The Boy in Striped Pajamas - John Boyne - Book Review

  

                    There are countless stories and movies surrounding World War II and Nazi Germany. Two of the famous works I intended to read were - 'The Boy in Striped Pyjamas' and 'The Diary of Anne Frank' of which I could get my hands on this one.

                    Bruno is the son of a military officer under Hitler's Nazi Germany. He leads a happy life in Berlin with his father, mother, and sister. His father is ordered by "The Fury" to go to work at the "Out-With". Bruno is unhappy to leave behind his best friends and the ever-bustling Berlin and go to this place which is in the middle of nowhere. He notices that their house is in the middle of a desolate place with a fence and on the other side he can see many people wearing striped dresses. Boredom pushes him to explore the land and he comes across a small boy from across the fence who is also in a striped dress and pajamas. They strike up an unusual friendship and slowly he begins to realize the grass is not green over the other side. What happens to the friendship? Who are all those people across the fence forms the story.

                    As a work of fiction, this book did touch me emotionally. The two boys, their friendship, and the ending did strike a chord in my mind and the ending did disturb me. What went as a normal story did have a profound impact during the ending. The author has found ample success in connecting us to the crux of the story. The language is simple enough and the communication between the boys and the relationship of the boy with his family were interesting. But having said that, the whole book seemed naive enough. This might not be a good book if you are looking out for historical accuracy. The naivety of Bruno does not seem right provided the period and him being the son of a top-ranking military official. Both he and his sister were mostly unaware of the happenings and this is sort of unbelievable. Bruno is not able to pronounce Hitler is not proper; given the fact that he is the son of a top-ranking official. Also, he would have been a part of the Hitler Youth at that period. Bruno and Schmel lack depth due to which we are unable to connect with them.

                    This book was commented on by the Auschwitz group as historically inaccurate and not to be taught as a lesson of history. But if we see this as a work of pure fiction, you will be able to enjoy the book and the writer is able to connect emotionally with us with the shocker of a climax. Bruno will definitely stay in my mind for some time. An average one time read,