An interesting read about familiar characters and potential characters. These brave people who bare their souls to the atrocities that they faced are truly amazing.
I enjoyed reading more in-depth background of Lale and look forward to reading about the sisters.
Hopefully after the pandemic calms down, I will be able to finally visit Auschwitz.

I’ve been a fan of Heather since her wonderful debut, “The Tattoist of Auschwitz”. I loved reading this and just wonder how Heather can top her library of books

This one was a bit unusual for me. Having read (and being incredibly moved) Morris’ previous two books, I found this one very different. I was expecting Morris to share the stories she’s been sent, since publishing her previous books, to help spread the positivity and uplifting messages. But instead this is more of a memoir/musings from Morris as she tells the story of how she came to meet Lale to listen to his story, and to impart her wisdom of being a good listener. Whilst the messages, hints and tips she passes on are helpful, it feels more like a filler and I never really got the stories I was hoping for. She does talk about the next book she’s working on; and I’m looking forward to reading that.

In Stories of Hope, Heather Morris takes us on an inspirational journey through some of the defining experiences of her life, including her profound friendship with Lale Sokolov, the tattooist at Auschwitz-Birkenau and the inspiration for her bestselling novel. Heather Morris will explore her extraordinary talents as a listener - a skill she employed when she first met Lale. It was this ability that led Lale to entrust Heather with his story, which she told as the novel The Tattooist of Auschwitz and its bestselling follow up, Cilka's Journey. Now she shares her inspiring writing journey, exploring how she learned to really listen to the stories people told her, some of which she has shared with millions of readers in her fiction. An essential companion to The Tattooist of Auschwitz and an inspiring manual for life, Stories of Hope will examine and explore Heather's extraordinary writing journey, in the form of a series of tales of the remarkable people she has met, the incredible stories they have shared with her, and the lessons they hold for us all.

Heather hopes Stories of Hope will help people become better listeners as only through listening and internalising peoples stories will we learn how to understand and empathise better with others. By listening and giving time to other peoples experiences we can hear the voices behind said stories. She explains that the reason she feels her two bestselling books became what they were was through her ability to listen to the experiences of Lale, through his own words, and of Cilka, through her friends and neighbours. Of course, writing any true story requires a great deal of intensive listening but it's perhaps even more important when it pertains to agonising and torturous Holocaust stories. She explains that through these stories we find hope in the fact that if others can triumph over such severe adversity then we can also. All in all, this is an inspiring and sincere book and a perfect gift for those who enjoyed both of her life-affirming novels. Many thanks to Bonnier Zaffre for an ARC.

Stories Of Hope by Heather Morris is a powerful read about the importance of listening to others when they are talking.
Heather Morris wrote The Tattooist Of Auschwitz and also Cilka’s Journey, both of which I have read and are excellent. Within this book Heather Morris talks about her experiences of listening to Lale as he talked about Auschwitz. It was important to listen well and not ask questions that would interrupt his flow.
Many survivors of the concentration camps do not talk about their experiences, especially within their families. Their stories need to be told in tribute to both the survivors and the six million innocents who died.
We must give our full attention to whoever is speaking. Their stories are about them and not us. It is the speaker who must decide when to pause, not us to interrupt. Their pain is not our pain. We must listen well but not take their burden upon ourselves. Having listened to the horrors, we must take time to de-stress. Heather Morris listens to music.
Heather Morris talks about the importance of listening to children too. Often as busy mums, we fail to listen and be fully engaged. We must learn to give children our full attention.
It is important to listen to ourselves too. We need to recognise and go with our gut reactions to situations.
Heather Morris gives us tips to help us to listen well and to encourage others to tell their stories. The stories that she shares, although at a terrible time, also speak of hope as people survived. They did what they needed to do to survive. It is important that we do not judge their actions.
I loved this quote from Lale:
“If you wake up, it’s going to be a good day.”
May we never forget the six million innocents.
Thank you Heather Morris for a powerful inspirational read.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

This is a heartwarming book in which we mainly hear about Heather’s experience in listening to people.
She grew up listening to her great grandfather which first highlighted the importance of listening to others.
This helped her learn how to listen to Lale and helped create the novel, The Tattoist of Auschwitz.
I loved discovering the friendship they shared and the untold research which went into writing such a great book.
We all need hope in our lives, and this book reminds us that even when times are hard the tiny glimmer of hope can be what keeps us going.
Thanks to Bonnier Books UK and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

I have read both ‘The Tattooist of Auschwitz’ and ‘Cilka's Journey’, Heather’s debut novel and her second historical novel both set around World War11. I loved them both and was really honoured to review each of them through my membership of the readers’ forum NetGalley. Thank you again for granting my requests for each novel.
Although I have used the word ‘novel’, Heather’s books are factual and written after listening to eye-witness accounts of their life stories. With the debut novel her primary research consisted of regular conversations with the Tattooist himself, Lale Sokolov, who had asked his son to find someone who would at last expose his story after the recent death of his wife. While she was alive he honoured her request not to talk about their time in Auschwitz-Birkenau but to create a happy future and leave the past behind them. The research took years and Heather and Lale became very close, socialising and becoming family friends. Heather had already learned the art of writing screenplays and ‘The Tattooist’ started its life that way, but still Lale was desperate to inform the wider population with a written account of Jewish persecution and the terror of the death chambers. His story became a multi-million pound best seller. It was Lale who begged Heather to write about Cilka (in her second novel), using the words ‘She is the bravest person I ever knew’ to rouse Heather’s curiosity.
What I liked most about ‘Stories of Hope’ is the way she opened up her heart and personalised her two published novels, adding her thoughts, research details, anecdotes, and personal heart break. This inclusion enriched the stories I am already very familiar with and have huge respect for. She stated the reason for her labours as 'Stories are what connect us, and remind us that hope is always possible.' And this novel certainly achieved her ambition. It also includes tips and advice on how to be a better listener, which were quite informative.
Throughout her personal conversations with eye witnesses she did not record the interviews or jot down notes. She simple let the story flow until it was ended by the witness and then she only asked for confirmation of names and details mentioned so that she could later verify them through using her vast collection of books about the Holocaust or other sources. It was a laborious task, but one she freely gave her heart and soul to. She was such a good listener because of her job at a large public hospital in Melbourne, where she practised her listening skills when counselling patients.
She also told us of her journeys far and wide to different countries to gather information from new leads, survivors and sometimes requests for her to write other stories of triumph and hope. This has taken her to three sisters whose story will be at the centre of her new historical novel. It is stories like theirs, Cilka’s and Lale’s that I enjoy most of all because you develop empathy more easily and longer stories enable you to identify with the characters more. This is a 3.5* review from me because of the reasons I have explained.

Having read The Tattooist Of Auschwitz, and Cilka’s Journey both by Heather Morris I was really excited to read more. I had read somewhere on social media, or online that she was in the process of gathering information from three sisters about their Holocaust story and naturally presumed that was what this book was about.

I think the cover of this book is very fitting with the photographs featured on the cover and an aged looking paper bearing the title of the book. The cover also features the fact that Heather is the best-selling author of The Tattooist Of Auschwitz. The cover also has the by-line of “Finding Inspiration In Everyday Life” which is what Heather has done when she is sharing her own stories of her own life and when she talks about the different times she sat with her great grandfather and he told her about all the different objects he had collected over the years.

The only way I can really describe the book is that it’s kind of like two books in one really. There are sections that instruct you how to listen, both to people and your surroundings. I think to some it could come across a little like “telling granny how to suck eggs” in parts. I guess you could even say it is a tiny bit overly preachy in some of these sections too. Whilst I read these sections, I will be totally honest I didn’t enjoy them all and think some of them could have easily been left out of the book with little detriment to it.

The sections of the book I loved were the parts where she described how she came in to contact with Lale. Those first few meetings in his home, with the horrible coffee and the awkwardness that after one of his dogs accepted Heather enough to give her its ball, turned into an acceptance of her and a loving friendship. The outings that they went on to the cinema where Lale easily chose actress Natalie Portman to be the one to portray his beautiful wife Gita should a movie be made of their story. Though it took Lale much longer to choose Ryan Gosling to be the one to represent him. The amusing flirtations that Lale had with Heather daughter, to the event that Heather attended where women were at one side of the room and the men to the other. Lale introduced her to his friends and fellow Holocaust Survivors who immediately shared their own tales of Lale and Gita. They were also eager to tell Heather their own stories of families, and friends lost during the Holocaust, along with the different concentration camps they were kept in. Arguing and squabbling like children about who had the worst time in which concentration camp and the little stories of a small kindness that helped them live through to another day.

Heather reveals she also worked at a hospital, and I found one story she shared quite poignant as it was the loss of a child. Heather reveals how she would dress babies in outfits brought in by their parents, place toys, cards, and photographs with them. In this particular tale a bereaved father has two marbles that his ow father had given him as a child and he wanted to pass on one of the marbles to his son, but was finding the decision of which one to choose impossible and he asks Heather to choose. Her kindness is not forgotten and we learn her choice of marble colour turns out to have been quite apt later for the young bereaved couple.

Heather reveals how she heard about the three sisters, a last-minute, spur of the moment journey to meet one of them, enabled thanks to the understanding of her day job boss, whose story is going to be her next book. Heather mentions that without her family and friends understanding she wouldn’t have been able to write these books. She also reveals the toll listening and writing about these different Holocaust stories have taken on her. She explains that survivors deal with this awful period of the past differently. Some with have spoken to their families, where others will have never talked about the numbers tattooed on their arms. Luckily for the following generations some want to tell their stories, they want them to be remembered and continue to be passed on. It is a time in history and in their lives that in my opinion should never be forgotten. I think Heather is doing something invaluable for both the survivors of the holocaust who wish to tell their stories and for us, the readers of her books. Heather discloses the process she uses for the books. For example, with Lale she didn’t take notes, she would rush home and write down all she remembered as soon as she got home. Then as she does with all the stories, she is told she fact checks everything for the date, time and name of SS Officers and Survivors are correct. It was really engrossing reading how the research and writing of the Survivors are all different. As with Cilka’s Journey, Heather had to check, birth documents and family documents to back up what she was being told. Heather describes passing the house where Cilka used to live. There are things in this book that Heather describes that really make the hairs on your arms, and back of your neck stand up. Heather has also visited Auschwitz she describes being able to pin point the different barracks and areas in the camp that Lale described to her in such detail with ease whilst she was there.

I feel I need to add in a little more about this book, I had seen on social media people that had read it and were saying they really hadn’t enjoyed it. I came across these comments quite accidentally as I usually try my best to avoid what others think about a book when I know I do want to read it for myself. Some of the things said really had me second guessing whether I would enjoy the content of the book or not. For anyone unsure of reading it, having seen some negativity about the book, my advice would be to read the book for yourself. Even if you don’t like the bits suggesting questions to ask to have meaningful conversations, or the pointers on learning to really listen, there is so much more to the book. It tells you more about Heather the woman who was initially taught to be able to sit and listen well to others by her great grandfather. You get more of an idea of what Heathers life has been like as well as how writing these powerful, emotional, harrowing stories affects her and her own family too. Its certainly a book worth reading.

My immediate thoughts upon finishing the book were that it was an enjoyable enough read, though not what I had initially thought it would be. I loved the parts about Heather and her great grandfather, who taught her the value of listening. I also adored the recollections Heather shared about her time with Lale, the stories about the research she needed to do about Cilka. Here is also a very poignant story about an incident that occurred whilst Heather was working at a hospital that I found highly emotive. The book ends on the promise of the story of 3 sisters, which I can't wait to read.

To sum up, I really enjoyed certain parts of the book where as other parts I admit to finding a little irritating. Having said that for those who wish to learn how to listen to the world and people around them then those parts of the book will also be more interesting to them. Perhaps those sections are aimed at the younger generation that perhaps haven’t been around their elders to actually listen too. As an only child when my family visited my grandparents I was used to sitting, spending time with them and really listening to them, hearing the stories of their pasts. As Heather says in her book perhaps some would look at that as a duty of respect for your elders, though I loved spending time with them, reminiscing about how different their own childhood were. How my grandparents first met etc. I found it all fascinating. Perhaps they are the ones responsible for my fascination with people’s histories, memoirs and their own family stories. On the whole I would say, overall, I enjoyed the book quite a lot.

*I found it really difficult to decide on how many stars to give this book. Ideally it would be 3.5/5 but as you can't rate .5 I had to go with 3 which feels a bit harsh, not that its meant to, but 4 felt too much**

After reading The Tattooist of Auschwitz and Cilkas journey I was really looking forward to reading Stories of Hope. Although this book was very different, as it was a personal story of Heather Morris’s life experiences it was just as thought provoking as her previous books .

In our busy lives we sometimes forget the skill of listening. So many people around us have a story to tell and if we can actively listen our own understanding and life can be enriched. Heathers skill of listening was beautifully explored in the book. Without it we would never have learned of lale Sokolov and his experiences which shed such a profound light on a time in history that should never be forgotten. I loved discovering the friendship they shared and the untold research which went into writing such a fantastic book. I also loved the personal experiences Heather shared.

We all need hope in our lives, and this book reminds us that through even the most difficult of circumstances the glimmer of hope can be what keeps us going. We can all find inspiration in everyday lives if we only take the time to look and appreciate other people and their stories. What better time than in these uncertain times to read Stories of Hope.

Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for my chance to read this beautiful book.

i don’t normally read non-fiction but after how much i loved the tattooist of auschwitz i had to give this a try and it did not disappoint! super insightful i definitely recommend

The Tattooist of Auschwitz and Cilka’s journey are incredible memorable moving stories. A lot of this book feels like an advertisement for those 2 books and also an advertisement for the next book. It was interesting to read more about Lale and his life after Auschwitz. Heather Morris obviously has an incredible memory, to be able to recall everything that she has been told.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

Maybe I misunderstood the synopsis of the book as I was expecting something different to what was delivered. I thought I was getting a book that had a collection of inspiring memoirs, full of hope and joy - something that we could all do with at this time, I think. What I got was felt like a patronising self help book with long sections on how great the author is at listening, telling us how to be as good as her at it and peppered with the stories we wanted in between.

The only thing I enjoyed was some of the additional information on Lale but there wasn't enough of it to truly save this book. Having been swept away by how incredible The Tattooist of Auschwitz was, and my excitement to read Cilka's Journey - maybe I was expecting too much.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher's for an advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review

This is a very unusual subject for a book but one that is very successful. The author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz gives her readers a privileged insight into how she became the confidant of the tattooist, Lale Sokolov, late in his life and just after his wife and fellow camp prisoner died. The book then goes on to share similar experiences in the preparation of her other best seller, Cilka’s Journey. Heather Morris grew up in New Zealand the moved to Melbourne. Sokolov was there too. She shares the trauma she experienced herself in listening to the horrendous experiences which were confided to her. The nature of her relationship with Lale is beautifully told. Morris uses this book also to analyse the nature of communication and relationships and shares intimate details about her personal life and that of her family. It makes fascinating and demanding reading and will lead many readers to be introspective. Her lessons about effective communication and the nature of listening are worth reading for themselves. This book is an important background to the two books already published. It also gives advanced notice of number three! This is a brave, honest and fascinating account of Morris’s approach to her novels.

The novel switches between personal stories, anecdotes and essays from the author with key points focusing on her childhood and her time with Lale Sokolov, the man who's story so many of us became familiar with through The Tattooist of Auschwitz. Personally, I found the stories with Lale to be the most interesting. The actual format of this book was a little confusing, almost jarring at times. Morris switches from stories of her childhood to her experiences as a parent and time with Lale in inconsistent ways throughout, the anecdotes don't always flow well together and seem out of place. However, despite the perhaps confusing jumps, this novel did what it set out to do. There was an overarching theme of hope throughout and I did enjoy the insight into Morris' life that she provided us with. It's clear to see that her writing ability has improved since her debut novel and I would read any further work of hers. A solid read, especially if you enjoyed her first two novels.

I absolutely love Heather's other books and inhaled this. Such an inspirational book to put life in perspective. Would recommend.

I know that many people found this book uplifting - and yes, there is a sense of coming through the bad times and making the most of life. But I found it too depressing. I actually felt bad while reading it. Perhaps I am in too raw a place at the moment, but I wasn't able to finish the book. Sorry.

I have read the previous two books by this author and was completely blown away by them so I jumped on the opportunity to read this book.

I don't want to give away any spoilers but if you take one piece of advice away from this book it is to listen to everyone but especially your elders.

With thanks to Netgalley & Bonnier Books for the arc of this exchange for this review

#StoriesofHope #NetGalley

STORIES OF HOPE

by

Heather Morris


I wept more reading this than the writer’s excellent book The Tattooist of Auschwitz. Why? As the writer tells of her meetings with Lale, the reader is there with her, feeling the emotion and the grief of this old man, who has recently lost his wife, and in her memory wants to tell his story. As a bond strengthens between writer and Lale,the reader feels the distress of the author hearing the horrors of Auschwitz and the Nazi regime first hand. Heather Morris became a friend to Lale, and as he let her into his life, she reciprocated and the family became attached to a lonely old man who merely wanted to be reunited with his late wife once his story was written.
Her memory recall is remarkable rushing home after her visits to Lale to immediately note what she had heard. It is the intimacy of these ‘chats’ that gives the original book and this one such emotional impact.
Crammed with anecdotes and ideas this little book is well worth reading for the advice it includes. As someone who has a habit of interrupting I took to heart her advice on how to be a good listener! After all Listen and Silent are formed from the same letters!
It reminds me of my regret not asking enough questions of older family when I was younger as now there is no one to tell they whys and wherefores of my predecessors.
This is a wonderful little book full of down to earth wisdom and common sense from which we would all benefit. Interesting, moving and inspirational and despite the sadness, an uplifting book.
An excellent book to buy as a gift.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bonnier Books for this ARC. The kindest thing I can say is that Heather Morris made a valiant attempt at capitalising on the success of her previous books. Capitalising however is exactly what this book has done.

I absolutely loved Heather Morris' novels, The Tattooist of Auschwitz and Cilka's Journey for which I gave five stars, but not so this. I won't say why it wasn't for me because it's probably just a personal thing and I'm sure many who read it will find it a comfort. I'm of the age where listening to my elders is impossible and young people today have very strong opinions. I only give advice when I'm asked.