The Librarian of Auschwitz by Antonio Iturbe.

I recently finished The Librarian of Auschwitz, and had the worst ‘book hangover ‘ - how do you follow that story?

The story is based on the true story of Dita Kraus. At 14 years old she finds herself in the infamous Auschwitz Death Camp, with a very dangerous job - to look after the ‘Library ‘. In reality the Library is little more than a few tatty books, which she has to constantly repair, and a few ‘living’ books - people who can tell a story from their heads and bring it to life. Books in any form were banned in Auschwitz, so Dita has to smuggle the printed books in and out of the family camp each day - an act of true bravery which could result in death if caught.

This is her story, with a little artistic licence by the author to flesh out the dialogue. It corresponds very well to accounts I have heard from survivors, and at the end it tells you what happened to some of the central people after the war.

This is a book that everyone should read, so this never, ever happens again. We will not forget. 😢

Informative, emotive and heartbreaking, The Librarian of Auschwitz is a book everyone you should read.

The story centres around Dita - a survivor of Auschwitz. She is custodian of the physical books and the ‘living books’ - the prisoners of Auschwitz.

It’s a tale of terror and bravery and I devoured every page.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Random House UK Ebury Publishing and the author for the chance to review.

The Librarian of Auschwitz by Antonio Iturbe was a heartbreaking tale of the terrible treatment of the people at Auschwitz and a girl trying to keep the few books she has safe at any cost.
I found parts of the book confusing because it jumped about to different time periods but the story will stay with me for a long time.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Penguin Random House UK, Ebury Publishing for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Another book about Auschwitz one could think. Me being a history teacher couldn't agree less. I've learnt so much from this book that it will become a part of my curriculum even though I probably won't read it completely in my class. In this case it's the facts that interest me and I will try to transfer, mostly those about the family camp I haven't known about before. because this case shows the monstrosity and the hope of the prisoners. The questions asked by Dita in the book are the questions also pupils ask and it is clearly explained in this book.
But the book is not only about the facts. It's about hope, surviving and living in awful conditions nobody should be forced to live in. It's a book about power of books and imagination. That is what was made clear to and that is what one can identify with even though one can never imagine how it is to live such a life.
This book which impressed me most strongly this year so far.

A harrowing account of life in the so-called "family camp" at Auschwitz. The joy and hope that 6 battered books give to the people of this camp is incredible. We take books for granted but the high esteem in which they are held here shows their value as a tool for education. The fact that Dita also uses literature as an escape confirms the power of books.

The novel also includes the experiences of characters who are not the young librarian, Dita, and at one point it deviates so far into Rudi's experience that the title of the novel seems a little tenuous. However, the experiences are so raw and interconnected that this isn't a big deal. Every time I read a holocaust novel I try not to get too connected to the characters as, sadly, we know the fates of most of them. However, this novel pulls you in and you cannot help rooting for them. Even the young SS man who buys a music box for a Jewish girl... that scene broke my heart. Dont worry, thats not a spoiler!

A very worthwhile read.

It pains me to say this,about a book that's a true life story of someone's time in Auschwitz... but it's just a little slow and dull in lots of places.
Several other reviews have mentioned it's text book like nature,and that's indeed what I felt.... That I was being told a series of things that happened.. Not a story.
There were obviously some better moments,but I never really connected with the story...

Awe inspiring, moving and an important read. An account based on fact with fictional elements added of how a brave young Jewish girl took responsibility for looking after the eight books that comprised the entire library within Auschwitz.

The risks she took were immense as was the bravery she displayed in such a matter of fact manner.

Deceptively simply written and translated, this is an important addition to the literature of the Holocaust.