Written in the childish style, the language resonates using the innocence within people... Until Men's Pyjamas - A Practical and Stylish Addition to Every Man's Wardrobe in and realises what's going on. And it's then your heart will break.
The story is straightforward: Bruno can be a nine years old boy, who has moved from his the place to find a new house. It's small, cold, unfamiliar as well as on the outskirts of an Nazi concentration camp. The people over the fence wear striped pyjamas and try to look sad. There's a huge selection of kids, but no-one to learn with. Bruno is lonely, bored and curious. His property is filled with soldiers who wear impressive uniforms, click their heels together and raise their right arms in salute. One day whilst exploring, Bruno encounters another nine year old boy, who wears strange, striped pyjamas. It's a friendship born from loneliness, a wish to break far from tedium and simply a desire for a buddy.
The characters each play their part with purpose. You may know in which the next turn leads, your heart begs it not to be true. Galloping with the narrative, you're swept from your childlike innocence for the climaxing, heartbreaking final scene.
The novel is only 200 pages long, simple enough to see in a day and can stick to you for most more. Bruno doesn't meet Shmuel until halfway with the novel, enough time to assist you to reside in his world, experience his boredom and loneliness, living daily without direction. My familiarity with the Holocaust is fairly limited, but research tells me the circumstances could possibly have some truth. My child self revelled inside wonder, the curiosity, the essence of innocence. Yet, my adult self quickly realised that which was happening and was sickened. Still, I couldn't turn away.
Best novel I've read in the very long time.