I think this one has to be one of the best books about the Holocaust I’ve read – up there with Schindler’s Ark. It took me a long time to read but it was not because it was hard work, I just had my heart in my mouth the entire time.
The story
follows the fortunes of Gustav Kleinmann and his son Fritz, as they get caught
up in the persecution of their people. I cannot tell you how well written this
book is. I was engrossed from start to finish. There were some truly
heartbreaking moments, but what I thought that it was interesting that there were
insights into the thoughts and feelings of those who were carrying out the
killings.
For me
there was a bit of confusion early on as the title made me think that Fritz was
a young child, rather than in his late teens. But the feats that both father and
son reach, within camp life as well as just in terms of survival.
Towards the
end the pace picks up very quickly and all the hard work of the two men to stay
together seems to be coming undone. At this point I couldn’t put the book down
until the end. Highly recommend.
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