‘Cilka’s Journey’ comes as a sequel to Morris’ first book, ‘The Tattooist of Auschwitz’ (see my review here: ‘The Tattooist of Auschwitz’ by Heather Morris – Book Review). We meet Cilka as a minor character in the first book but this one is dedicated to her life after leaving Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Due to her looks, Cilka was spared the exposure that everyone else had to the well-known horros of Auschwitz – the work, the punishment and the gas chambers. However, she experienced her own hell on earth. Cilka was chosen to be a ‘plaything’ of one of the Nazi officers. She was repeatedly raped during her time in Auschwitz-Birkenau and was mentally scarred for the rest of her life. Unfortunately, following the closure of the concentration and extermination camps, Cilka was determined to have been an aid to the Nazis and was imprisoned in a Russian gulag as a result. Here she truly learnt of her abilities to survive. She found strengths that she had never seen in herself before and learnt that there is good in the hearts of many, sometimes you just need someone to help you find it.
I would so highly recommend this book. Once again, Morris’ writing style gripped my heart from the opening to the close and I found myself completely lost in the tale of this poor girl. Her emotive and honest telling of this story brought Cilka to life in front of my eyes and I found myself in tears reading about her life. This story truly touched me.
This story is heart-breaking and painful but it tells a somewhat unknown tale of the aftermath of the demolition of these infamous camps. It is so important to read this book in order to understand humanity and what others lived through in order to create the future that has become our present.
Yes, this is a story of pain and anguish but it is also one of hope and love. Cilka, much like Lale, finds her love in the Russian gulags. She had believed that, after her ordeals in Auschwitz-Birkenau, she would never be able to trust a man again. Yet, she learnt that there is goodness in the world and that hope will always shine through.
Please read this book.
I am giving it an easy 10/10.
It is honest, callous and beautiful. This is story of woe that is laced with love and happiness. Both ‘The Tattooist of Auschwitz’ and ‘Cilka’s Journey’ teach us that in even the darkest and hellish places on Earth, love, hope and friendhsip will always shine through.
I urge you to read this book and do let me know what you think.
Or, if you’ve read it before, how did it make you feel?
Lots of love,
Dramatically Dramatic xx
Dramatically Dramatic 