The Midwife of Auschwitz by Anna Stuart ~ Book Review.

I am incredibly delighted to be today’s stop on the blog tour for; The Midwife of Auschwitz by Anna Stuart, I am so excited to be sharing my review of this stunning and emotional book with you all.

The Midwife of Auschwitz by Anna Stuart

Auschwitz, 1943: As I held the tiny baby in my arms, my fingers traced the black tattoo etched across her little thigh. And I prayed that one day this set of numbers, identical to her mother’s, would have the power to reunite a family torn apart by war…

Inspired by an incredible true story, this poignant novel tells of one woman’s fight for love, life and hope during a time of unimaginable darkness.

Ana Kaminski is pushed through the iron gates of Auschwitz beside her frightened young friend Ester Pasternak. As they reach the front of the line, Ana steps forward and quietly declares herself a midwife – and Ester her assistant. Their arms are tattooed and they’re ordered to the maternity hut. Holding an innocent new-born baby, Ana knows the fate of so many are in her hands, and vows to do everything she can to save them.

When two guards in their chilling SS uniforms march in and snatch a blond-haired baby from its mother it’s almost too much for Ana to bear. Consoling the distraught woman, Ana realises amidst the terrible heartache there is a glimmer of hope. The guards are taking the healthiest babies and placing them with German families, so they will survive. And there are whispers the war is nearly over… Ana and Ester begin to secretly tattoo little ones with their mother’s numbers, praying one day they might be reunited.

Then, early one morning, Ana notices the small bump under Ester’s thin striped clothing…

An absolutely heartbreaking and page-turning WW2 novel of one woman’s bravery and determination to bring life and hope into a broken world. Fans of The Tattooist of Auschwitz,The Alice Network and The Nightingale will be gripped.

Links

Amazon: https://geni.us/B09VF3BGWDsocial

Audio:

UK: zpr.io/gsGHpjzj689D

US: zpr.io/RW8pmUddeMGC

Listen to a sample here

Review

Firstly I must mention the cover of this book, I don’t know about other readers but it really packs a punch, I felt shivers run down my spine just looking at it, it’s bleak and captivating all at once and I had a feeling that I was in for a highly emotional read and I was!

This really pulls at every emotional heartstring’s, it’s hard-hitting, brutally raw and a powerful account of true courage and friendship in the face of unprecedented horror. Anna Stuart has written a powerful story which will keep you gripped throughout, you will shed a fair few tears as well as feel numb and the hairs will stand up a few times at the evil which is played out across the pages, but also a sense of hope.

The Midwife of Auschwitz is a fictional story based on true events, it’s the incredibly moving story of bravery between best friends; Ester and Ana who find themselves pushed into a compact and claustrophobic train heading into hell itself; Auschwitz. Once there they are the lucky ones to be given jobs, and they are sent to the maternity ward. Once there they deliver thousands of babies and set a chain of events going which could cost them their lives if they are caught. They secretly start tattooing the mother’s numbers onto the infant’s legs in the hope that one day they will be reunited. I was left astounded at the ultimate act of bravery that these women did, they put their life on the line every time they picked up the tattoo pen.

Every time I read a story set in or around the atrocities of Auschwitz I feel an unwavering sense of courage for those who did everything they could to survive and utmost admiration for the survivors who so bravely told their stories, no matter how hard to read or hear their stories need to be heard and we need to listen, the horrors of that time – horrors which should never have occurred should never be forgotten, by knowing of the raw inhumane brutality can we learn from it.

I have read a lot of books set in or around Auschwitz and every time I come away with my emotions in tatters and this is no different, in fact, this one really got under my skin and not just pulled at my heart-string but yanked them until I was crying.

If you only read one book this year, then make it this one, I can guarantee you will not be disappointed and you will never quite feel the same again.

Author Bio

Anna Stuart lives in Derbyshire with her campervan-mad husband, two hungry teenagers and a slightly loopy dog. She was hooked on books from the moment she first opened one in her cot so is thrilled to now have several of her own to her name. Having studied English literature at Cambridge university, she took an enjoyable temporary trip into the ‘real world’ as a factory planner, before returning to her first love and becoming an author. History has also always fascinated her. Living in an old house with a stone fireplace, she often wonders who sat around it before her and is intrigued by how actively the past is woven into the present, something she likes to explore in her novels. Anna loves the way that writing lets her ‘try on’ so many different lives, but her favourite part of the job is undoubtedly hearing from readers. You can reach her on Facebook @annastuartauthor or Twitter @annastuartbooks.