The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne (Book Review)

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

by John Boyne

215 pages

David Fickling Books, 2006

historical/post modern

Read in 1 day

Another Review

My Rating: ★★★★

Amazon.com | BN.com

"One afternoon, when Bruno came home from school, he was surprised to find Maria, the family's maid - who always kept her head bowed and never looked up from the carpet - standing in his bedroom, pulling all his belongings out of the wardrobe and packing them in four large wooden crates, even the things he'd hidden at the back that belonged to him and were nobody else's business."

Review: Meet Bruno, a 9 year old boy who is precious, to say the least. He is opinionated, nosey, but most importantly, he is smarter than he seems. We see the world around him through his eyes and if you didn't read the synopsis of this book or take the time to learn anything about it you'd wonder, for a moment, where this story was headed exactly. I'll even admit that I believed the name of the house this German family moved to was actually called "Out-With" as Bruno constantly called it and heard others around him calling it. I forgot we were seeing as well as hearing and experiencing his surroundings through his eyes. Even when it becomes obvious to the reader that this is a time when Nazism is on the rise and his father is clearly a highly ranked official since the "Fury" as Bruno calls him actually visits their home! That is something I would imagine Adolf Hitler did not do very often during that time period?

In any event, Bruno's world comes crashing down around him and his older sister, when they are told they'll be moving to "Out-With." The place is much smaller than the house he's lived in all his life and both children instantly take a disliking to it. They leave their close friends behind and are then homeschooled. Upon looking out his window Bruno discovers a fence that stretches as far as his eyes can see. And on the other side of that fence he sees a lot of men as well as boys his age all wearing what he describes as "striped pajamas." Of course his curiosity takes over and his constant need to explore. 

The story is all about Bruno's understanding of who exactly his father is, learning to respect him, as well as understanding who those people on the other side of the fence in the striped pajamas are and why they are being treated the way they are. At first he envies those people because he sees all those male children and longs to go have fun with them on the other side of the fence. Even when his older (and supposedly wiser, but just as immature) sister tries to explain to him that Jews are an inferior race and they, Germans, are the superior race, therefore they need to be kept separated for the sake of their superiority, he does not understand. In a way, his child-like view on a simple matter of questioning why their should be this separation, could easily be applied to the days of segregation here in the US or any other oppressed minority at any given time. It made me wonder just how the children understood what was going on around them. Because, for some headstrong children like Bruno, no matter how hard and how often you might tell them one thing, they will believe what they want and think outside the box. While all this questioning goes on inside Bruno's head he makes an unlikely friend who resides on the other side of the fence. They quickly become best friends for the better part of a year even though their friendship, at the age of 9, revolves around nothing but conversation! Is it plausible to think these two boys can talk and talk and talk without feeling the need to play? You decide.

This is a book for young people and I suppose it can be taken in two ways: One, that questioning and curiosity isn't always a bad thing. And two, that questioning coupled with curiosity CAN lead to a bad thing. A lesson all children will learn in time.

I won't divulge any spoilers here because this is a book that can be read in a couple hours in one day and should be read by people of all ages. You might learn something about yourself.

Summary: Berlin 1942

When Bruno returns home from school one day, he discovers that his belongings are being packed in crates. His father has received a promotion and the family must move from their home to a new house far far away, where there is no one to play with and nothing to do. A tall fence running alongside stretches as far as the eye can see and cuts him off from the strange people he can see in the distance.

But Bruno longs to be an explorer and decides that there must be more to this desolate new place than meets the eye. While exploring his new environment, he meets another boy whose life and circumstances are very different to his own, and their meeting results in a friendship that has devastating consequences.

To learn more about John Boyne, visit his site here.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (Book Review)

The Book Thief
by Markus Zusak

550 pages
Knopf, USA / March 2006
historical fiction
Read in 7 days
Another Review...

My Rating: ★★★★★

Amazon.com / BN.com

"First the colors."

Review: This book, I don't mind or hesitate in saying, is the best book I've ever read in my entire life! I never thought I'd ever find a book that would touch my heart and soul as much as this one did. From the opening lines of "death" introducing himself to us and taking us on a journey with him as he scoured the small towns and neighborhoods during WWII when the Fuhrer was in power and Jews were being slaughtered by the thousands. The sheer idea that must have gone through Markus' mind when coming up with this story is unfathomable to me. He is definitely someone I would love to have a table discussion with on the evolution of this book.

The characters in this book! The whole book, while narrated by death, is told through the moments in Liesel's life. It's the story of a young German girl, living in a small town with foster parents who take in a Jew and hide him for his safety. But there is SO MUCH MORE to the story than just that. There are the lives that are forever changed and transformed by events that take only seconds to happen but last a lifetime in the mind and especially in the words of the book thief.

I almost found myself unable to properly review this book, which I found ironic since this book takes us through stages of literature really, and the love so few get from it. It starts out with Liesel's curiosity in wanting to learn how to read, so her foster father, Hans, teaches her. Then it develops into storytelling, which she masters really from Max, the Jew who her foster parents hide in their basement. The next step is increasing her vocabulary. She accomplishes this by soaking in the unbelievable library shown to her by the mayors wife. Which leads to the final part, but really the beginning, taking all she has learned and turning the words she's read and spoken and writing them down into her own story. The story our narrator finds in his journey of picking up souls to carry over to the other side, as is his job.

Again, I feel like I'm not giving this book the accolades it deserves because there are so many layers to peel back and examine. This is a book that can be analyzed in the classroom. It's a book that can be discussed in any family dynamic. It's also a book that can be dissected among friends on several levels. I will forever recommend this book and I know I will end up having read it multiple times before MY time on this Earth is done.

Synopsis: It’s just a small story really, about among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery. . . .

Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak’s groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau.

This is an unforgettable story about the ability of books to feed the soul.

If you want to learn more about Markus Zusak, please visit his site.

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Casablanca (1942) (Movie Review)

Title: Casablanca

Director: Michael Curtiz

Screenwriters: Julius J. & Philip G. Epstein, Howard Koch, Casey Robinson

Producer: Hal B. Wallis

Distributor: Warner Bros.

Production Company: Warner Bros.

In Theaters: November 26th, 1942

Run Time: 102 minutes

Color: Black and White

Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Paul Henreid, Sydney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre, Claude Rains

Genre(s): drama/romance/war

Storyline: In World War II Casablanca, Rick Blaine, exiled American and former freedom fighter, runs the most popular nightspot in town. The cynical lone wolf Blaine comes into the possession of two valuable letters of transit. When Nazi Major Strasser arrives in Casablanca, the sycophantic police Captain Renault does what he can to please him, including detaining Czech underground leader Victor Laszlo. Much to Rick’s surprise, Lazslo arrives with Ilsa, Rick’s one time love. Rick is very bitter towards Ilsa, who ran out on him in Paris, but when he learns she had good reason to, they plan to run off together again using the letters of transit. Well, that was their original plan…. Written by Gary Jackson

Movie Trailer:



My Review: I have seen this movie dozens of times. But none of those times moved me to near tears and utter joy than when I got to watch this movie on the big screen. The best part was of course the movie but the added bonus was the special introduction from none other than Robert Osbourne. If you’ve EVER watched a movie on TCM (Turner Classic Movies) then you know exactly who that is. He is the be all and end all of interesting facts about all “older” movies. But back to Casablanca! If you’ve never seen this movie and saw it for the first time on the big screen just how amazed were you? And if you missed it, I highly recommend seeing it, even if it’s on your 1080p HDTV. On any size screen it will do the trick. If you’re not moved to watch more black & white movies, at the very least, more Humphrey Bogart movies (I recommend Key Largo!) then I throw up my hands in disbelief!

This movie has more “money-maker” lines than ANY movie I’ve ever seen and I’ve seen plenty! Some catchy phrases that I’m sure you’ve heard used in other movies or sitcoms would be:

“Here’s lookin’ at you kid.”
“Play it again Sam.”
“Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine.”
“Kiss me…kiss me as if it were the last time.”
“Round up the usual suspects.”
“Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”

And one of my MANY favorites: “Who are you really, and what were you before? What did you do and what did you think?”

This movie appeals to both men and women. The men get the satisfaction of war, a “hot woman” (for that time period of course), and a leading man who was respected by men and helplessly fawned over by women. It’s obvious why women love this movie as well. It’s the quintessential romance movie. There is a real sense of love and loss from the main characters but also from the co-stars as well. I’d be so bold to say Humphrey Bogart’s portrayal of Rick is the smoothest, coolest, and yet right amount of weakness I’ve ever seen in a character. You don’t see acting like THIS anymore. Every character, every line (spoken and unspoken) were necessary and delivered with such dedication I’m amazed it did not sweep EVERY award it was nominated for. Best of all, although this movie takes place during WWII, a time when people were truly afraid for their lives and would do just about anything to escape to “the free world” (America), this movie is filled with a necessary humor. The balance of war, patriotism, romance, history and humor is amazingly executed.

The best part about watching this movie in the movie theater were those around me. We laughed together, we clapped together. Lines I heard dozens of times before came alive when I was in the company of strangers who felt the same way I did, in awe of this masterpiece. There were many moments of clapping before the movie started and when the movie finished, but the most memorable for us all would be when Rick was talking to Major Strasser:

Heinze: Can you imagine us in London?
Rick: When you get there, ask me.
Renault: Diplomatist.
Strasser: Well, how about New York?
Rick: Well, there are certain sections of New York, Major, that I wouldn’t advise you to try to invade.

My Rating: A+

Will you…Run And Tell That?