The Book Gnome - The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas by John Boyne

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		The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas author: John Boyne published: January 2006 publisher: David Fickling Books 224 pages
	"And then, as Bruno got even closer, he saw that the thing was neither a dot nor a speck nor a blob nor a figure, but a person..." It's 1942 and we're with Bruno, a sad little boy, who lives with his Mother and Father and sister Gretel in Berlin. Bruno's father has an important job, a job that will take the family away from the city to a strange new house in the country. In time, whilst looking for a friend in this lonely new place, Bruno defies his father and finds his way to a very long fence. And a long, long way down this very long fence he meets a dot that becomes a speck that becomes a blob that becomes a figure that becomes a person that becomes a boy in striped pyjamas called Shmuel. And from that moment, Bruno's fate is sealed... This book has won prizes. Lots of them. And it's spent a whopping 45 weeks atop the Irish bestsellers charts (The author is Irish). Now a feature film is being made by Heyday Films, for Miramax. It's being directed by Mark Herman, and is set for release some time in 2008. The Gnome says John Boyne's Holocaust fable is a crossover title, being both for adults as well as older children. Indeed, it's even been repackaged for the High Street to latch on to mature readers. But in the same way that it has changed its cover for different markets, its story and its construction seem to have divided the readership. Bruno's world is described in sharp, descriptive strokes. It is a cruel world, brutal at times, where discipline and obedience rule. Bruno's father is employed by "The Fury" and the new family residence is based in a strange place called "Out-with". He does not understand why the boy on the other side of the fence wears pyjamas. Nor does he comprehend the dangers of his friendship with the boy called Shmuel. If you can suspend your disbelief at Bruno's naivetey, if you can believe that Bruno really wouldn't have any knowledge of the "Fury" and the Fatherland, and even the wider war in Europe - which he most surely would have, living in a Commandent's shadow? - then you'll find yourself being lead towards a most dreadful, moving climax. Of course, it's telegraphed from the outset by the nature of the writing and our own knowledge of those historical events. But it's the way in which we get there that moves us so. Or maybe it doesn't. Maybe it even irks you. You might find the whole thing almost twee and insubstantial in its conceit. After all, are we really expected to believe that Bruno can walk and talk for hours at a time along that fence without any guards ever noticing him? There is a detatchment about the writing. The author lets us observe events, as if we are at arm's length from the characters, and he creates a a specific tone. But what tone is that, exactly. Is it supposed to be ironic, perhaps sarcastic, or is it just plain patronising? "The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas" will get you talking and thinking, whatever side of the fence you end up on. Little wonder it's been so well receieved and appauded and why it's spent so very long atop the Irish bestseller lists. And no one can be surprised that a film version is now in the pipeline... This is a fabulous book for schools, to get a class talking and learning about the terrible events in Nazi Germany. It could easily end up on the regular curriculum for children entering their secondary education. As for the Gnome, he's not ashamed to say he read this fable and wept. Bruno's world is unflinchingly cruel. His father is a monster. His friendship with Shmuel is his only salvation. When the final act of this tragedy plays out, you can't help but be moved. Not just for Bruno, not just for Shmuel, but for humanity itself... Collectors Signed copies were available at the time of publishing, as one would expect. But there were, in addition, 1000 signed and numbered limited editions, with a revised stripey sleeve. The title is very finely printed on these, in a slim font, and each copy has an additional band, identifying it as a special edition. Needless to say, secondhand values for these are climbing all the time... Buy this book The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas UK Hardback edition... The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas The children's paperback edition... On the web John Boyne The author's home on the web... Meet The Author John Boyne talks about his book... index » previous » next »

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