The Passenger

The understandable irrational panic and paranoia comes over well. It's quite frenetic, but (and I don't feel very noble saying this) I feel the dialogue was lacking, not very sophisticated, but of course it may be something was lost in translation. My book group are reading this and I'll post their comments in due course.
It has had everyone mesmerised. Here are their comments.
A few pages in and I was gripped and drawn into the story of Silbermann, the Jew that didn't look like a jew, the rich businessman whose life was completely turned upside down, never to be recovered following the battering down of his door. His subsequent hasty escape towards a 'ground hog day' series of train journeys, a futile attempt to try and avoid the horrors of Jewish persecution and Nazi Germany. Its difficult to describe how a series of train journeys can become such a gripping and compelling read but I conclude that it is the combination of Boschwitz's black humour and series of contrasting characters that he encounters that keep you reading. You are drawn through the book, I read it in record time for me and even though Silbermann's progress stutters, you are still in need of getting to the conclusion. The ending is not predictable even though we know the real life ending. We lost a great potential writer at such a young age when we lost Boschwitz, 5 stars 🌟 from me! NF
The book took me a while to get into as it’s not a genre I have demonstrated much interest in. However, the perseverance was worth it and I was gripped part way through. I felt the fear flying out the pages and couldn’t put the book down . It’s disturbing to comprehend this is based on a true story and would most definitely recommend as a fantastic, moving and thrilling read. LB
The Passenger is a tale about a journey - a shocking, enlightening and eye-opening journey into the horrors of life for Jews in the early Third Reich era, before the II World War. Ulrich gives us a thriller, a constant ride highlighting the frightening times and events everyday Jews went through. The reader is left gripped at a fictional tale of an ordinary man - business man - whose life was thorn in just three days. One is left wondering what Otto was wondering. How could it be possible that the same people, the same neighborhood, the same friends act so differently so quickly. Although a fictitious tale The Passenger recounts thrillingly but shockingly the horrific acts and the nightmare imposed on Jews just before the II World War. The war on these human beings clearly started before the War as well-told by Ulrich. The Passenger is at the end of the day a multitude of rail trips all within pre-war Germany with the sole hope of escape - an escape from being a Jew. We are taken through an emotional ride throughout the different trips Otto endured. Otto’s trips in first class and second class and ultimately third class highlight the constant fear of the unknown. Otto, like all Jews was the same man the day before but suddenly his world changed. This is Otto’s story - a fictional story but a true story of a horrific and appalling time in our History - the human race History. AB
A beautifully written narrative of a harrowing situation that Otto Silberman finds himself in due the deteriorating political situation of a changing Germany that criminalised being Jewish overnight. Understanding Otto’s experience through this thoughts and decisions is heartbreaking; the conflicting decision of fleeing his home to save his life yet fighting to securing his future. Otto’s fast thinking demonstrates an incredible care of others he mets during his many train travels across Germany is truly inspiring and leaves the reader routing for him. RM
Loved the book, originally written before WWll. This is one of the best books I have read to really grasp and feel what it was like for Jewish people in Nazi Germany, unable to escape. I would highly recommend to read this book . LB
What a book! It had me gripped. At some points I was open mouthed with shock. How awful it must of been for him. It really does give an insight into the difficulties the Jewish people faced. Wonderfully written. SF