Sisters Under the Rising Sun: a story of strength, survival and resilience

Sisters Under the Rising Sun by Heather Morris is a story of sisterhood, bravery and friendship in the darkness of war. As World War II spreads through the Pacific, Norah Chambers places her eight year old daughter on a ship leaving Singapore, hoping to keep her safe from the advancing Japanese army. Sister Nesta James, a Welsh Australian nurse, enlisted to tend to Allied troops but as Singapore falls to the Japanese, she joins a ship of terrified people. When their ship is sunk off the coast of Indonesia and surviving hours in the sea, the survivors find themselves on the beaches of a remote island, only to be captured by the Japanese and held in one of their notorious POW camps. With disease, brutality and starvation rampant, the survivors must find a way to fight back with resourcefulness, determination, and courage. 

Heather Morris has gained a reputation for writing about little known stories filled with amazing inspiration of survival and courage. Sisters Under the Rising Sun is no exception. With most World War II stories focused on the European theater, it is great to finally see a story featuring events in the Pacific theater. The descriptions of what these people endured and survived is horrifying and yet inspirational. It is a testament to the strength and reliance of the human spirit to survive. There is a slow build to the events, but once the story builds up, it is a hard book to put down. I worried and hoped these amazing people survived and were reunited with their loved ones. If you enjoy World War II stories and want to read the different areas of the war, I highly recommend Sisters Under the Rising Sun. 

Sisters under the Rising Sun is available in hardcover, eBook, and audiobook

Three Sisters: a story of strength, courage and love

Three Sisters by Heather Morris is the third book in the Tattooist of Auschwitz books. It is the story of three Slovakian sisters: Cibi, the oldest, Magda, and Livi, the baby. They made a promise to their father to always watch out for each other. A promise they take to heart as they find themselves taken from their homes and imprisoned at Auschwitz. They cling together as they suffer from starvation, overwork and the brutal whims of the guards. As the allies are closing in and one last hurdle is overcome: the death march from Auschwitz. Against all odds they survived the camp and now they must find a way to survive again. But the fight for their lives and freedom are now truly beginning. The sisters must face new challenges as the world comes to grips with the events of WWII and the horrible atrocities the Nazis committed.  Can they leave the ghosts of the past behind them as they strive to find a new life with peace and happiness? 

Reading and studying the stories of Holocaust survivors, I always wondered would I have the same strength and courage to survive? One never truly knows how they will respond to a situation until they are faced with it. Inspired by a true story, the story of the sisters overlaps with those of Lale and Gita from The Tattooist of Auschwitz and Cilka, from Tattooist as well as her own story in Cilka’s Journey. The story does not hold back on the vivid details of the horrors the sisters suffered and witnessed while at Auschwitz and even the continued prejudice once they were freed. It is a beautiful story of the amazing courage, love and strength of three sisters. There were times when I cried with the sisters, when I wanted to reach through the pages to hug each of them. I eagerly turned each page, wanting and hoping they would find the peace and happiness they desperately wanted. I highly recommend Three Sisters. 

Three Sisters is available in hardcover, eBook, and audiobook. 

The Tattooist of Auschwitz and Cilka’s Journey 

are available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

The Tattooist of Auschwitz: a story of survival and love

 The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris It is the story of Lale Sokolov, a Slovakian Jew, who, in April 1942, is forcibly transported to the concentration camps at Auschwitz-Birkenau with it’s iron gates which boldly state, “Arbeit Macht Grei” (Work Makes You Free). When it is discovered that he speaks several languages, Lale is put to work as a tattooist, tasked with marking his fellow prisoners. Imprisoned for more than two and half years, he witnesses the horrific atrocities and savagery as well as incredible acts of bravery and compassion. At great personal risk, he learns to find food for the starving prisoners. One day, Lale comforts a young woman named Gita. He vows that they both will survive and live their lives together after the war. Will his food smuggling be discovered? Do Lale and Gita survive? Are they able to live their lives together?

I read Cilka’s Journey, which is a quasi-sequel to The Tattooist of Auschwitz, first and I was interested in the story of Lale. While it didn’t have the same emotional impact for me, The Tattooist of Auschwitz is a story of survival. I’ve read arguments that the events portrayed in this book didn’t happen and couldn’t have possibly happened. Ms. Morris clearly states it is a work of fiction based on a first-hand account. Some people had been left out, names changed, etc. With the Russians closing in on the camps in 1944 (ultimately liberated on January 27, 1945), who knows what records were destroyed that could have corroborated Lake’s story. Regardless, it is a powerful story of love and survival in uncertain and horrifying times. I recommend The Tattooist of Auschwitz as well as Cilka’s Journey.

 

The Tattooist of Auschwitz is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook.

Cilka's Journey: one woman's life after surviving Auschwitz

Cilka’s Journey by Heather Morris is the harrowing story of Cecilia “Cilka” Klein who spent three years in Auschwitz before being liberated by the Russian army in 1945. However, once she thought she would be free to return home, the Russian authorities learn what she was at the camp and accused her of being a spy for the enemy. She is sentenced to 15 years hard labor at the Vorkuta Gulag in Siberia. Once again, she is given a number and forced to work in horrible conditions in the coal mines. Through a series of events, she finds herself removed from the mines and trained as a nurse in the hospital. There she learns the horrors that the other prisoners do not get to see. As she does her time, she has recurring nightmares and memories of her time in Auschwitz. Will Cilka survive her time in the prison? Will she ever be released and sent home?

Cilka’s Journey is a continuation of Ms. Morris’ bestselling book, The Tattooist of Auschwitz. I was unaware of this connection when I picked up Cilka’s Journey. However, you do not need to read The Tattooist in order to follow Cilka’s Journey. Given the subject matter, I thought the book would be difficult to read, so I wanted to pace myself. However, once I got into the story, I couldn’t put it down. I needed to know if Cilka’s survives and if she does, is she released? Does she escape? After reading Cilka’s Journey, I want to go back and get The Tattooist of Auschwitz. There are scenes and descriptions that are hard to read due to the subject matter, but the Vorkuta Gulag was very real and some of the events Ms. Morris depicts in this book really happened, which makes the horrors Cilka sees even more terrifying. I recommend Cilka’s Journey as a look into a part of history many people do not know or do not discuss.

Cilka’s Journey

is available in hardcover, eBook and audiobook