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Here are comments from our group of Advance Readers about John Boyne's THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS.
Gaye from Mesa, AZ
Have you previously read a book by John Boyne?
No, he is a new author to me, but one I look forward to reading again. I enjoyed his "voice" in his writing.
What other authors do you read?
I am a very eclectic reader and my favorite authors range from Willa Cather and Nevil Shute to Philip Pullman, Jeffery Deaver and Daniel Silva to Jodi Picoult. I love a good mystery, as well as young adult fiction, and find myself returning to well-written books in these genres.
What did you think of THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS?
Thank you for the opportunity to read and own a copy of THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS! I have felt lucky for days. It was a well-crafted story that made a powerful statement. And to think that I always thought of the Holocaust in black and white, not in shades gray. I enjoyed the story as told from a young boy's eyes. It seemed even more poignant and the heartstrings were tugged even a bit more when seen through the eyes of the young. I felt that this book stands right up there with THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK and NUMBER THE STARS.
Would you ever read a future book by John Boyne?
I look forward to it! Again, thanks for considering me for this great opportunity!
Jana from Cambria, CA
Have you previously read a book by John Boyne?
No.
What other authors do you read?
I read a lot of adventure, suspense and techno-thrillers. Some of the authors whose books I seek out include: Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child (separately and together), Michael Crichton, Dan Brown, Joseph Finder, Stephen White, John Farris and John Grisham. Peter Benchley's books have been some of my favorites through the years; his untimely death leaves a not-to-be-filled gap. I also enjoy more traditional mysteries --- some cozy, some hard-edged --- by the following authors: P.D. James, Barbara Michaels, J. S. Borthwick, Carole Berry and Earlene Fowler. Frequently, I will love the introductory volume in series mysteries and I'll like the sequel, but my interest tends to flag around book three...for whatever that's worth. I also read Anne Lamott.
What did you think of THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS?
Boyne's spare prose, coupled with his crisp descriptions, admirably convey the chilly atmosphere of Bruno's home, even before the family leaves Berlin. Silence --- often forced --- pervades the houses in Berlin and "Out With"; every character, even the Commandant, is silenced at some point. The silence resonates to help depict the emptiness and coldness of Bruno's home, and the loneliness at the heart of his household. Silence created by such an icy emotional climate is dangerous, and can produce fertile ground for nurturing the inhuman behavior that existed at that time and place.
When reading the novel, what struck me was the mistaken notion --- evidenced several times, by different characters --- that people are ever truly without a choice. There is always a choice, but there are consequences to be faced in choosing. Failure to recognize the existence of choice is isolating and terrifying, and justifies inaction, and ultimately, indifference. One of the scariest passages I've ever read is when Maria says, "We must all just keep ourselves safe until this is all over...What more can we do than that after all? It's not up to us to change things."
Hindsight is flawed, and we can never fully grasp the enormity of what occurred during the Holocaust, but the story, for me, serves to illustrate what is --- simultaneously --- humanity's greatest strength and its greatest weakness: the ability to bear the unbearable, and to normalize it in the process; for good or for ill, we can get used to anything.
Would you ever read a future book by John Boyne?
Yes, I would be interested in reading future books by John Boyne.
Jeanie from Wichita Falls, TX
Have you previously read a book by John Boyne?
No.
What other authors do you read?
Sara Gruen, Elizabeth Flock, Dan Brown and Jim Lynch.
What did you think of THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS?
An interesting insight of the Holocaust from the eyes of an innocent child. Bruno, whose father was a commander for Hitler's army, could not understand why the people on the other side of the fence were different from him. Bruno was a well-mannered nine year old who couldn't stand the servants in his house treated rudely. He even thought the "people on the other side of the fence" were privileged to wear pajamas everyday when he had to wear his stiff clothes, and he thought his friend Shmuel had more friends than he did. This story is very thought provoking. If two boys of different cultures, races, etc. can be such good friends, then why are there fences, wars, or any kind of strife in the world?
Would you ever read a future book by John Boyne?
Yes.
Linda from Aurora, OH
Have you previously read a book by John Boyne?
No, I had never read a book by John Boyne before.
What other authors do you read?
I personally read a wide variety of books, but I am a teacher, and particularly like Avi as an author for [readers of this age].
What did you think of THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS?
I thought THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS was an exceptional book. It was a sensitive portrayal of two children, one German, the other a Jew from Poland, who found the meaning of friendship during the Holocaust. John Boyne masterfully created his characters and plot so that neither will be forgotten. This book should be a must for middle school students.
Would you ever read a future book by John Boyne?
ABSOLUTELY!
Claire from East Hampton, CT
Have you previously read a book by John Boyne?
This was the first book by John Boyne that I've read.
What other authors do you read?
I enjoy reading a variety of authors: Dan Brown, Richard North Patterson, William Trevor, Carol Shields, Pete Hamill, Phillip Margolin, Richard Rodriguez and Joan Didion, to name a few that come to mind.
What did you think of THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS?
I read the book this afternoon in one sitting, and was very touched by the two boys and the friendship they developed. Their innocence seemed to protect them from the horrible situation of the world around them. I loved the book and will recommend to friends and family. Thanks for this opportunity.
Would you ever read a future book by John Boyne?
I would certainly look forward to reading a future book by him.
Claudia from Green Bay, WI
Have you previously read a book by John Boyne?
No.
What other authors do you read?
I mostly read novels, and especially love historical fiction, and some biographies/ autobiographies. I [particularly enjoy] John Irving (for his quirky stories and characters) and Pat Conroy (for his human interest stories and beautiful writing).
What did you think of THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS?
It was very good. When I first started reading, I thought it was a little too easy of a read, but then I figured out it's probably meant for about middle school aged readers (I hope I'm right about that). It had a good premise that if you could "buy into" --- you could imagine the friendship really happening. I'm not sure that it would have been possible in "real life" back then, though...
The ending shocked me. I didn't really see it coming. If the book is written for middle school students, the emotional ending could really cause trauma to some children. If the author's goal was to show the horrors of the Holocaust, he sure accomplished it! Some, however, could also see it as a warning not to befriend those who are different from us, as you never know how your actions could affect you in the end!
Overall, I liked the book and would probably recommend it to a young teen, but certainly not [to anyone] younger than 12 or 13 because of the content.
Would you ever read a future book by John Boyne?
Maybe, if it was geared [toward] adults.
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