Member Reviews
Amazing story! The author did a fantastic job of weaving pieces of history to create the novel. The three sisters' journeys throughout this horrific time will be hard to forget. I loved reading the notes from the family members and the author at the end. It adds to the book to read about the research involved in putting together historical fiction. Highly recommended!
I was given an advance reading copy (arc) of this book from NetGalley.com in return for a fair review. I read the first two books in this series ('The Tattooist of Auschwitz' and 'Cilka's Journey') and enjoyed them, but this book went way beyond my expectations. The three sisters, Cibi, Magda, and Livi Meller, shared an unbreakable bond due to a promise they made to their father when they were little children. When World War II marched into Slovakia where the sisters lived with their widowed mother and grandfather, their lives changed irrevocably. Forced to leave home, the oldest and youngest ended up in Auschwitz, where they lived a life worse than any nightmare. Their middle sister eventually ended up at the prison camp with them. It is a testament to their courage and fortitude that they lived to tell their story. It has been a very long time since I read a book that I couldn't put down. Knowing that this book was based on real sisters and the tragedy of the Holocaust kept me going. I had to know what happened. Heather Morris has outdone herself with this one. She brought to life the unimaginable and nicely wrapped up the story by telling what ultimately happened to each of the major characters. If you liked the first two books in this series, you will definitely find this one 'unputdownable' as they say. For me, the story of the Meller sisters, is one I won't easily forget. Excellent, excellent read!
What an incredible read! Three Sisters captured my interest from the very beginning and held it all the way through to the very end. This book is every bit as good, if not better, than Heather Morris's two previous books. I felt like a was there, with the girls, trying to survive right along with them.
Three Sisters would make a great literature tie in in a high school history class, especially now in this era where some people think we should ignore or rewrite the parts of history that are not "politically correct ".
This book made me feel all sorts of things that were uncomfortable and downright painful, since it dealt with Jewish families being forcibly removed to concentration camps all over Europe during WWII. I can't imagine being put through what the 3 sisters in this book were subjected to, the horrors they encountered daily, the losses of almost all their family members, and to have survived all this, to find new lives in the newly formed country of Israel, to marry and have families of their own, and to thrive. It speaks of the utmost determination NOT to let what the Nazis did govern the rest of their lives, though they never forgot what was done to them. One would think that something like this couldn't happen in this day and age, but it is, though on a smaller scale, in Myanmar, China, Afghanistan, and manhy other countries across the globe. When will we learn?
This book was so absolutely beautiful and touching, I could not put it down.
If you have read anything previously by Heather Morris, you will know these stories are based entirely on the true stories of people who were imprisoned at Auschwitz. Whereas you do not need to have read the previous two books, they do lend a backdrop that completely illuminates the entire story.
This is the tale of three sisters, who live in Slovakia, but are sent (not all at the same time, mind you) to Auschwitz and how this changes and shapes their relationship.
Because the author did such in-depth research and interviewing of family and some of the actual sisters themselves, the story really unfolds in a way unlike any other. You feel the pain, the struggle, the dismay of many of the people in ways I have not encountered outside of nonfiction regarding the holocaust. Morris once again has created a wonderful, beautiful, sad, but ultimately rewarding story sharing the travails of these people and strong young women and their descendants. Absolutely stunning and would highly recommend to anyone who wants more information and also a first hand look at what vilifying of an entire religion or race of people can do to the psyche.
Heather Morris gives us the her rendering of a true story of three sisters in Slovakia who make a vow to their father to stay together no matter what. Easier said then done with the Nazi's coming to take the children to work in camps. One sister was "hidden" in the hospital, although she was quite well by then, to avoid capture. Another would evade them by being out in the countryside when they would come asking for her. The third went with other village girls to the temple to wait to be taken to the trains that would bring them to Auschwitz.. Eventually all three sisters are at Auschwitz and they manage to keep each other safe, fed and out of the death chambers.
This story is one of incredible love, heroism, and bravery - these words really do not do justice to the sisters. Even the darkest and most horrifyingly bleak occurrences of their daily life is told in vivid imagery - a tactile and Technicolor noir, if it were to exist. This is a story that will stay with you.
My thanks to NetGallery for the ARC of this book.in exchange for my honest review.
As a sister to six other siblings, some half- and some full-blood related, the title of this gripping historical novel stuck out to me. Knowing what it’s like to have siblings, especially sisters, I felt myself drawn to what kind of tale three women might have to tell, and when I noticed Heather Morris was the woman behind the pen in this case, I knew I had to pick this one up for sure.
Having read The Tattooist of Auschwitz and remembering the feelings such a tale stirred up in me, I hoped Three Sisters would give me the same rattling perspective on my own life I’d experienced once before. It doesn’t take long to forget your own simple worries when you read about the tribulations these three young women had to endure.
Cibi, Magda, and Livi promise their father to stick together in the face of whatever may come at them, and it’s a promise they take to heart. When family is the only possession you have left after the German Nazi forces have taken over your life, the bonds of blood remain true to the last second. For some, those precious seconds run out sooner than others.
When I first read the title and considered the historical perspective from which it was told, I knew there were going to be sacrifices and tragedies galore. After all, such a subject matter cannot be discussed without including the horrific trauma that occurred during World War II. But to see it portrayed in the way Heather Morris relates it is to in some ways bypass—without devaluing—the unspeakable horrors to convey a tale of hope, of fortitude, and most of all, of strength that can only come from deep within a soul. To have lived through and endured such an event likens itself to learning some of life’s hardest lessons within an incredibly short amount of time. Though I may only learn about and experience these stories through the words of others, the hard-earned revelations about life are not so easy to ignore.
There were certain periods in the few weeks it took me to read this book that I snatched a few pages up here and there. But to put down such a harrowing and engaging tale was difficult, even if my paycheck depended on it. At the same time, I would find myself thinking of Cibi, Magda, and Livi as I lamented my own obstacles. A poor credit score paled in comparison to knowing whether or not I would be able to eat enough to sustain my body through vigorous work, or if my sister would be led to a gas chamber while I lived on with a broken promise to my father. At times I envied the strength of the bond between these sisters.
What struck me most, however, was the ending of this emotional retrospective tale. To know it was based on a true story is one thing, but to have it unfold the way it does and to gain hope in my own situations through the feelings bound up in the last few pages left me with renewed inner hope. Forces larger than my comprehension saw these three sisters through, so perhaps my fate isn’t as bleak as I think it might be. I may not share the bond these three incredible women did, but the fibers of humanity intertwine in far more intricate ways than anyone could ever imagine. Perhaps that’s one of life’s biggest lessons.
In any case, I highly recommend Three Sisters by Heather Morris. It’s a compelling tale written with respect due to the circumstances and conveyed in such a way as to open up conversations regarding such events. I hope you get the chance to read Three Sisters and it touches your life in the same way it impacted mine.
Heather Morris’ book, Three Sisters, transports the reader to the Holocaust. Reader beware! There is no fluff in her writing. This is an emotional, crisply written story that details the bond between the sisters during a horrifying period. This is a story that will stick with the reader.
A solid 4 stars for a book of courage in the face of incredible cruelty. This book is the story of 3 sisters, Cibi, Magda and Livi. They are living in Vranov, Slovakia, when the Germans invade. Prior to the invasion, their father calls them together in 1929 and makes them promise to always be there for one another. They are Jewish. Cibi and Livi are rounded up with other Jews and sent to Auschwitz in 1942. Magda has been hidden in the hospital by a friendly doctor. However, she too is found and sent to Auschwitz in 1944.
This story of how they survive is an inspiring story of resilience and sorrow. Some of their family are murdered by the N**is. I read this book because I previously read and enjoyed Cilka's Journey by Heather Morris. I read this book in 5 days.
Two quotes: "The sisters share a hug that is about so much more than physical comfort. It is a bond which crosses time and space, which hurdles their pain and dulls their suffering. They each implicitly understand that mere distance will not break their bond."
"Hell had escaped its moorings and risen to earth in the shape of Auschwitz and Birkenau and all the other camps, ..."
#ThreeSisters #NetGalley.
Thanks to Erica Martirano at St. Martin's Press for sending me this eARC through NetGalley.
This is the third book in the series so I was happy to be able to read this before it is published. I read and enjoyed both The Tattooist of Auschwitz and Cilka's Journey and was expecting to enjoy this one just as much.
I was disappointed with this one compared to the previous two books. I found things were glossed over and the book felt rushed to me. The dialog was also too light and "fluffy" for a book on this topic. Maybe I am just burned out with Auschwitz stories but this book was almost a DNF for me and I skimmed a lot of the dialogue.
I am glad I made it to the end. The stories with the actual family members are worth it.
Thank you to Heather Morris, Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. I am in the minority here with a 2 star rating for sure.
I have read the other books by this author and enjoyed them immensely. I cannot say I loved this book, but I did enjoy the story and trials the sisters went through to be and stay together. And if this had been a novel, I might have said - it was impossible for their to be so few murdered during the Holocaust- and I really liked the added detail at the end with the factual details from their survivors (and them) about when they were born, lived, children, etc. However for a book during this time period, I will recommend it to friends to read. (3.5 stars rounded up to 4)
My thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for allowing me to review. Being a fan of Tatooist of Auschwitz., there was no question about this book.
This is the tale of the Meller sisters, the promise they made their father to stay together, their time in the concentration camp, escape, and post life in Israel. A bit heavy for me,but well written and researched.
The third in the Tattooist series, this book follows Slovaks Cibi, Livi, and Magda through the end of WWII. You will hear some names you recognize, like Lalo and Cilka as you wander through the Holocaust as it occurs. The horrors that human beings can survive stuns me. This third book is another well written tale of survival and piecing a life together after the war. It walks you through the intense and lingering emotions felt by the sisters and the different ways they felt and dealt with them.
The timing was a little choppy and things would switch gears sometimes between paragraphs. The end got a bit repetitive and a little sappy. But I loved the statements from family members in the back of the book.
I was asked to read this book for my honest review.
Three Sisters by Heather Morris is the story of sisterhood from 1929 through2013. At the beginning of the story we meet the Meller sisters. In 1929, Cibi, Magda and Livi are asked by their father to make a promise to him and to each other that they will always take care of each other. This promise sets the sisters on a journey through history. Together the sisters experience years in a concentration camp, attempt a dangerous escape, immigrating to Israel and start over in their new country. Here they start a new life, marry and have children. Throughout the book, each time any one of the sisters is threatened or in danger, the other two come to rescue and help with the situation. Over and over the sisters honor the promise they made to their father. This is a truly beautiful book. There are some hard parts (especially in the concentration camp) but all and all it is a story of family, caring and most importantly, sisterly love.
I loved the first 2/3 of this book, when the girls shared about their experiences being deported and living in a concentration camp. I think the author did a fantastic job, as she did in the previous two books in the series. I also enjoyed seeing how life was for the two sisters who were in the camp as compared to the sister living "free" yet constantly in fear.
The final stretch was still good, but not as compelling as the first part. It was nice to see the girls have a happy ending, but I am always more fascinated with the "active war" time period. I did think it did a nice job exploring the mental health/PTSD of the survivors and would have loved to see a stronger focus on that.
All in all, a good book. Worth a read, especially if you read Tattooist of Auschwitz and Cilka's Journey.
Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC. All opinions are my own.
I finished reading this last night and I am still recovering. This story brought out so many emotions; sadness, fear, anger, joy, and hope. Heather Morris tells the story of 3 sisters who lived through the holocaust and survived. Their love, strength and courageousness is truly amazing.
All I can say is read this book. Your eyes will be opened, your heart will hurt, your mind will question and, hopefully,your life will be changed by being grateful for what you have and make you really appreciate those in your life who love you.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC.
Three Sisters, by Heather Morris, is heartbreaking, powerful, hopeful, and finally a triumphant tribute to the love, devotion, and courage of the three Meller sisters. At times I needed to pause my reading because of the sheer horrors of the death camps and the cruelty the sisters and others endured. They are truly heroes, and their stories must never be forgotten. I absolutely recommend this book, and it should be required reading for everyone.
So many tears shed while reading this book. I love that Heather Morris continues to bring us the lives of these real people who lived through so much and deserve to be honored.
I was drawn into the lives of Cibi, Magda, & Livi from the beginning. I read this is a day. Such a heartfelt story of survival and to see their lives after all of it was just beautiful.
There is so much more I could say about this book, but I am just basking in the beauty of it and encourage everyone to read it.
Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC!
This is another masterpiece by Author Heather Morris. It is book 3 of The Tattooist of Auschwitz series of WWII Historical Holocaust books inspired by true stories. It is about three Slovakian sisters, Cibi, Magda and Livi who promise their father on the night before his surgery that they will always protect one another. All three girls eventually end up in Auschwitz and struggle to survive starvation and illness. As the war is winding down, they are forced to go on a death march from which they escape from and hide in the woods. The rest of the book deals with the girls trying to adjust back into society and rebuilding their lives. I loved that the author explains at the end of the book what happened to the girls and their families.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this fantastic book which I read in record time because I just could not put it down. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys WWII Historical books.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for this ARC!
The Tattooist of Auschwitz was one of my favorite historical books ever, and I also enjoyed Cilka's Journey. I was so excited when a third book in the series was going to come out. Three Sisters was AMAZING, just as the first two. Throughout the first two books in the series, getting a glimpse of what a person's life must have been like as a prisoner during the holocaust, was something that will never leave me. Cibi, Magda and Livi are sisters that help each other survive as POW's. My heart was engrossed reading this novel. Heather Morris's writing is beyond talented, and I will read everything that she publishes. 5 stars!