Sunday, January 20, 2013

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

I had seen the film before reading the book, but it didn't detract from the poignancy of the story. It is a truly moving one, made more powerful by the simplicity with which it is told. The child-like language; mis-pronunciations and mis-understandings portray the innocence of childhood while a darker, more sinsister narrative plays out in the background. It is definitely worth reading even if you have seen the film!

Liza Sinclair (Holy Trinity School)


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1 comment:

Unknown said...

Random musings
I drifted gently into this book, daydreaming. It took me 'til page 116 to realise who the fury was!

I enjoyed reading about Bruno's relationship with Shmuel, building slowly, how they would just sit and talk.
I did wonder how Bruno had so much time to himself, after study of course, but nobody really asked him his business. I felt Bruno's regret and fear as he denied that he knew Shmuel when confronted by the young soldier. It's terrifying not knowing what's going to happen to you, but sensing something bad.

I got the feel of the mud squelching and squeezing between the toes as Bruno joined Shmuel on the other side of the fence. Imagine having muddy, wet pyjamas!

I noted the tension in the house around the familiy's arrival in 'Outwith' I wondered if father really wanted to be there either. What made the fury focus on him? what had he done to earn this attention?

Did mother have something with the young soldier who seemed to always be about?
Why weren't there regular fence patrols?

Why would you bring your family to such a place?

I was amused when Bruno said the family had gone from 5 floors to only 3!


Very powerful. Bruno just seemed to drift innocently towards his own extinction.

January 22, 2013 at 8:07 PM

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