"Are you sure you're not a cat?" 

This novel follows the life events of Lale, a Slovakian Jew, during the years he was persecuted at Auschwitz-Birkenau. The author uses the stories, told by the real-life Lale, to show just a glimpse of the horrors of the Nazi regime. 

Lale is a survivor. His story is far from what the ordinary man could endure. Lale throughout is stuck between working a high-ranking prison job and the guilt the privilege of this position provides while so many others are literally burning. 

Lale offsets this privileged position by smuggling the extra rations to his fellow prisoners and is quickly regarded as a kind man. In this kindness, he falls in love with a fellow prisoner, Gita. He no longer is only surviving for himself, but helping the woman who captures his heart. 

I enjoyed the audiobook very much. The narrator, Armitage, does a wonderful job differentiating the characters' voices and tones and was easy to follow along. 

This dramatic romance is beautifully written. The emotions bled through the pages. I did need to keep reminding myself that although this tale was based on fact, it is still historical fiction. The romantic themes did overshadow the tragic reality of what was happening around Lale.