiction shelf, people still moan about the facts and figures of it all. We are happy to read Kirsten Hannah and her nightingale or a Ronald Balson WW2 saga and not question it’s authenticity yet Tattooist is slaughtered for doing the very same thing. Romanticizing the war. Don’t ever watch Ben Afleck in Pearl Harbour cause man alive… if that didn’t make war seem beautiful…
All I’m saying is, take it for what it was. If you want literary genius, buy a Stephen King or Charlotte Bronte. Whichever tickles your fancy.
If you want to read the heavy, bloody gore or want all the facts and figures, the death toll and the pure evil that was the real Auschwitz, there are many heavies available. For the smaller audiences.
Tattooist was the perfect book for a large audience to start a conversation.
Sometimes when a book gets too much hype, it sets people up for dissapointment. You begin to expect something it can never deliver.
@Desiré Thank you
@Desiré Well said! ?
Yip its completely over rated. I was very underwhelmed.
God not me. Hated him!!
Personally it was one of my favorites this year and I read it before the hype on it picked up. I will agree it wasn’t written as well as I would have hoped. But I thought the story itself was beautiful.
I did not like it at all.
Im Polish and grew up learning a lot about Aushwitz. The way book depicts the camp is almost as if it wasnt too hard to survive. They had time to mingle and rest, develop relationships.
As a matter of fact the protagonist is basicsly a collaborator. It says he did what he needed to do to survive, but teuthfully he was robbing his own brothers, using money of those who died to get food. After war he collaborated with Russians as well. I am uphauled that this book is getting such high ratings. The writing style is basic and lacking depth.
In total agreement with you! actually awful to read!
I did like the history. The way they were helped. The love story part gave it more feeling then just death.
Oh no! I just got that for Christmas ??
Me either, felt rushed and all Lales “luck” seemed a bit untrue.
I didn’t either
I think if you have never read a WWII book, you might enjoy it but for those that have read Beneath a Scarlett Sky or the Nightingale, this book just seems very weak.
@Susan I’m listening to Beneath a Scarlet Sky now, the quality in writing is a world away from The Tattooist!
I thought The Nightingale was well done, but still enjoyed the hope and love in The Tattooist!
I’m not interested in reading it, just the blurb doesn’t catch my fancy. But I’m glad many people have enjoyed it.
Meh, me neither. I don’t regret reading it though.
Me too! Felt it completely lacked emotion and was just meh! You’re not alone
I liked it but thought the main character was a bit full of himself. Like some things were exaggerated to make him look like a hero
@Kelly kind of felt the same way, I would have loved to read it from the woman’s point of view!
I also didn’t like it.
I thought it was awful!
I was disappointed by the writing too. Lacked colour and emotion. It was a report of a story.
Over hyped and underwhelming.
I havent read this book yet but it’s getting a lot of publicity!
It’s my favourite genre and I cannot get into it.
I found it too contrived .
O man I just got this as a gift for Christmas
Don’t worry I know loads of people that absolutely loved it x
Read it anyway. You might have a different opinion. My issue was purely historical. If you just read it to enjoy it, it was a good book.
@Darlene so did I
I feel like your opinion is a little more popular than you think. I am reading it now and although it is an easy read, I am just not feeling it too much.
@Jennifer I see that now lol, but before it was crazy because everyone had this book on their “favorite books of the year” lists!
is another unpopular opinion is that I’ll probably never even try?
@Sarah you are smart. There are SO many books, why try one that doesn’t appeal to you?
@Stella I can’t agree more. But sometimes it gets the better of me as I sit on my couch with 5 books going, nope nope nope after the first paragraph. lol
@Sarah I’ve been there! The only one I was glad I pushed myself to continue was a Gentleman in Moscow.
I didn’t think it was terrible but not great either. Just ok and think has been overhyped. I thought the writing was quite basic and rushed towards the end. Just my opinion.
Nothing special
I found it really badly written, then realised it started as a screenplay. It felt rushed! The actual story was quite amazing, I loved Sarah’s Key.
I received Sarah ‘s Key for Christmas, can’t wait to start it.
@Maria it’s great!
@Stella the film is also excellent!
@Helen I didn’t even know they made a movie ?. Thanks!
@Christina how did you feel about it?
@Aiza I loved it!
I thought it was ok but over hyped
I loved the story, but also felt it was rushed especially the ending when he reunites with his love
A very average read!
I was disappointed too
Also disappointing
I agree. I wasn’t impressed
I didnt love it either.