Customer Reviews
Some wry irony but a little lightweight for the subject - By: John M, 17 Nov 2008 
This is a very simply written short novel describing Auschwitz from the perspective of a nine year old boy. The writing is clear & very easy to read, divided into short chapters, some wry irony throughout. However, I personally felt that the naivety of the boy was somewhat overplayed: would a nine year old really be so unaware? Some of the boy's language & mispronounciation producing puns that only workin English, such as 'Fury' & 'Out with', I found a bit contrived & the constant repetition began to grate. I'm not sure I could really believe the storyline, although the ironic impact of the ending was strong. It provided a much lighter treatment of the subject than offered by Primo Levi & Ken Keneally for example, but because of this the book is somewhat lightweight & lacking impact. However, it is still an easy & thoughtful read.
Just read it - By: A. Alsawaf, 15 Nov 2008 
I'm going to keep this review simple: just read this book. Do yourself a favour, & grab it before the story is ruined by any movie trailers/previews etc...
I too finished the bookin 2 days, & will risk spoiling a lot by mentioning anything other than it's about the holocaust, & a friendship between two young boys. AMAZING STUFF.
The Boy In Striped Pyjammas - By: Listen to me!, 15 Nov 2008 
I was reccomended this book by a friend who's reallyin to books set during wartimes. We don't often find that we like the same stories as i'm morein to thrillers & fantasy. However, I gave the book a shot & I'm glad I did. It was a very easy read but i think that made the story all that more effective. The narrotor, you see, is a young boy & the great saddness of his story & his time is intensified when seen through his naive eyes.
This book is one which leaves the reader stunned, thinking for a long while after, moved & leaking tears.
I reccomend that you read it and, if you like it, read 'The Book Thief'. Another book I was advised to read, by my Grandad this time, & found it so unbelievably detailed, passionately written, effective, & movcing that i was blubbering for days.
Laura Gray, 15.
Absorbing yet inplausible - By: Goldie, 13 Nov 2008 I found it hard to believe that a child of Bruno's age could be so unaware of what was taking placein Nazi Germany. He seemed to have never noticed Jews wearing the Stars of David on the streets, nor even to have heard the word Jew until he hears it from Shmuel. He meets Adolf Hitler & is underwhelmed by him. Given that his father is a high-ranking officialin the Nazi regime this seems unlikely & it somewhat undermined the book's credibility for me.
Also the fact that he befriends Shmuel for over a year is a farce. Any one who has studied the Holocaust knows that Jewish children were killed as soon as they entered the concentration camps.
Nevertheless, it is an absorbing book to read. The ending brutal. Throughout the book you know that this story cannot end happily & you are steeling yourself for various outcomes. Having said that, I didn't see the one that came... & it hit me hard!!
This is a quick & easy book to read, but I don't think I will forget it easily.
Boy in the striped Pyjamas - By: Ms. A. Y. Roughan, 13 Nov 2008 Unfortunatley, I have not been gifted with the best imagination & therefore often lose interestin many books I read. Notin this case I could not put it down. I loved it from page one. It was written so brilliantly through the eyes of this innocent young boy & yet leaving you under no illusions as to what exactly is going on. I have already passed it on to 3 of my friends who have all loved it as much as I have. Definately the best book I have read. Best read without finding out any information on the book or storyline allowing you to take this journey with Bruno with no preconceptions. The Film based on the book recently released comes nowhere close to the greatness of this book, do not see it first!
