Fascinating read, excellent writing on a difficult subject. Very intriguing, great for those interested in WWII topics. An enjoyable read and highly recommended.

I have always been interested in books on the Holocaust and as soon as I read the blurb for this one I was desperate to read it.

This is another book though that I am going to be in the minority with. Yes it is a harrowing tale but for me it lacked depth and emotion. I didn't feel any of the horrors that were happening to people or the atrocities that were going on in the camp. It was all to much matter of fact rather than really getting into Gustav and Fritz's minds.

There is certainly a lot of description and background of what things were like during the war and the camps and the author really does go into detail and it is really interesting. It's really hard to not be overly positive about a book when the story is true and I know the people whose story is being told will have been to hell and back. I am always grateful to them for telling their story. For me though the authors writing style just didn't pull on my emotions. Like I say, am no doubt I will be in the minority and would still urge people to read as anyone that went through what Gustav and Fritz did, deserve to be heard.

A superbly moving book, excellent writing on what is often a very difficult and uneasy subject. Engaging and encompassing. Perfect for fans of WWII, and the likes of The Boy In Striped Pyjamas.

A very tragic subject but dealt with with taste and an enjoyable read.

a wee bit about the book

The Boy Who Followed His Father Into Auschwitz is the true story of father and son, Gustav and Fritz Kleinmann.

Residents of Vienna, the Jewish Kleinmann family resided in the Jewish district of Leopoldstadt in the year preceding World War 2.

In 1938, the family – Gustav, Tini, Edith, Fritz, Herta, and Kurt – found themselves increasingly subject to persecution as Nazi supporters became more empowered.

In 1939 Gustav and his older son Fritz were herded on to trains and sent to the Buchenwald concentration camp.

Through thorough research and interviews, as well as a little green notepad that Gustav managed to write in and keep, Jeremy Dronfield tells the incredible and harrowing tale of not only these two men, but the rest of the Kleinmann family too.

my thoughts

One cannot use the word ‘enjoyed’ for a book of this nature, but I did find it engaging, eye-opening, and wholly memorable.

It is clear that a huge amount of research has gone into the creation of this book. Through the Kleinmanns’ story, the reader becomes more acquainted with the lives of Jewish people in Vienna at that time – and what became of many during WW2.

Gustav and Fritz were detained in numerous concentration camps during these years. Their close relationship kept them strong and determined to survive. When Gustav was set to be sent from Buchenwald to Auschwitz, with Fritz to be left behind (as the title implies), Fritz gets himself into Auschwitz so that he can remain with his father.

A book on this subject is never going to be easy-reading. Dronfield shares the facts and, rightfully, doesn’t shy away from detail.

While the subject matter is harrowing, often graphic, and upsetting, Jeremy Dronfield writes in a way that makes you keep reading.

The writing itself is easy-to-read while the content is not. I think that’s a rare skill. Dronfield shares the truth of the concentration camps – graphic and upsetting – and yet you want to keep reading. Part of this, for me, was Gustav and Fritz; I really cared about them and wanted to read their stories.

In reading about Gustav and Fritz, we also get the stories of others that they encountered along the way – from the SS men who made their lives Hell, to the fellow prisoners and others who helped them to survive. The stories of strangers coming together to help one another are striking and heart rending.

I spent much of this book with tears in my eyes. I couldn’t put the book down as I yearned to learn the fates of the members of the Kleinmann family, and those they met along the way.

My only slight issue was that I found it quite hard to keep track of all the names in this book. However, the author does a good job of reminding us most of the time.

I found this a heart-breaking yet hugely engaging read. There is so much detail in this book, I learned a great deal.

The stories of Gustav and Fritz are going to stay with me. These stories need to be heard, and writers such as Dronfield clearly take much care in the research and crafting of the book.

I’d say this book is less ‘just’ story and more a story with historical fact and details. I can’t tell you how much I learned, or how much I hoped and felt for Gustav, Fritz, and their fellow prisoners.

An eye-opening, educational, and emotional read.

I definitely recommend.

This is an epic read and one that is well worth it. It is impossible to comprehend the atrocities that were perpetrated during the Second World War on Jews. I have read several other accounts of life in the concentration camps, but this one has one difference and that is the resolute connection between father and son. An amazing account of their life and struggle in various camps over the years. This ought to be a set book in Secondary schools to educate teenagers to the horrors of war. Anyone who thinks that Anti-Semitism does not actually exist, should read this and learn.

Fascinating and very humbling tale that had me absorbed from beginning to the end. Definitely recommended to those who are interested in this aspect of WWII.

Quite an interesting book to read and I like the fact that it didn't just concentrate on the father/son but on the whole family too and their suffering during Nazi occupation of Austria.

This was a very sad, but excellent book. I have read a lot of books on this topic recently but this one was very good. I really would recommend this to anyone interested in history or especially to do with the topic of Auschwitz as it really does enlighten you on a lot of what happened and the characters were really well written.

A heartbreaking book full of emotion.

I have recently read The Tattooist of Auschwitz which I felt was better however this book did not disappoint.

4 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book was different to anything i have ever read.

It follows the lives of the Kleinmann family through what is one of the worst times in our history. I was particularly drawn to the book because i have some Jewish family background and i wanted to try to understand more about this time period. The book explores so many different emotions; it's a story of struggle, determination and a family's bond, but it is also one of pain, trauma and devastation.
I love how the writer seamlessly inserts quotations into the body of the story, it is so well done that you forget that he is writing someone else's life and not his own. The amount of work, time and research that must have gone into this book is awe inspiring, and i'm grateful to the author for creating this book.

I think this is a really important read for everyone.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Penguin UK for an ARC of this book.

I read this book in just a day and it was absolutely magnificent! I’ve always been interested in reading about the Holocaust and it matters that what happened is not forgotten. Such a wonderful true story of love, suffering, resilience and strength that shows that light can be found even in the darkest moments.

A truly heartbreaking story about one of the most tragic events in our time. The book was beautifully written and was just so full of heart wrenching writing.

An emotional and harrowing read about a time in history that should never be forgotten or repeated. The sheer determination of them wanting to survive is really unbelievable and heartwarming also. This book is not an easy read because of the content however should be read by everyone.

This book left me with mixed emotions, at times it's horrifying, at other times it's uplifting, but it's definitely a story that needed to be told. We should never forget the crimes against humanity perpetuated during WW2 by the Nazis and this book brings those crimes to life. Yet there is so much more to this book - it describes the love of a son for his father (and vice versa) and how they supported each other through the most difficult of times to both survive the concentration camps. It also tells the story of the family. The daughter who managed to get herself to safety in England, and the mother who never gave up and managed to get one child out of Austria to safety in the USA, but who lost her own life in the concentration camps, together with the daughter she couldn't save. The reader will go through a roller coaster of emotions whilst they're reading this - I can't recommend it highly enough.

A superb but traumatic read. I knew to prepare myself for a difficult read, but I was still taken aback, as is right following such a heartwrenching read. From the emotional toll it took for me to read, I can only imagine what it cost to write, but thank goodness he did, as these stories need to be told. Thank you to Jeremy and to Net Galley for the chance to review.

Thank you for the arc copy of this book. A harrowing account of a time in history that saddens and shames us all. My mother in law was in Auschwitz but fortunately, like the people in this book she was spared. A must read, grab the tissues and pray to whoever God you wish that such evil is never ever repeated.

As someone who has a great love of history and learning about the world I can truly say that this book really is outstanding. It was difficult to read at times and made me feel ashamed of our countries reactions to these atrocities during the war but oh my word what a read!

Based on the diaries of Gustav Kleinmann we learn the truly heartbreaking story of how Gustav and his son Fritz endure the atrocities of living in concentration camps during WW2. Not only does it use Gustav's diary but a lot of research has gone into the writing of this book using historical documents, family memoirs, family interviews and recounts of other survivors.

As I mentioned, at times this book is extremely difficult to read because it is very graphic in its descriptions but that is something that we need in this day and age. In particular, the description of Tini and Herta Kleinmann's journey during Nazi rule really disturbed me. It was heartbreaking to read what these poor people went through and for that Jeremy Dronfield must be commended because he truly did relay just how horrendous this time was for Jews during Hitler's rule.

Gustav and Fritz's relationship throughout really touched my heart and their determination to beat this evil was amazing. I'm so glad that their story has been told in such a beautiful and powerful way. I would 100% recommend this book.

An uncomfortable and distressing read. Had we not already known what went on in the concentration camps during WW11 it would be almost impossible to believe. As it is I think everyone should read this book because these atrocities should never be forgotten.

In this day and age, we all know what happened in the Holocaust and the horrors that took place, but it doesn't hit you as hard as when you know their names and their personal stories. This was one of those books that really got me because pretty soon into the story I felt a deep connection with Gustav, and pretty soon after that Fritz got to me too. I studied Nazi Germany at school and I learnt so much more from this book than the two years of studying I did. The political side never really stuck with me before or anything that wasn't related to the horrors in the camp, but I understood so much more when I was looking at it from the point of view of Gustav and Fritz because although this book does mainly focus on the horrors at the camps, it really shows you so much more than that.

A heartbreaking, inspiring book. I read this in tears at the treatment of these men, women and children at the hands of these revolting people and was so inspired by there bravery and courage in the face of what must have been a living hell. A must read as this must never happen again and people should know what they went through and how they survived. #NetGalley#TheBoyWhoFollowedHisFatherIntoAuschwitz