The boy in the Striped Pyjamas

Spoiler alert: Do not read it if you intend to read this book

I am writing this within half an hour of finishing this book and this is the my fastest review. Or whatever you can call it. I had to. I couldn’t resist it. All because there is this feeling- what do I call it- nauseating, sickening.

I usually do not count the pages of the book while I am reading. This book is a page-turner and I was enjoying my read. I just caressed my hand around the thick number of pages left and told myself that I still have 20 pages left.

And then suddenly, it said- “Nothing more was ever heard of Bruno anymore.” I took a deep breath. What? Why? I don’t understand. He was there with his friend, holding his hand. He just confessed that they are best friends. He was going to get home.

I went back a few pages. But I came back quickly. I continued reading in the hope that he is just lost. They will find him. But the book ended in the next two pages. The story took a leap of one year; but nothing. No Bruno.

I looked up in disbelief. For a moment I felt like I am not me. I lost touch with time. When did I board the metro? Where am I going? I noticed my station was next.

Sorry, for the spoiler.

Bruno was a collateral damage. And he suffered innocent death, all because he loved exploring and he loved his friend Shmuel.

I was Bruno in this book. I was as much negligent about the happenings in the book as Bruno was. I was as hopeful as he was. I was as despondent as he was.

The only difference between us? He was nine, I am twenty-seven. I only knew that the people whom he saw through his window were prisoners and his father worked for Nazis. Nothing more. I was eager to explore through his experiences.

A child of nine who is taken away from his fancy comfortable home in Berlin to stay at Out-With (name of his house). He despises living at this new home and leaves no moment to express his discontent. Until one day he finds the-dot-that-became-a-speck-that-became-a-blob-that-became-a-figure-that-became-a-boy. Yes, that’s how he met his going-to-be best friend, Shmuel.

If I talk about the story and characters in this book, I found all elements which make a book lovable. I see now why it’s marked as a vintage-classic. The capitalization of words to express Bruno’s emotions- like when he called his sister Hopeless Case, and when he describes his father’s office Out Of Bounds At All Times And No Exceptions is unique and never seen before.

He keeps sharing his disappointment about how he hates leaving his Berlin house, how he misses grandfather and grandmother. Especially their Christmas performance which grandma used to direct.

The boy is vulnerable, adventurous, emotional and his feelings are childish yet so mature. He feels bad that he could not stand for his friend- a feeling which is rare for a child of age nine. He wishes that he could carry more food for Shmuel. Isn’t it precious that he feels ashamed of eating the food which he steals for Shmuel. He whole-heartedly accepts that walking so far to fence makes him hungry and he can’t help it.

I have developed a fan affection for John Boyne. It’s really amazing to see how he has developed such dark story into easy words and lucid flow. Needless to say, I would have loved if the two boys were alive. But, then the book needed this impact to illustrate the inhumane nature of man.

I am not sure how to conclude, because I am just so much out of words. I think I will just let the feeling sink in and believe world is in better hands now.

This post is a part of challenge that I took. I will be writing 100 words everyday for 100 days. Day sixty is here. Thank you for reading.