The story of the love between father and son who are in a concentration camp in Germany during World War 2. A harrowing read but a must read. Thanks to Net Galley for my ARC.

I don’t usually read non-fiction, it’s not really my thing, but this book caught my eye as I do like to learn about World Wars 1 and 2. I knew it was going to be a hard read and my goodness it certainly was. In fact it was absolutely heartbreaking. The concentration camps were just hell on earth and it still doesn’t seem real that this was allowed to happen and so many innocent people were murdered. The book read as a fiction story and I had to keep reminding myself it was actually real. Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin UK - Michael Joseph for letting me read and review this book.

This is an excellent book for those wanting a historically factual and detailed account of this time in history.

It's so hard to review this one, as with all Holocaust accounts it is so important for the story to be told and read and for this unthinkable blot on human history to be remembered and learned from. Personally I felt that this had large parts which read more like a textbook rather than the emotive and character driven novel I was expecting to read. It was at times repetative and I felt that the author had so much information that needed to be shared that there was some dumping of factual historical content rather than being able to weave so much detail into the storyline, which may have been what prevented me from connecting with the personal story and emotions of the characters properly.

Please don't misunderstand, it is a good read and I do unreservedly recommend this to WWII readers who are looking for an informative and historically detailed factual narration, it's a really valuable account and taught me things that I had no prior knowledge of. Had I expected this when starting the book then my experience and 'enjoyment' of the book may have been different, however for those who have had more reading enjoyment from stories such as The Lost Wife or The Tattooist of Auschwitz this one may not deliver what you are looking for.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

an inspiring storyline that will bring a tear to your eye

This was an utterly heartbreaking read, it was moving as with every holocaust account such as this. It was, of course, difficult to read and really drove home the experience. It had a huge impact on my reading experience and almost moved me to tears on a number of occasions.

I have never read a Holocaust survivor's story that didn't deserve to be heard and this one is no exception. It is harrowing and heartbreaking and devastating. But what sets this one apart is the truly remarkable relationship at its heart. Juxtaposed against the horrors of the Nazi concentration camps is the enduring love and devotion between a father and son. The relationship glows with the light of hope and resilience in the darkness of so much suffering and loss. I felt privileged to read about it. The moment when Gustav finds his beloved Fritz alive after thinking him dead is so joyous, so life-affirming, so at odds with the grimness and death all around them and so incredibly moving. What remarkable people they were.
These stories never make easy reading and I could never say I enjoyed reading them as such, but this one was special because of the strength of the father/son relationship.

A very moving book, well researched and all based on true accounts. It gives harrowing details which no one could have imagined, a book that tells of a love which bonds Gustav Kleinman who was followed into Auschwitz by his son Fritz Kleinman. It should be read by everyone..

Having a keen interest in Auschwitz i found this book very interesting, parts of it are very hard to read and the atrocities are so very hard to comprehend, The book follows the story of the Kleinmann family from being taken from Vienna to the concentration camps and beyond. The biggest part of the story focuses on Gustave and his eldest son Fritz throughout their experiences in various camps. The depths of depravity were shocking.

It’s hard to say that you can love a book that is filled with so much horror, hate and read such awful atrocities that you could never believe a human being would be capable of inflicting in another, but this book was hard to put down.

Following the story of Gustav and Fritz through what can only be described as hell on Earth, it is their devotion to one another as father and son that gets them through.

Being sent to Buchenwald, the diaries from Gustav during his time there are vividly recorded, written so that you are almost there with him. The pair are beaten, starved and forced to build the concentration camp they are held in.

An incredible story of survival against all odds.

I am always interested to read books about the 2nd world war as I grew up listening to my own Nana's stories of concentrating camps. Such an emotional and heart-breaking roller coaster of emotions. The book is so well written and gives true insight into how people were treated during the war. A truly amazing story.

I like reading books about Auschwitz as I find them interesting and it’s a time in history that I like reading about. This one wasn’t any different. I find it very hard to write reviews for these kinds of books, so all I’ll say is this one is a must read for people who like reading about the Holocaust and WWII.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this book.
I've read a few books like this but found this really moving.
This was an incredible book which will stay with me for a long time.

Looking quickly at the cover and reading all but the final paragraph of the blurb you’d be forgiven for thinking this was another fictitious Holocaust story. But it’s much deeper than that. It’s a true account of the Klenimanns, from their separation from Vienna to America and to Buchenwald where the reader learns of heartbreaking atrocities, backed up by impressive extensive footnotes, bibliography and sources.
As horrific as some of the content is and as hard as it to believe that mankind can be so cruel I’m really glad Netgalley and publisher granted me a digital copy of the book to review (and my sister lent me her paper copy which was a bonus for hot days outside where my Kindle would have thrown a fit!). If as a reader you are interested in accounts from the Holocaust, don’t miss this book. Possibly the best history book I’ve read this year.

A harrowing yet beautiful story about a father and son's bond carrying them through the horrors of the Holocaust. It's difficult to read, clearly, but it's an essential book to remind us of what could happen again if we're not careful. As the daughter of a Polish refugee, this one hit particularly hard.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC without obligation.

Read a lot of WWII stories recently and this one didn't disappoint. Wonderful story that's really well written and I thoroughly enjoyed being able to read this. Thank you for the chance and sorry my review is late.

One of many books based during the horrors of the holocaust, and yet we are always taken aback by the atrocities. An incredible account that will stay with me for a long time

I have read many books about the heartbreaking events at Auschwitz and they are all very hard to read but it always makes very hard reading and I feel it is our duty to read them. This book is a definite must read even though it will be heartbreaking

Absolutely loved this book - it was heartbreaking to read but I still couldn't put it down. It seemed everywhere I went I could hear people talking about it too.

I have read many novels in this genre but the narrative of this one did not touch me emotionally as others have done. Sadly, I was unable to finish.

When Gustav Kleinman and his son Fritz are wrenched from their family in Vienna, arrested for being Jewish, they can not imagine the horror and degradation they will have to suffer before they are freed at the end of the war. This book is written without self pity, simply telling the truth of what happened to the people who were incarcerated in concentration camps. At times Gustav even writes in his diary that it could be worse!
It starts before Austria is annexed by Germany and tells of the political upheaval and tension
of the time in Europe and beyond.
Not an easy read by any means but a very worthwhile one. I had to stop on many occasions just to try and take in the enormity of what was being described.
This book is testament to the enduring human spirit