The Tattooist of Auschwitz

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Lale volunteers to go to a “work camp” in the place of his brother. Why do you think that people sometimes sacrifice themselves for others? How can one gauge whether it is right to do so?

2. When Lale is hesitant to take on the role of tattooist, Pepan tells him, “If you don’t take the job, someone will who has less soul than you do, and he will hurt these people more” (31). Are there times when it is right to do a morally questionable thing in order to prevent worse things from happening?

3. Lale and Gita fall in love at first sight. Have you (or anyone you know) ever experienced love at first sight? Do specific circumstances make it more likely for individuals to experience intense attraction and connection?

4. Baretski initially facilitates the relationship between Lale and Gita. Why does he do so? Has someone ever inadvertently helped you even if their interests conflicted with your own?

5. The meetings between Lale and Gita give them both hope and resilience in the midst of horrific circumstances. Can love be a source of hope no matter the circumstances?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. Through female characters like Gita and Cilka, the novel explores the specific violence and threats faced by women during the Holocaust. How does the novel convey the idea that different people experience genocide or other atrocities in different ways? Are some individuals more vulnerable than others?

2. Lale must repeatedly grapple with the best way to use his privileges in order to help others; he also fears the prospect of becoming complicit with an evil regime. What actions can people take when facing corrupt systems of power? What lessons from the Holocaust and from Holocaust survivors have a direct bearing upon the current world?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. The pivotal meeting between Lale and Gita is featured in the very first scene of the novel. Why does Morris choose to begin the story with this scene?

2. Discuss the symbolism implicit in Lale’s ability to speak multiple languages. What does this detail reveal about his character?

3. Lale often cannot openly express his thoughts and feelings due to his precarious situation and the need to appease his jailors. How does Morris adjust the narrative style to convey a more intimate sense of Lale as a person? How well did you feel that you knew this character?

4. How does the author use the motif of food to convey a sense of the scarcity and starvation that is prevalent in the camp?

5. When Lale and Gita leave for Australia, a painting of a Romany woman is one of very few possessions that they take with them. What is the significance and symbolism of this painting?