I remember one of the first times I saw a copy of the Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. The small book, certainly a novella, by John Boyne was on the floor in the landing. I remember picking it up, the title making me think it was appropriate for young children and asking my mother what was about. I believe she told me it was a very sad book. After that, I must have put it on a bookshelf, because I forgot about it for a few years. There were other books to read and it simply wasn't a priority.
I may have spoiled the ending for myself. No, I remember. I definitely spoiled the ending. It is the sort of book that, if you're told the ending, the process and emotions a reader should naturally go through upon finishing such a book are ruined. Irreversibly. While some may be able to guess what is to happen, the ordinary child, the target audience for the book, would most probably be naïve. It is similar to 'Bridge to Terabithia' a fine film released a year after the book. The topics are totally different, but if the key twist is spoiled, as it was for my father, the process of immersing yourself in the world and characters is totally different. While I regret spoiling it, my reading of the book was also half-ruined by watching the film. It was an end of year R.E lesson, everyone couldn't wait to drop it and so a film was on the horizon. Though it stars Asa Butterfield, an excellent actor who features in my favourite film of all time 'X+Y', like reading the ending of the book, it spoils the experience of going into the book blind, a joyful ignorance as to what tale awaits the blissful reader. Having become a fanatic bookworm by setting myself the slightly ridiculous target of reading 60 books this year on Goodreads, I spied this one. It was on my bookshelf, next to 'We Need To Talk About Kevin' by Lionel Shriver and 'To Kill A Mockingbird' by Harper Lee. I promise one of my bookshelf categories isn't totally disturbing stories. It seemed a quick read and, if I am to absorb the quantity of literature I aspired to, small books seem to be the way forward. Right, now we are nearly 400 words into this review, the context is crystal clear, the review, the very purpose of this blog, can commence. We are introduced to Bruno, a young boy living a luxurious life in Berlin. It's the late 1930's and, while internationally this should be ringing alarm bells, for a child where parties, freedom and food are norm, no such anguish, not even a tremor of worry is present. Boyne creates the vision of the perfect lifestyle, his parents are affluent, Bruno performs plays with his grandmother and his biggest, and only, concern is his annoying older sister, Gretel. Readers are only told this when a change has taken place. There is a shock to the system, a transformation of the natural Berlin lifestyle that Bruno has enjoyed for many years. One day, his maid, Maria, is found packing their bags, announcing they are off to the countryside, the whole family and all servants. Through Bruno's shock as to why this is happening, Boyne excellently conveys the naivety and absolute lack of understanding of someone that age. We witness the family boarding a train, with lots of carriages, free space and enjoyment. Across the platform, hundreds of families board a train of neglect, packed together. Bruno is curious as to why they cannot come on this train when there is so much space! Boyne manages to construct a convincing register and speaking code of someone who is nine years. The use of long sentences, listing, repetition, the very thoughts that were narrated made it totally clear of the perspective we were following. Often, there was a lack of knowledge, that, while someone reading may be able to grasp, the innocence of youth just cannot begin to imagine that people in the world would commit such despicable acts of wickedness. This, interestingly, links well to my English and Sociology classes. In English, we look a lot at register and how people craft their speech for desired effects. The family unit of sociology examines childhood and how, certainly in the UK now and Germany then (before the indoctrinating, evil Hitler Youth), it was a distinctive life phase from adulthood. Well, that certainly wasn't the case in this book. Despite the boredom, Bruno's dislike of having left home and all his friends, hatred towards the soldiers that constantly march into their house on the orders of their father, saluting words for the Fury, he makes two friends. Both arise because of his natural desire to explore, to examine what is going on and learn new things. While constructing a swing out of rope and an old tyre, he hurts himself. A man, wearing striped pyjamas, peeling away at potatoes, is in his prime, helping Bruno to safety. His expertise is particularly due to his former profession as a Doctor. The boy is confused as to why Pavel can no longer be a doctor. This, unknowingly, is probably the greatest compliment the Doctor has received for a long time. His second friend comes about from walking, walking to the fenced area inhabited by people in striped pyjamas. Sitting at the side of the fence, he meets another nine year old on the other side, born on the same day in fact, called Shmuel. Having lost his friends in Berlin, Bruno eagerly discusses a multitude of topics, asking the questions that would appear obvious to a mind warped outsider. Even as someone on the inside of the fence, Shmuel has little awareness, simply missing his home life and human dignity. Both boys have experienced a change, both see it as something awful. The difference in the scale of their change could not be larger. Fundamentally, this is a novel about the power of friendship. As a child, Bruno has absolutely no idea what is going on in wider society. This both prevents him from the lies and horror within the totalitarian society and allows him to hold no judgement against others, the very people that were demonised and experienced an atrocity this planet will never forget. Bruno takes food to Shmuel, a starting point for conversations. Though he lies about pretending to know Shmuel, this is not because of antisemitism. Instead, it is a fear of soldiers and the potential consequences for him, tiny compared to Shmuel's punishment for taking food. Though there are of course historical inaccuracies, for me, that doesn't stop a vivid realisation and reflection of the novel. Seeing such a traumatic part of world history, which children will be taught for generations, rightly so, come from the perspective of a young child is compelling. This allows readers to spot the features of such a world from Bruno's perspective. Yet, unlike the reader, Bruno is unaware as to why they are there. This crafting of excellent literature allows a compelling examination of the past and a warning to readers about how everyone, however innocent or carefree, can be affected by the seismic events of history, their shockwaves still rippling through civilised society today.
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