Review: John Boyne's "The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas"

Here's the set up. The tragic story of the atrocities committed in Auschwitz told through the eyes of a child who was there. Sound interesting? Well maybe but there have been countless attempts to capture the events of the Holocaust in literature and film. As a historic event it is probably one of the most difficult topics to express the world has ever seen and is understandably why so many artists feel the need to attempt it. The problem is with so many of the world's best writers tackling it how can anybody say something new about the Holocaust? Well perhaps by viewing it from a different perspective. The child in question is not a little Jewish boy imprisoned in the camps. Bruno is the son of the man running Auschwitz.

Boyne's choice of narrative focus lends itself to some potentially interesting conflicts between the inherently questioning nature of a child and the adults around him who are blinkered by Nazi ideology. It uses Bruno's friendship with a young Jewish prisoner as a way of demonstrating how racial hatred is something which must be instilled rather than being instinctive and "natural". A worthwhile message which still remains relevant in today's post 9/11 age.... which is why I feel somewhat guilty to have to tear into this novel in the way I'm about to.

Despite it's good intentions and interesting set up "The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas" feels very much a novel by numbers. Strict and often absent father figure: Check. Vindictive young Nazi officer being unnecessarily brutal in his treatment of people/animals: Check. Ditzy sister obsessed with being pretty and attracting young men in uniforms: Check.

Everything from the characters to the set pieces could be predicted before you got through the first page and in a work which is attempting to encompass the needless cruelties of the Holocaust this is a severe failing. It becomes impossible to really empathise with the situation when everything feels like it was all assembled with instructions taken from a flat-pack wardrobe. There are no real defining moments. Think of every book you've ever loved. Think of all the small details which create the richness of your favourite characters. That is what's missing. It isn't technically "bad" in anyway but the overwhelming blandness leaves you with the sensation of chewing soggy cardboard, the lack of flavour forcing you to focus on the unpleasant texture. 

This is not to say that it is entirely devoid of merit. The ending is well constructed and would be rather poignant if the characters were better fleshed out and there is a moment where Bruno discovers one of his servants used to be a doctor which is cleverly worked. Sadly though they just serve to highlight how good a novel "The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas" could have been.

Rating: 5/10