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The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
John Boyne's The Boy in Striped Pyjamas will no doubt acquire many readers as a result of the subsequent film of the novel, but viewers of the latter would do themselves a favour by going back to the spare and powerfully affecting original book. Bruno is nine years old, and the Nazis’ horrific Final Solution to the ‘Jewish Problem’ means nothing to him. He's completely unaware of the barbarity of Germany under Hitler, and is more concerned by his move from his well-appointed house in Berlin to a far less salubrious area where he finds himself with nothing to do. Then he meets a boy called Shmuel who lives a very different life from him -- a life on the opposite side of a wire fence. And Shmuel is the eponymous boy in the striped pyjamas, as are all the other people on the other side of the fence. The friendship between the two boys begins to grow, but for Bruno it is a journey from blissful ignorance to a painful knowledge. And he will find that this learning process carries, for him, a daunting price.
A legion of books have attempted to evoke the horrors of the Second World War, but in this concise and perfectly honed novel, all of the effects that John Boyne creates are allowed to make a maximum impact in a relatively understated fashion (given the enormity of the situation here). The Boy in Striped Pyjamas is also that rare thing: a novel which can affect both children and adults equally; a worthy successor, in fact, to such masterpieces as To Kill a Mockingbird and The Catcher in the Rye -- both, of course, books, dealing (as does this one) with the loss of innocence. --Barry Forshaw
Book Description
What happens when innocence is confronted by monstrous evil?
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
352 of 377 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
When I bought this book I wasn't sure what to expect; the blurb was very secretive about the content of the book. I was reading it with the thought of passing it on to my year 6 class, to try and lure them away from J.Wilson's teen-reads!
At first, it felt like a light read, for a book which says it isn't suitable for nine year olds; however, it becomes a lot darker the further you get into the story. As an adult, you can see beyond what the child sees and hears (this can be disturbing at times). I could not put this book down and read it in two days!
I won't spoil the ending for those who choose to buy it. The book as a whole left me thinking, which is a good thing. I am not sure if I would recommend it to the majority of my 11 year olds;however, I think a mature child would find it a thoughtful read.
I will be passing it on to one or two adults and children; I also think I may read it again in time I think a second reading may bring more subtext to the suface.
158 of 171 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I'm sure that this is a book that most people have now heard of, especially with the film now released. However, it's probably approached with as least pre-information as possible. I prefer the synopsis that the book originally had..
"The story of "The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas" is very difficult to describe. Usually we give some clues about the book on the cover, but in this case we think that would spoil the reading of the book. We think it is important that you start to read without knowing what it is about. If you do start to read this book, you will go on a journey with a nine-year-old boy called Bruno. (Though this isn't a book for nine-year-olds.) And sooner or later you will arrive with Bruno at a fence. We hope you never have to cross such a fence."
It is listed as a children's book, but it's not for younger children, and it's certainly an adult book aswell. If you haven't yet read it, don't go searching the reviews, just pick up the book, and read it in the way it was intended.
The book is told in a simple manner, reflecting the innocence and naivety of Bruno. I believe it's meant to be read in the same way as a parable or fable, it's not meant to be a historically accurate text. To me, it was a simple, very effective piece of story telling, which brought me to a stand still, made me cry, and has stayed very much in my thoughts.
"The story of "The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas" is very difficult to describe. Usually we give some clues about the book on the cover, but in this case we think that would spoil the reading of the book. We think it is important that you start to read without knowing what it is about. If you do start to read this book, you will go on a journey with a nine-year-old boy called Bruno. (Though this isn't a book for nine-year-olds.) And sooner or later you will arrive with Bruno at a fence. We hope you never have to cross such a fence."
It is listed as a children's book, but it's not for younger children, and it's certainly an adult book aswell. If you haven't yet read it, don't go searching the reviews, just pick up the book, and read it in the way it was intended.
The book is told in a simple manner, reflecting the innocence and naivety of Bruno. I believe it's meant to be read in the same way as a parable or fable, it's not meant to be a historically accurate text. To me, it was a simple, very effective piece of story telling, which brought me to a stand still, made me cry, and has stayed very much in my thoughts.
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I think this is a terrific book, one that crosses over the boundary between children and adult fiction to appeal very widely. However, it is still a very disturbing portrait of Nazi Germany, vividly showing how fascist ideology and a patriarchal culture twisted and distorted the world - and could do so again. The ending is as powerful as any I've read in a work of fiction. What prevents me giving it five stars through is that the author never completely convinced me that the nine year old son of a high ranking Nazi official living in Berlin could absorb so little of what was going on around him.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Shallow
To be honest, this was the worst book I ever read in my life. The story is shallow, the topic is un-researched, the characters are not well created and not credible at all. Read more
Published 7 days ago by Julia1984
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas
This book could so easily have been a true story. In fact when I saw the film by chance on television (before I read the book) I really thought could this have been a real event? Read more
Published 8 days ago by Andy
No Synopsis
Perhaps there is a valid reason for the lack of synopsis! I am sure the book sales would have been far fewer if there were! Read more
Published 19 days ago by Hilary
Deeply flawed
This is an appauling book. OK the author has imaginately constructed a child's view of the world and events and through this perspective the reader gradually realises the horror... Read more
Published 22 days ago by Dr. L. J. Ray
Dive In
The best way to approach this book is as it says on the back: "Usually we give some clues about the book on the cover, but in this case we think that would spoil the reading of the... Read more
Published 28 days ago by Ark-Angel
Enjoyable reading
At first I thought this was a children's story but after a few chapters realised not. It was quite a moving novel and the ending was a surprise.
Published 1 month ago by Jean
Shocking
This book shocked me to no end.
When I first started reading it, I was honestly getting a little annoyed at the childlike quality of it. Read more
When I first started reading it, I was honestly getting a little annoyed at the childlike quality of it. Read more
Published 2 months ago by S. Shamma
Well worth the wait!
I have a part time job in a book shop and this is where I first saw the book for sale. Someone then told me about it. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Arym
Brilliant
Brilliant book very captivating and sad, brought a tear to my eye and i know im not the only one! I recommend the film too.
Published 2 months ago by Shosh
TOUGH STORY
This is a story of life for an upwardly mobile young family in Nazi Germany. Most of the story is told through the eyes of the youngest member of the family the nine year old... Read more
Published 2 months ago by ROY
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