The Boy in the Striped Pajamas Book Reviews

This was November's book on my Facebook Reading Challenge, the theme of which was a children's novel. It has very mature themes and requires a grasp of irony likewise as some knowledge of history to fully appreciate, only it renders a difficult and complex subject accessible to a young audience in the aforementioned way as The Book Thief, so although it is not recommended for young children, it is entirely appropriate for the early on secondary school historic period group.

I retrieve when this book was published in 2006. It was widely acclaimed, but also controversial; in that location were some questions marks over its historical accuracy (one senior rabbi argued that ix year-one-time boys were not kept in concentration camps, all were gassed because they could not work and were therefore of no use, though this argument also been disputed) and others have questioned whether such a relationship, between a young inmate and the son of the campsite commandant, could take gone on for and then long undetected, particularly when Bruno slips under the fence. Whatever its problems, the book has sold millions of copies worldwide and was fabricated into a successful motion-picture show within two years of publication.

The central character is Bruno, the ix yr-old son of a senior Nazi. He lives happily with his parents, twelve year-old sister, and their maid Maria in a big business firm in Berlin. Until, that is, "the Fury" comes to visit and presently subsequently the family unit is forced to move to a much less prissy and isolated house in "Out With", where Bruno's father has an of import new job. 1 of the charms of the book is Bruno's habitual mis-naming and his innocent perspective on events, even though it is clear to the reader what the truthful facts are. An instance of this is Bruno's observations almost changes in his mother's behaviour, suggesting first her flirtation and possible affair with a young lieutenant, so her depression, and tensions in his parents' union brought about by the family posting.

Bruno's sleeping room window faces the army camp, though he has no thought what it is. Arguably, given his curious nature, it is perhaps a fiddling surprising that he is non more questioning well-nigh the campsite, the fences and the people he sees inside, all of whom wear the same uniform (the striped pyjamas). It must be remembered, however, that Bruno has almost no-i to talk to; his relationship with his parents is remote, he has no friends, he and his sister share a common contempt (he calls her the "Hopeless Instance") and the other adults around are involved in a conspiracy of silence that keeps him completely in the night. The sense of fear, unwillingness to speak up or out, anxiety about the earth, and intimidation are palpable.

Lonely and bored, Bruno eventually decides to become exploring and at the purlieus of the camp one day he meets another boy of his ain historic period, Shmuel, who is interred at the camp. Bruno is thrilled to at last have someone his own age to talk to and the 2 boys strike up a friendship. As readers, we are meant to meet this friendship every bit in some ways unlikely, and in others completely obvious – why would 2 young boys exist bothered most such differences as habiliment, housing, status? They are just children. The author also comments on the transience of friendship at this age (in Berlin Bruno has iii "friends for life", whom he misses terribly, but after a few months he cannot even remember their names) and I remember this helps address some of the credibility difficulties of the plot; friendship between young boys is mainly superficial. Bruno wonders about some aspects of Shmuel'south lifestyle, but Shmuel explains very little, which possibly would not exist surprising if the child was deeply traumatised.

No spoilers here, only in that location is a brilliant denouement to the story. Although it is a book that has been much discussed, and I have well-nigh watched the film a couple of times, I had managed to avoid knowing the catastrophe equally I was determined to read information technology i twenty-four hours. I am so glad because in that location is a brilliant inevitability to it – there is a point where yous just know what is going to happen and the writer places you in this incredible state of suspense and dread, despite Bruno's innocence. I have said enough!

It's a curt book, and the writing carries you forth at a pace that feels similar the mind of a kid – no existent sense of time. I think it's too a book where you take to suspend the sorts of (adult) questions that would brand the events improbable, in favour of the bigger picture, which is a primal questioning of the forces that create fascism, terror and discrimination; if just we could come across all these things through the eyes of a child they could not exist.

A powerful and engaging novel which pulls off the trick of beingness both important and highly readable. Recommended for grown-ups and kids of 12+ alike.

How did you lot feel reading this volume?

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Source: https://julias-books.com/2019/12/05/book-review-the-boy-in-the-striped-pyjamas-by-john-boyne/

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