This is the “somewhat” sequel to the “Tattooist of Auschwitz”. This is Cecilia “Cilka” Klein’s story and journey. Cilka was introduced in “Tattooist of Auschwitz” as she was mentioned by Kale Sokolov who described her as “the bravest person I ever met”. Morris uses this book as a way to honor Cilka’s memory.
This is Cilka’s story and journey after Auschwitz-Birkeneau was liberated. As a warning, the triggers in this book include rape and abuse. There are some profane words used in this novel (“f” word; s#$t) – though they are sparsely used.
Cilka, at 16, was taken to Auschwitz-Birkeneau Concentration Camp (1942). The commandant noticed how beautiful she was and she was forcibly separated from the other women where she quickly learned that power equaled survival.
Her liberation from the camp is short lived.
Despite being raped and an unwilling participant, she is charged as a collaborator by the Soviets for sleeping with the enemy. Her sentence is yet another prison camp – this one is in Siberia. Instead of wanting her dead because she is Jewish, they want her for what free labor she can provide.
Cilka, like at Auschwitz-Birkeneau, finds herself in a higher position without trying or understanding as to why. She excels in her position at the hospital and uses it to . But, as she does, she finds a hidden strength. She also forms bonds and builds relationships with those around her. There, she and other women are also subjected to rape and torture.
Cilka, because of how well she learns, is assigned to the medical unit. There she works in surgery, pediatrics, and even goes on ambulance calls. Throughout all this, with the extras she is able to access, helps those in the other hut she’d been assigned to.
As with any Holocaust or World War II story – there is no happy ending. Only a “better outcome” type of story. Books like this service to remind people what some will do merely to survive. They might not enjoy what they’re called upon
to do, but they have to do it or die.
This book has some “flashbacks” to Cilka’s time at Auschwitz-Birkeneau, some of which connects with “Tattooist of Auschwitz”.
In the author’s notes she points out the research she did on Cilka.
Yet, even prior to the book’s release, there is a lot of controversy surrounding the first book and this book as well. One such issue is Cilka’s “relationship” with a senior SS officer. The Auschwitz Memorial denies anything of the sort, while Morris tends to trust the people who were there and remembered it. But, memories aren’t always reliable though.
“Morris even goes as far to say the Memorial doesn't "like it being portrayed that the Germans in any way raped or sexually assaulted Jewish girls".
"And that's incorrect and we have so much evidence, so many testimonies," she said.” (Rowland, 2019 – “Tattooist of Auschwitz author feuds with museum over accuracy on eve of sequel”).
Just because something wasn’t documented doesn’t mean it didn’t happen either.
Another historical inaccuracy over this novel is Cilka’s own account of the rape at Auschwitz as told by a Slovakian writer, Peter Jusack, who was about the only one who interviewed her. (Harari, 2019 – “Bestselling author accused of betraying Holocaust survivor”). He claims Cilka wanted to put the concentration camp and gulag parts of her life past and wanted to take her secrets to the grave. Morris is even accused of breaching Cilka’s privacy in writing about the 10 years Cilka was in the gulag.
While well written and presented, it is hard to recommend this sequel to a book that even the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum claims is error-ridden. I will say this – the man at the end of the novel isn’t who Cilka really married.
I did find this book to be a faster read than the first one, finishing in the ARC in less than one (1) day. I wanted to give this one a much deserved 4-star rating, but I can’t. This isn’t an “enjoyable” read only because of the subject material, as well as knowing about the errors. The controversy surrounding it makes me feel as though I’m rewarding the author by giving it high marks.
Had it been a completely fictional account – it would’ve been four (4) stars. Having done by own research – it’s hard to give it two (2).
I am glad I received the ARC of this one and borrowed the first novel from the library.
This is Cilka’s story and journey after Auschwitz-Birkeneau was liberated. As a warning, the triggers in this book include rape and abuse. There are some profane words used in this novel (“f” word; s#$t) – though they are sparsely used.
Cilka, at 16, was taken to Auschwitz-Birkeneau Concentration Camp (1942). The commandant noticed how beautiful she was and she was forcibly separated from the other women where she quickly learned that power equaled survival.
Her liberation from the camp is short lived.
Despite being raped and an unwilling participant, she is charged as a collaborator by the Soviets for sleeping with the enemy. Her sentence is yet another prison camp – this one is in Siberia. Instead of wanting her dead because she is Jewish, they want her for what free labor she can provide.
Cilka, like at Auschwitz-Birkeneau, finds herself in a higher position without trying or understanding as to why. She excels in her position at the hospital and uses it to . But, as she does, she finds a hidden strength. She also forms bonds and builds relationships with those around her. There, she and other women are also subjected to rape and torture.
Cilka, because of how well she learns, is assigned to the medical unit. There she works in surgery, pediatrics, and even goes on ambulance calls. Throughout all this, with the extras she is able to access, helps those in the other hut she’d been assigned to.
As with any Holocaust or World War II story – there is no happy ending. Only a “better outcome” type of story. Books like this service to remind people what some will do merely to survive. They might not enjoy what they’re called upon
to do, but they have to do it or die.
This book has some “flashbacks” to Cilka’s time at Auschwitz-Birkeneau, some of which connects with “Tattooist of Auschwitz”.
In the author’s notes she points out the research she did on Cilka.
Yet, even prior to the book’s release, there is a lot of controversy surrounding the first book and this book as well. One such issue is Cilka’s “relationship” with a senior SS officer. The Auschwitz Memorial denies anything of the sort, while Morris tends to trust the people who were there and remembered it. But, memories aren’t always reliable though.
“Morris even goes as far to say the Memorial doesn't "like it being portrayed that the Germans in any way raped or sexually assaulted Jewish girls".
"And that's incorrect and we have so much evidence, so many testimonies," she said.” (Rowland, 2019 – “Tattooist of Auschwitz author feuds with museum over accuracy on eve of sequel”).
Just because something wasn’t documented doesn’t mean it didn’t happen either.
Another historical inaccuracy over this novel is Cilka’s own account of the rape at Auschwitz as told by a Slovakian writer, Peter Jusack, who was about the only one who interviewed her. (Harari, 2019 – “Bestselling author accused of betraying Holocaust survivor”). He claims Cilka wanted to put the concentration camp and gulag parts of her life past and wanted to take her secrets to the grave. Morris is even accused of breaching Cilka’s privacy in writing about the 10 years Cilka was in the gulag.
While well written and presented, it is hard to recommend this sequel to a book that even the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum claims is error-ridden. I will say this – the man at the end of the novel isn’t who Cilka really married.
I did find this book to be a faster read than the first one, finishing in the ARC in less than one (1) day. I wanted to give this one a much deserved 4-star rating, but I can’t. This isn’t an “enjoyable” read only because of the subject material, as well as knowing about the errors. The controversy surrounding it makes me feel as though I’m rewarding the author by giving it high marks.
Had it been a completely fictional account – it would’ve been four (4) stars. Having done by own research – it’s hard to give it two (2).
I am glad I received the ARC of this one and borrowed the first novel from the library.