BOOK REVIEW-“THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PYJAMAS” (by John Boyne) and “ONCE” (by Morris Gleitzmen)

Bruno’s life had suddenly changed after his family had left their home in Berlin, to live in their new house in Auschwitz. Bruno was in doubt of the idea of moving houses. He was leaving behind his three friends for life and everything else he owned… that’s were his journey of immense breakthrough began.
The book “The boy in the striped pyjamas” and the book “Once” are similar in many ways. They both explore similar themes, different values and characteristic. Reading “The boy in the striped pyjamas” helped me understand that there was more to the Holocaust than I realised. It is an eventful story and courage is shown in every little aspect of the book.
On the other hand, the book “Once” was even more eventful, because of the different paths and journeys Felix and his companion Zelda (the main characters) had to go through each night and day.
The following themes were clearly brought out through each book: friendship, loyalty, courage, family, kindness, hope, passion, love, faithful, disappointment, oppression, resistance, hiding, power, relationship, trust, separation, sacrifice, innocence, chance and moral choices.
The powerful theme of love and friendship heavily impacted each character. Starting with Bruno and shmuel’s friendship, after moving to Auschwitz Bruno meets a Jewish victim named shmuel and befriends him, this friendship develops through his time. Therefore Bruno and Shmuel became attached with each other.
Felix and Zelda’s friendship is the other way around; Felix is a Jewish victim, and saves Zelda from a burning house. Their friendship is rather strong in terms of consideration of one another. For instance Felix gave Zelda a piggy-back when her slippers were torn away on their way to the city. Or when a random German lady invited them to stay with her, even though she knew, she was putting herself in big danger. That’s a great example of how love and affection can bring each character together.
Another theme that had played a big role in each character’s lives was their families. Having a Family is the most important thing in your life.
In Bruno’s family is not an everyday family you know off. It’s a family were everything is settled and taken care off. His father is a Commandant in charge of the concentration camp, but Bruno understand very little of his father’s business. All he knows is that, his father has a very important job and his in charge of a number of solders.