Reviews

All the Broken Places by John Boyne

booksadaisyes's review against another edition

4.0

This is the sequel to the acclaimed The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and is Bruno’s older sister, Gretel’s story of her life after the war. This book however has been written for adults, while Bruno’s story was for a younger audience. This book has some vivid scenes of violence, domestic and family violence and suicidal ideation.

Boyne describes the novel as a story about ‘guilt, complicity and grief, a book that sets out to examine how culpable a young person might be, given the historical events unfolding around her, and whether such a person can ever cleanse themselves of the crimes committed by the people they love.’

Boyne alternates each chapter between Gretel’s life now in 2022 aged in her 90s and with her life from the end of the war - they are short chapters and make for an engaging read, carefully intertwined so at no time does it get confusing, but is an easy reading style that propels the story.

John Boyne is a favourite writer of mine as he is such a good storyteller and his books always have characters with depth so that you feel you know them well by the end of the book.

I know that there has been some controversy and criticism about Boyne’s novels dealing with the Holocaust and the stories not being realistic or misrepresenting the facts. I find Boynes’ fiction writing compassionate, sensitive and thought provoking - he is a masterful storyteller - much like @markuszusak who Boynes dedicates this book.

hobbitualreader's review against another edition

challenging emotional mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

ambsmith10's review

4.0

Continuation to "Boy with the Stripped Pajamas", but only vaguely, so can be read as a stand-alone. The first being a YA read, this definitely an adult read. The switching back and forth between time periods built the suspense until the final resolution. Very well crafted.

heatherbrt's review

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

4.5

bink_64's review

4.0

This was a difficult read due to the subject matter. Domestic violence, child abuse, Holocaust. I did not realize this was a sequel to The Boy in the Striped Pajamas which I have not read but is on my list. It is the story of his sister, Gretel, who is German, the daughter of a high ranking officer of the Nazi party. She and her family lived at a concentration camp, she was witness to what occurred there. She and her mother escaped and lived a life in hiding. She is now 97, living in London and this is her story.
I had a hard time with Gretel. It is hard to look at the story of the Holocaust from the perspective of a German who was living at a concentration camp. She was 12, she knew right from wrong... and yet, it shows just how easily those in power can twist the narrative and blind our morals to what is right. Like sheep we get in line and follow along. All of her life was conflicted by what she saw and did, good versus evil and her part she played in it. She did suffer many mental issues but yet you still thought, she is living free, is this right? Maybe in the end justice was served.. I won't spoil it!

emmalemonnz's review against another edition

challenging dark

4.0

A little heavy-handed in places, especially the latter part, after the meeting in Sydney. But overall a good read, leaving me with a leaden pit in my belly.

em_nightreader's review

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

All The Broken Places was an amazing read. A follow on from The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas , it tells the story of the young girl of the German family and what became of her. So well written and such a compelling story which tackles some very serious issues and has a couple of interesting twists. A great work of fiction by John Boyne. 

uma_gueraau's review

5.0

Muy buena secuela del niño del pijama de rayas. Gretel nunca me cayó bien y no creo que fuese buena persona, pero al fin y al cabo con el libro entiendes que en la guerra no hay buenos y malos, hay bandos y gente que manda y gente que le toca lo que le toca. Se merecía morir y pagar por los crímenes de su familia? Pensando en la historia, creo que si, pero en una novela siempre ganan los sentimientos y te convencen de que la culpa cambia a la gente.

julie_schoolmeesters's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

If you loved ‘the boy in the striped pyjamas’ you’ll love this book even more. It dives into Gretel’s future, how she deals with being involved in the Hollocaust and her brother’s death. 

It’s a beautiful book and I really enjoyed reading it.

millich's review

informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

5.0

I loved this book. I was only about a third into it when I started wanting it to never end.