milo_afc 's review for:

Transit by Anna Seghers
5.0

A masterpiece - a book about boredom on the edge of destruction - the deep calm before the storm - of people stuck in one place waiting to leave but unable to do so. Anna Seghers' prose and grapple with existentialism is one of the finest I've read, a real favourite - skillfully adapted with care and precision into a modern-day setting by Christian Petzold, one of my favourite directors. It's the rare combination of film adaption and novel working in perfect harmony - rare has both been as closely memorable as they have been. Given Seghers' background she brings a touch of authenticity to the process, and that shines through in this sweeping, understated melodrama. Best book I've read so far this year - and probably one of my favourites of all-time.