Tati’s Comments (group member since May 25, 2016)

Tati’s comments from the Nothing But Reading Challenges group.

1. The Tattooist of Auschwitz is a retelling of real life events that happened in one of the darkest periods of human history. Several well known Australians have recommended it including Graeme Simison, author of The Rosie Project who described it as "Extraordinary - moving, confronting and uplifting.. a story about extremes of human behaviour: calculated brutality alongside impulsive and selfless acts of love." I find when I read about this subject I have to mentally prepare myself for a myriad of emotions including anger, indignation and heart wrenching sadness. What expectations do you have as you prepare to start this book?

I have been to a concentration camp a few years ago, and it chilled me to the bone. It was just a haunted place. And the feeling I had then always comes back whenever I read a Holocaust book. I expect to wonder at how the human spirit manages to survive to such a horrible situation.

2. The Prologue describes the first meeting of Lale and Gita. It is not the beginning of the story and is repeated further on. Why do you think the author starts with this scene?

I'd guess that's because the author wants us to get an immediate glimpse of what is to come in the book. That, in the midst of all the horror, there is still hope and compassion.

3. Initial impressions of Lale - the life he had and the horror of where he is transported to?

On the train, he was extremely calm, and that is not a reaction I'd expect. I'd say he's had a pretty comfortable life before being sent to Auschwitz. He doesn't strike me as the strongest character I've met in a Holocaust book.

4. This story has many examples of the best and worst of humanity. What do you think of Pepan's and then Lale's rationale of becoming tattooists? "If you don't take the job someone with less soul than you will and hurt these people more. Working for the Kapo is not the same as defiling hundreds of innocent people."

I'd say that this was yet another example of refusing to give in to the horror of the situation they're in. That tenderness is still possible.

5. "To save one is to save the world." What is your interpretation of what this means and how important is it to the prisoners of Auschwitz?

This is actually a quotation from the Talmud, one of the most important books in Judaism, and, in this context, refers only to Jewish people. I take it to mean that, in saving a life, you give it a chance to reach its full potential, to have descendants, that, across the generations, can mean the whole world.

6. What do you think happened to Pepan and how will this affect Lale going forward.?

I think he was killed, and Lale will continue his legacy (as he already has, with Leon).

7. First impressions of Gita? Why do you think her attitude is different from Lale?. Would she have survived if she hadn't met Lale?

She has spent a longer time in concentration camps. And that seems to have worn her down, to have extinguished her hope of suriviving.

8. Victor and Yuri paint an interesting picture of civilians caught up in war just trying to survive. Thoughts on their different attitudes to the situation and how they are trying to help Lale?

It shows that not all Germans were fully on board with the Holocaust. It also shows that even in war, there is still room for compassion and solidarity. Yuri likely wasn't alive in the First Great War, so I gues that's why he is not compassionate as his father, who probably witnessed that war.

so, stupid question: why doesn't Herbology show as mastered on our official spreadsheet?

oh, I'll definitely join the Magic Triumphs read!

Title: Ace of Shades
Author: Amanda Foody
Series: The Shadow Game
Pages: 416
Read: 07/17

Title: The Blood of Gods
Author: Conn Iggulden
Series: Emperor
Read: 07/12
Rating: 4 stars

Cover items: building, flag, pyre, soldiers

Title: Dating You / Hating You
Author: Christina Lauren
Read: 07/07
Page Count: 368

Characters: Evie, Carter, Brad

I'm on board with both ideas!

Put me down for an L please :)

Book: Lake Silence
Author: Anne Bishop
Series: The Others
Read: 07/04
Pages: 414
BR/BOM: No

Characters: Vicki DeVine, Aggie, Ilya, Grimshaw, Julian

I'm about to finish Lake Silence, by Anne Bishop

Any word on the Triwizard Tournament?

I'm guessin the classification is the equivalent to a book rating. So, if we were to use a book that was rated 1 star by the member who read it, the creature would be boring

Yes. Crowgard shift into crows, Wolfgard into wolves and so on

Hm... I’m reading Lake Silence, perhaps we could use Crowgard as the creature’s classification?

Finished and posted the other book for the banishing charm

Title: xo, Zach
Author: Kendall Ryan
Pages: 334
BOM/BR: no
Read: 06/28

Classes: Charms
Spell: Banishing Charm (before the charm, he has a t-shirt on)

Finished and posted my first book for the banishing charm. Starting the second one.

Title: Long Shot
Author: Kennedy Ryan
Series: Hoops
Pages: 460
BOM/BR: No
Pages: 460
Read: 06/26

Class: Charms
Spell: Banishing Charm (after the charm)

Title: That's Not What Happened
Author: Kody Keplinger
Read: 06/22
Pages: 336
Rating: 2 stars

Cover items: pencil, pencil shavings
Characters: Lee, Kellie, Ashley, Miles, Dennie
ARC (to be published in August)

I said I was working on the banishing charm a few days ago...