The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne

Rating

5 stars – a small book with a killer punch ending

Description

The story of “The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas” is very difficult to describe. Usually we are 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.

Why did you choose to read this book?

I picked up a copy of The Boy in Striped Pyjamas when it appeared in the bargain bin at the supermarket – and thought it would be a nice light read…hmmm…not quite!

The Book Review

If you have never read this book I suggest you go out today and buy a copy – it is quite a compelling and extremely well written book – and don’t let its YA status put you off either.

I will admit that the first couple of pages felt quite clunky to read but once I settled down I pretty much read it from cover to cover in a couple of hours on a wet and windy Saturday afternoon. Whether you read on the train, on the weekends when it’s pouring down with rain, or in between sessions of partypoker hu after work, it’s a great novel to lose yourself in once it’s allowed to warm up a little. The prose is strong, and despite the awkward opening, it’s a rewarding read.

This is the story of Bruno – a nine-year-old boy who has to leave his beloved home – with five floors and a banister that you can slide down – to live in a house with only three floors in a place called Out-With. This is the story of Bruno – a nine-year-old-boy who doesn’t understand why he can’t go out ot play with the little boys who appear at the bottom of his garden. This is the story of Bruno – a nine-year-old-boy who goes out to explore one day and sees ‘a dot in the distance become a speck and that spot becomes a blob and that becomes a figure and that in turn becomes a boy in striped pyjamas.’

This is a story about a time in history most of us would like to forget – but that we should be forced to remember – and the terrible things that can happen when people keep secrets from each other…