There aren’t many books that I’ve read that have affected me quite as deeply as this one. I haven’t stopped thinking about the horrific events and I’ve recommended it to people over and over again.This book is set in Berlin, 1942. Bruno is a nine year old boy who loves his life. After The Fury has dinner with his family, Bruno returns home from school one day to discover that his belongings are being packed into crates. His father has received a promotion and the family must move from their home to a new house far far away, where there is no one to play with and nothing to do; Bruno reluctantly leaves his beloved home, his three best friends and his grandparents. But, he suddenly realises that he doesn’t even know what his father's job is. He simply knows that it is very very important.
When Bruno looks out of his new bedroom window he can see what he assumes is a ‘summer’ camp; a tall barbed wire fence running alongside his house which stretches as far as the eye can see and cuts him off from the vast group of people, all dressed the same, in striped pyjamas!
The innocence of Bruno’s character, which exists within the most terrible evil, is what makes this story so difficult to put down.
I listened to the audio-book whilst driving and twice had to pull over because Bruno’s tragic friendship, with a boy on the other side of the fence, is so bitter sweet; and the consequences of that friendship are so horrendous.
Expect to sob deeply!
Miss Robinson
1 comment:
Haunting and beautifully written; John Boyne deserves wide acclaim for this his third novel. With World Holocaust Day a recent memory, this book is a timely reminder that history still has much to teach in terms of apt lessons. The prose is touched by genius!
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