Product ReviewsThe Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne (2007, Trade Paperback)

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas - let us never forget...

I bought this book because I saw the movie. This is clearly a children's book and is presented as fiction. The British spelling "pyjamas" and the U.S. spelling "pajamas" are both used - the editors should have caught this. The message it sends though is powerful - powerful enough to overshadow some of the historical inaccuracies and spelling issues. I think a few of the historical flaws could have been handled a little better though, perhaps with a some editing. Firstly, the 9 (8 in the movie) year old son of a senior SS officer would have been in the Jungvolk and would be well versed in Fuhrer worship and would have at least a rudimentary hatred of Jews. To not know what a Jew is or that he was an Aryan at this point is unlikely. Secondly, the concept of Hitler and Eva Braun coming over for dinner to discuss job appointments is simply impossible. This would have been Himmler's domain and Hitler and Braun were not seen together in public. Thirdly, Though "Out-with" for Auschwitz and "Fury" for Fuhrer are cute puns for Bruno to use, when others are speaking the correct words should be used. A child with a speech impediment is believable, for everyone to use it - well that's a bit much. Fourth, Auschwitz had one commander from the beginning to almost the end, Bruno's father seems to have taken over in '43 and was relieved at some point before the end of the war in '45. Fifth and last, as the point is not to nit-pick this book to death. A 9 year old Jewish child, would normally have been gassed on arrival or selected for some horrific medical experiment. If one did slip through he/she would never have survived over a year in Auschwitz or had enough unsupervised free time to hang out at the fence. Now that I've finished attacking the historical accuracy, I don't wish to be misunderstood. It is an EXCELLENT book and I reccomend it highly. The message it sends is clear and powerful it should be read by all. I disagree with the author on one point - The last lines of the book "Of course all this happened a long time ago and nothing like that could ever happen again. Not in this day and age.". - Sadly, it still does happen........Read full review...

Love and Hate Springs From All Sides and Divides Us All

The only thing in the world I can not fathom is how a regime so evil could concoct such a heinous crime upon a race of people such as was never known as the Jewish people of Germany and surrounding countries. I really don't feel the need to give you a history lesson at the moment, however, our illustrious director Mark Herman of this film has gone overboard to tell this story through the eyes of innocence and that's all it takes to make you want hurl upon the facts.

Young Bruno (Asa Butterfield) lives a sheltered and rich lifestyle in prewar Germany along with his mother Elsa (Vera Farmiga), elder sister, and SS Commandant father (David Thewlis). The family relocates to the countryside where his father is assigned to take command a prison camp. A few days later, Bruno befriends another youth, strangely dressed in striped pajamas, named Shmuel who lives behind an electrified fence. Bruno will soon find out that he is not permitted to befriend his new friend as he is a Jew, and that the neighboring yard is actually a prison camp for Jews awaiting extermination.

Although the concentration camp where the movie is set is never actually mentioned by name throughout the movie, we know it is Auschwitz because it was the only Nazi death camp with 4 crematoria. The SS officers are discussing the building's construction in the Commandant's office when Bruno's mother interrupts the meeting. In the book it is referred to as "Out-With" (coming from the P.O.V. of Bruno, who is only nine years old and can't pronounce some words properly).

The book was written fantastically & I believe that the feel of the novel was not lost in the translation to screen.

Seeing the film was a lot more intense than reading the book and, even knowing what was coming, I found myself tearful toward and utterly shocked toward the end. Most who viewed the film with me felt similarly and remained silent and still for hours after viewing.

David Thewlis has a extremely strong presence on film and has much to offer us here. Although we happen to know that his role in this film is perhaps not totally ingenious, we have to remember that his character happens to only be at the hands of many who believe in the Fatherland. Without his so-called Hitler, we have to assume that he has nothing, since his entire career depends upon the social welfare of the Fatherland to make his way. If we studied historically the thoughts and minds of the Third Reich, we have to assume that most German soldiers never really knew what was to be asked of them until it was way to late. Vera Farmiga, the Schmuel's mother is shown wearing her wedding band on her right hand. For Germany, this is correct and an excellent accurate detail.

In regards to shooting the final scene, director Mark Herman remarked "It was a nightmare on many levels. He refers to the fact that he had more lawyers than film-makers. He had all of the legalities of kids in amongst grown-up naked people."

Children like Schmuel, under 16, wasn't probably spared the gas chamber, unless they were a twin or were needed for sadistic experiments, usually upon disembarking the cattle car, all women and children were separated for immediate gassing, no tattoo, no record that they ever arrived at all!

Most prisoners weren't allowed to freely roam the camps, everyone was documented & accounted for daily with drawn out roll calls in freezing temps. Why would they bother to tattoo all those people if they weren't going keep up with them.Read full review...

Wonderful book

The book is great for the younger audience. I read it myself to make sure that it was appropriate for my little sister who is 11. I really loved the book; even though it was written for children, and young adults. It is really very good. The main character Bruno is very sweet, and draws you in as you read about his adventures. The end is very sad, and I had to explain to my younger sister what had happend. Then we went online and I showed her some pg rated photos of Auschwitz, the gas chambers, and a few more of the trains and things. I think that it is very important to teach children what happend, and as she gets older I will show her the more none pg photos. Im very intrested in all that happend, and I also recomend The Diary of Anne Frank, for young readers. Its a great read and very educational.Read full review...

Thank you for the book

This book is incredible. I wasn't expecting it to be this good. If you like to read about history and/or action then you will love this book. It is about the boy of a commander in the german army who is uprooted from his home to another country to live with his family. His father is the commander and there is a camp where men are held on the property where he befriends a little boy who happens to be the same age with the same birthday as him. I won't spoil the surprises. Enjoy the thrilling read.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: atlanta-book-co...

Friendship

The book was an easy read -- It kept my interest through every page. The following
day the story was on Positive TV -- Faith Inspired Programs. It really brought the story
home -- how 2 little boys can become good friends so fast. Read full review...

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The boy in the striped pajamas.

This is a great book. I now have some idea about the holicost now. It's an easy read and easy to follow. I wish it was just a little bit more detailed. It's a good learning tool that could easily be used as a discussion or for a book report.Read full review...

Perfect!!!

I was happy to have received my book early! The quality was like brand new. I read it in one night!!!

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: dengr1

"One of the best yet, really saddening books I've ever read in my life"

This book is amazing in so many ways.I got this book in class and I read the whole thing in 3 days. This book is taken place in the Holocaust. It's about a boy that lived in Germany. His father was working for the Nazis. They moved to the country trying to live near the concentration camps.One day, he wore his striped pajamas and entered into the camp because he mad a Jewish buddy. And they went into a gas chamber and in the book the father doesn't care (he does in the movie).Both of them woke up in the gas chamber burnt to death and that is mainly it. The author is magnificent in engaging readers into such a tragic but great event. I rated this book 5 out of 5 stars because it was really well written.Read full review...

acceptable at best

Very good? Cover (front and back) is all creased, edges are creased, stain on the front cover. This would have been considered an "acceptable" book

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great buy

awesome item

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: new | Sold by: your_online_boo...