Reviews

Upsetting but beautiful sequel, says a lot about human frailties.

I didn't even question whether I wanted to know more of the story - I just started this. It's always painful reading stories with the Holocaust at their core, and yes, I cried more than once reading this, but not for the reasons you might think.

Gretel herself refuses to say who she is, who her brother is, for the entire book. But we know. We know what happened in 'Out-With', both to her brother and to many, many others. What we don't know is what happened after. But we will.

Gretel was a minor character in The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas but now her life is our world for the length of this new novel. Her life after the war and her life now, as a 91-year-old living in London, in a well-to-do Hyde Park apartment. With new neighbours moving in underneath, she dreads a child living near her, bringing back painful memories.

I won't say more of the plot. It unwinds delicately in two strands - in present-day London, and in small pieces post-War, revealing both Gretel's past and how her adolescent experiences still affect her today. She has spent a lifetime hiding from memories and guilt, in refusing to examine her own accountability. Nobody reading this could fail to feel conflict when looking at Gretel.

There was so much talent evident in the writing, the weaving of Gretel's history which is horrific in places, a realistic teenage girl at times, then scenes of nightmarish quality. Present-day Gretel's new neighbours are equally compelling, there's a relationship with her son and his new fiancee that rang true, a heartfelt bond with a neighbour, and a climax building from the amalgamation of everything we've seen of Gretel coming together in one final decision.

There were two scenes that didn't sit right with me. Both were conversations that Gretel has with men, it felt a little too staged, too authorial rather than driven by the characters. Though each of these scenes too were both important and tense.

Boyne adds some very pithy and instructive notes at the close, both on how he came to write the sequel, and what it is all about.

I thought this was an excellent companion piece to its predecessor. It is more graphic in terms of sexual content and adult themes (including violence and suicidal thoughts) where the first was not, and so may not be suitable for primary-aged readers.

Powerful, tear-inducing and never less than thought-provoking. We can't imagine what we'd have done if we were Gretel and we know it. Thank you for continuing the story, Mr Boyne.

With thanks to Netgalley for providing an advance reading copy.

mullinscl9657's review

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dark emotional informative inspiring sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Historical Fiction, WWII from the side of the Germans. Interesting perspective change from most of the WWII books. I did not realize it was the second of boy in the striped pajamas when I read it. It was fun putting the pieces together.