The Boy In the Striped Pajamas (Movie Tie-in Edition) (Random House Movie Tie-In Books) Paperback – October 28, 2008

It is quite possible that more has been written about The Holocaust than any other historical event in history. Not just in regard to hard research, but many of the world's finest novelists have fictionalized the story, film makers have touched upon the subject, playwrights, composers, painters and poets. If there has been a way to express the shock- and shock is an understatement in this case- it has been attempted.John Boyne, a gifted and now internationally known Irish author, wrote the book "The Boy In The Stripped Pajamas" in about two weeks time. As he said, in order to maintain "the voice," once he began he was afraid to stop. The same is true when reading it- we are compelled to continue and it is evident from early in the book that Boyne has disguised the terminal words so that it can apply to any and all of the other holocausts' that occurred prior to and after this one. In fact, only once does Boyne choose to use a "telling" word; on page 54 one of the officers says, "Heil Hitler" but then we are told that the boy assumed that this was like saying, "Well, goodbye for now and have a pleasant afternoon."The boy, his name Bruno; his age nine, misunderstands the key words and Auschwitz is written as "Out-With" every single time. The negative pun- the only way I could describe this- suggests the old work rhythm, "In with the good; out with the bad." Then the boy mishears the Furher as The Fury" and this negative pun needs no description at all. We have a moment when Bruno meets "The Fury" as well as "her" when they come for dinner and Bruno is appalled at how small The Fury is, but how kind the beautiful blonde woman with him is (her name is simply Eva).The innocence and ignorance of this young boy is as critical to the brilliance of this work as the story of the Titanic. (I speak not just of Cameron's film, but Maury Yeston's musical, "a Night to Remember" and the three other films made between 1938 and 1984) Boyne uses the literary tool that his audience not only knows so much more than Bruno, but that we are anticipating the sadness that ends the novel. So we are prepared to cry but when the end does come, Boyne shocks us in such a way that instead of tears, our mouths are opened in the O shape that he uses to describe several characters through the book.This book is by no means a "Sophie's Choice" though the horror is just as shocking, but few writers in history have been able to achieve what William Styron did. Still Styron's novel and Boyne's novel use a similar foundation but their books are about very different things. Where the ending is horrifyingly shocking and, like Styron's "Sophie's Choice," completely unexpected (who in fact could have imagined an ending such as this one) the poignancy of "The Boy In Striped Pajamas" makes it impossible for this book- and the fame it will bring Mr. Boyne, you heard it here first- to become satirized in any way. Because the innocence and ignorance, as a result of the way his parents have shielded Bruno, is a metaphor for the way in which the population who was aware of the death camps were inactive; complacent and how the same continues to occur day after day from the beginning of recorded time to the continued genocide in Darfur- the world's largest death camp- to which the UN has placed sanctions against while The full force of the American military tore apart Iraq in search of Weapons of Mass Destruction.The current political winds in the United States suggest that Gay Americans and Female Americans are just as vulnerable. All of these circumstances suggest that you could very well be next. John Boyne manages to suggest all of this is his two hundred page fable using a modicum of brilliantly chosen words.John Boyle has sub-titled his book, A Fable" and it is. His final words are like a double edged sword:"And that's the end of the story of Bruno and his family. Of course all of thishappened a long time ago and nothing like that could ever happen again.Not in this day and age."The irony of this ending reminds us that this is a fable, but more so, it makes us stop and think of the responsibility that we all owe to anyone who has been maltreated, either in the form of Bruno, Anne Frank, Sophie Zawotoski or Carol Stewart, Amy Fitzpatrick, Dave Pelzer and the millions of others.This novel is worthy of a prize. It's not a children's book, though my children should read it. It's not an adult book, but all adults should read it. This would rule out the Newbury or Caldecott. In regard to its literary merit, the American version needs some editorial work (only once did the editors miss a pajamas and leave pyjamas) but the writing is pristine and brilliant and worthy of The Pulitzer. As far as The Nobel Prize for Literature, it is worthy there too. But mostly it's is worthy of you. And, like "Sophie's Choice" I am told that a motion picture is in the making. Depending on whose hands it falls into this could be a miracle. The innocent eyes through which Bruno's story unfolds are critical and these innocent eyes are just as important as Sophie's guilty and lying soul. If Benton could do it, perhaps "The Boy In The Stripped Pajamas" will as well.But there are a lot of "Maybes" involved with the hopes of John Boyne, this critic and every other artist who has attempted to move us. As far as I can see, Boyne has done his part. This book, like Elie Weisel's "Night" needs to be published in as many languages as possible and marketed toward as many customers as possible. No one should keep this book from the hands of a nine year old nor should anyone consider it a book too young for adults.In short, this is a remarkable book in every way and perhaps, after more times has passed for thinking and another read through or so, l may well see that there is no other possible way for this story to have ended.Not in this day and age.

The friendship between Bruno and Shmuel, the boy in the striped pajamas, is both beautiful and tragic, making the story all the more emotional. The writing is simple yet profound, drawing readers in and keeping them engaged until the gut-wrenching conclusion. This is a must-read for anyone who appreciates historical fiction that challenges perspectives and evokes deep emotions.

John Boyne is the author of the historical novels, "Crippen" which deals with a notorious London murder, and "The Congress of Rough Riders" which is about Buffalo Bill. His short novel, "The Boy in Striped Pajamas" is a historical novel about yet a third time and place. It is a story of the Holocaust. It is a good short read -- I read the book through in a sitting and during my reading was absorbed -- but less than compelling.The book is largely written eliptically and with understatement. The author wants the enormity of the Holocaust to dawn upon the reader through indirection. The chapters flow together well and the writing, while mannered and repetitive in places, is good on the whole. Something of the Holocaust and its terror come through in the book even though the story line is predictable and banal. (I was reminded of Hannah Arendt's phrase "the banality of evil" in reading this book.)The chief character of the book is Bruno, a nine-year old German boy whose father is a high-ranking Nazi and on good terms with Hitler (called "the Fury" in the book.) When he becomes Commandant at Auschwitz (again, referred to as "Out-With"), the family must leave their large home in Berlin. Bruno is bored with life at Auschwitz and misses his three former "best friends for life" in Berlin. He harasses his twelve year old sister, Gretel, (the "hopeless case") until, wandering around on his own he comes across the boundary of the camp and meets a Jewish inmate on the other side of the fence wire. The inmate is a boy of Bruno's own age from Krakow named Shmuel. Shmuel is dressed in the striped pajamas of Auschwitz prisoners, although Bruno does not understand the significance of the pajamas or of Shmuel's life in the camp. The two boys become friends.The brutality of the Holocaust comes through in the seemingly ordinary home life of the Commandant and his family, the naievity of the children, especially Bruno, and in the Commandant's military assistants, especially a young soldier named Lieutenant Kotler. I was moved by the story, and by Bruno's fate, on an individual level. But I found I didn't learn anything new about the Holocaust, and the book didn't get me to think about the Holocaust in a different, revealing way.There is some question about the intended audience for this book. I read it for an adult book group, and there wasn't quite enough in the book to make it rewarding for that use. The book appears to be written for adolescent readers as an introduction to the Holocaust and its causes. The book is readable and the story line is good. The book may indeed encourage some young readers to think about the Holocaust. But even for young readers, I am afraid this will not be an especially memorable book. It is strained, and I can't escape the feeling of triteness.Robin Friedman