Cilka's Journey: A Book Review

For the last two years, I've set reading challenges for myself on Goodreads. Last year, I exceeded the goal I set for myself, so this year I increased the number of books I wanted to read. I also tried to pick books that were more interesting to me personally rather than following a best seller list or award list like those awarded the Pulitzer Prize. The reason for this is that I've read some duds. These books were duds that were on a best-seller list or had won a literary prize in recent years. I promised myself I wasn't going to go by any list this year when I chose my reading material.

Instead, I stuck with storylines, genres, or authors I liked and it paid off.

Last year I read The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris. It was a grave but interesting story about life in the concentration camp during WWII. Specifically, it was about the person that tattooed the numbers of the prisoners on their arms, and a few other characters whose stories engage the reader and involve the tattooist. In parts, this book is true - the genre is historical fiction. Morris was able to meet and interview the tattooist. He survived the horrors of Auschwitz, along with a girl who was destined to be his wife. It is a story of love and determination set in the most awful of places - Auschwitz. It is a moving, ofttimes horrific, and heart-wrenching story.

The book, Cilka's Journey, also from Morris, tells the tale of another person the Tattooist knew in Auschwitz. It is the story of a friend of, Gita, the girl the tattooist later marries. Her name is Cilka. Cilka cannot escape the horrors of the concentration camp, for she is rounded up, interrogated, and sent to another camp - with a long sentence imposed upon her for how she came to survive Auschwitz. She did what she had to do to survive but this was held against her and increases suspicion about her role in the camp at Auschwitz.

Again, the book grabs you from the start, with Cilka being transported to Siberia. It is her story of survival, yet again, in a dark, frigid place where again she is singled out for having special talents. Her talents here, at the camp within the defines of the Arctic Circle, are needed for prisoners, camp members, and leaders, as well.

Morris's telling of Cilka's Journey is heart-wrenching. Her character development is full and engaging, not only with Cilka but with the other characters as well. Her young friend Josie is unaware of the dangers of being a woman in a prison camp. She finds out quickly that bad things happen to everyone. Cilka's character is steadfast. You get to know her, Josie, Yelena, and several other characters in the camp very well. This is a strength of Morris's writing. The story will pull at you, keep you awake at night, and keep you reading until the very end.

Yes, some back things happen. The setting is a concentration camp after all. But, the story shows both sides of humanity - the caring, good side and the destructive, evil side. It is horrific to realize what we, as humans, can do to one another.

There are some portions of the book that take place in the barracks, part in a hospital ward, and part in a mine. Despite being imprisoned, you can easily see that life goes on for Cilka. Friends live, die, fall in love, and have babies. There is also abuse - physical and mental, as well as hope throughout this whole story. I think I'll read it again in teh future and I don't say that about just any book! If you are a high school language arts teacher looking for a story about strong women, this book has it all!

Historical fiction has become my go-to genre when looking for a good read. Morris joins the ranks of Mary Doria Russell, and other historical fiction writers with these two novels. I will definitely be looking into more of her books.

What great books have you read lately?!