Jason KingThe Boy in the Striped Pajamas
December 28th 2008 01:08
Category: No Category
It has been so long since I have been able to get online and write something. But firstly Merry Xmas to one and all. I hope Santa was nice, you didn't murder family members and that you gained more weight than I did.
About 3 weeks ago my motherboard died on my computer and I have had no computers to utilise until now - am at my mum's place and she has embraced the computer but still will not embrace broadband so please enjoy my 49.2kbps connection - woot!
I got the most awesome call from the computer store on Wednesday before heading to mums. They discovered it was not my motherboard and was in fact the power supply. All sorted for $80- and back online on Tuesday when I get back home. Yay that!!
But my Xmas was spent eating drinking and entertaining the 12 guests we had over for lunch. It was fun and exhausting. But when things headed towards over indulgence and the afternoon traditional Xmas siesta I decided to start reading one of my Xmas presents. A book I asked Santa for because the movie is due out soon and because the trailer looks amazing. Well, 3 and half hours later I finished the book.
I was astounded at how brilliant this book was - it had me laughing at the innocent naivety and bawling at the heartwrenching sadness of it. It was so brilliantly written from the eyes of a 9yr old and taken from the imagination of someone my age.
The film will be coming out soon and below is the synopsis of book and film.
Based on the novel by John Boyne, THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS is a wrenching Holocaust story about a young German boy and his forbidden friendship with a Jewish child. Bruno (Asa Butterfield) is living a charmed life in Berlin as the son of a high-ranking Nazi soldier, when his father (David Thewlis) is suddenly transferred to a job out in the country. Bruno, as well as his sister Gretel (Amber Beattie) and mother (Vera Farmiga) must all join him at his new post. Bruno is lonely and confused by his new surroundings, and he doesn't understand why he can't wander the grounds or play at a nearby farm. The "farm," of course, is a concentration camp, though Bruno doesn't know this. He soon sneaks away to explore, and meets Shmuel (Jack Scanlon) a prisoner of the camp. Shmuel is eight, the same age as Bruno, and the two form a timid, careful friendship through the barbed wire fence. Bruno knows that his friendship with Shmuel is dangerous, but after witnessing brutal violence perpetrated against some very kind people, he has begun to question the Nazi doctrine of hate. He is no longer sure what to make of his soldier father, whom he once believed to be a hero. When he learns that Shmuel is in trouble, he vows to help him, and together the boys form an outrageous plan that culminates in the film's devastating climax. The BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS is a deeply moving and--it must be said--disturbing book/movie. But it is a remarkable story, told with masterly intelligence and grace.
This is a very easy but heartwrenching read and I recommend to all. I am looking forward to the film and recommend it also to all but I do suggest you take tissues. Holocaust films are not what you would say uplifting and while this book exhibits great human spirit it runs the full gammut on emotion.
About 3 weeks ago my motherboard died on my computer and I have had no computers to utilise until now - am at my mum's place and she has embraced the computer but still will not embrace broadband so please enjoy my 49.2kbps connection - woot!
I got the most awesome call from the computer store on Wednesday before heading to mums. They discovered it was not my motherboard and was in fact the power supply. All sorted for $80- and back online on Tuesday when I get back home. Yay that!!
But my Xmas was spent eating drinking and entertaining the 12 guests we had over for lunch. It was fun and exhausting. But when things headed towards over indulgence and the afternoon traditional Xmas siesta I decided to start reading one of my Xmas presents. A book I asked Santa for because the movie is due out soon and because the trailer looks amazing. Well, 3 and half hours later I finished the book.
I was astounded at how brilliant this book was - it had me laughing at the innocent naivety and bawling at the heartwrenching sadness of it. It was so brilliantly written from the eyes of a 9yr old and taken from the imagination of someone my age.
The film will be coming out soon and below is the synopsis of book and film.
Based on the novel by John Boyne, THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS is a wrenching Holocaust story about a young German boy and his forbidden friendship with a Jewish child. Bruno (Asa Butterfield) is living a charmed life in Berlin as the son of a high-ranking Nazi soldier, when his father (David Thewlis) is suddenly transferred to a job out in the country. Bruno, as well as his sister Gretel (Amber Beattie) and mother (Vera Farmiga) must all join him at his new post. Bruno is lonely and confused by his new surroundings, and he doesn't understand why he can't wander the grounds or play at a nearby farm. The "farm," of course, is a concentration camp, though Bruno doesn't know this. He soon sneaks away to explore, and meets Shmuel (Jack Scanlon) a prisoner of the camp. Shmuel is eight, the same age as Bruno, and the two form a timid, careful friendship through the barbed wire fence. Bruno knows that his friendship with Shmuel is dangerous, but after witnessing brutal violence perpetrated against some very kind people, he has begun to question the Nazi doctrine of hate. He is no longer sure what to make of his soldier father, whom he once believed to be a hero. When he learns that Shmuel is in trouble, he vows to help him, and together the boys form an outrageous plan that culminates in the film's devastating climax. The BOY IN THE STRIPED PAJAMAS is a deeply moving and--it must be said--disturbing book/movie. But it is a remarkable story, told with masterly intelligence and grace.
This is a very easy but heartwrenching read and I recommend to all. I am looking forward to the film and recommend it also to all but I do suggest you take tissues. Holocaust films are not what you would say uplifting and while this book exhibits great human spirit it runs the full gammut on emotion.
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Comment by Jason King
Sydney Table
Salty Popcorn
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As a PPS: The last line in the book is a bit of a wishful fairytale comment - not entirely true! Most of us (not all) are at the soul level animals with the attitude of Darwin.
Comment by Wilson Pon
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Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
I had a lovely Christmas thanks, great you're back in the blogging world!
Comment by Michelle Sweeney
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Comment by Jason King
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Tracy - the book is awesome and quick - my awesome neighbor who is a teacher says they are trying to get it back on the school curriculum book list this year. And thanks!
Michelle - thanks for the comment - let us know what you thought of the movie when you get to see it.
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