Meaghan,
I am about 12 chapters into this book and I am drawn to the illustrations. I love how the author, Brian Selznick wanted to give you the feeling of watching a movie. This was evident with the first few pictures of the moon rising over the city. It was like an introduction to a movie where the camera slowly lets the viewer get a clearer picture of the setting. The smooth straight pencil sketches at times make the picture have a 3-D aspect to it and some of the objects pop out at you. I also think the extreme close ups ad to the intensity of the moment in the story and again, mirror what one would observe watching a movie.
At this point in the story, the natural and physical laws of our world have not yet been compromised by magical creatures or places. My prediction is that the mechanical man will be the key to the magical element of the story. I kind of feel that the train station is a magical place in itself. The way the author describes the goings on as a reader, I get the impression that it seems like a world of its own; although it is in reality a train station in Paris.
The characters are believable and the events in their lives explore issues of human condition. How horrible for Hugo to lose his father at such a young age and then to have his only living family member basically disappear on him? I think it is amazing that he has the stamina and will power to continue to do his uncles job. I just hope that one day he figures out how to cash all of those checks! The old man and Isabelle are interesting characters. The old man is slowly becoming a father figure for Hugo using the tough love approach. I think Isabelle wants to be his friend but is putting up her defenses as much as Hugo is. That combination of keeping up walls can lead to some awkward encounters. I also get the sense that Hugo is extremely quiet and there are times throughout the tale that Isabelle would have to provide Hugo with social cues so he could respond appropriately.
I can’t wait to find out when the magical element of this modern fantasy tale will begin! I hope Hugo can fix the mechanical man!
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Saturday, April 12, 2008
The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
Amy,
I have just finished the first five chapters of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. This book is written in such a simple manner, the words coming from the innocent mentality of a nine year old boy. A reader who has no knowledge of the Nazis and concentration camps era, might not find anything too disturbing, besides the oddity of the fenced in area behind the house where the men and boys are all wearing identical soil stained striped suits. For someone who does have some background knowledge of this time period, you are constantly putting little details together as you read.
At this point in the story Bruno has moved from his beautiful house in Berlin to a rundown home in a place they call "Out-With". The sudden move seemed to have occured after Bruno's father met with a person they refer to as the "Fury" (Could the Fury be Hitler?). Bruno's father is a very important man, who wears a uniform decorated with many metals. Bruno has heard that the Fury has big things in mind for his father. That is what confuses Bruno. If his father is an important man, why is he send to the horrible place Out-With. Was he being punished for something? When he finds the courage to confront his father and ask, his father tells him the move is what is best for a greater cause.
I think that John Boyne did a good job at setting up the scene of what a household in that day and time would reflect. Bruno is very aware of following the rules and showing polite behavior, even in the midst of all the confusion and change. There are soilders coming in and out of the house, coming to see Bruno's father. Bruno has been taught to salute his father and the soilders with the "Heil Hitler" salute. He describes it from the nine-year old perspective as "another way of saying, 'Well goodbye for now, have a pleasant afternoon'."
There were some other disturbing references to that time as well. The most significant is what Bruno finds behind his house. At the outskirts of their new home's property, and within view from Bruno's bedroom window, there is a tall fence topped with barbed wire. On the other side of the fence Bruno describes boys, fathers, uncles and grandfathers walking back and fourth, from one hut to another. They are among soilders who Bruno observes shouting at the children. Bruno's sister, Gretel, is repulsed by their appearance, it seems that they have never taken a bath. Bruno is more curious about the fact that they are all wearing the same striped clothing. When Bruno gathers the courage the ask his father who the people behind the fence are, his father responds, "they're not people at all...well at least not as we understand the term...you have nothing in common with them."
I find it interesting that they call their new home "Out-With", to me it sounds very similiar to "Auschwitz". Auschwitz was one of the extermination camps built in Poland. In the book Bruno describes going on a very long train ride to get to their new home. He also says that he thought it was odd that there were two train tracks going in the same direction. He was on train with lots of space and comfortable seats, and he was confused as of why some of the other people in the other train did not get on his train where there was more room. It is obvious that the other train was for people who were captured and sent to concentration camps, very likely the one neighboring Bruno's house.
I have just finished the first five chapters of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. This book is written in such a simple manner, the words coming from the innocent mentality of a nine year old boy. A reader who has no knowledge of the Nazis and concentration camps era, might not find anything too disturbing, besides the oddity of the fenced in area behind the house where the men and boys are all wearing identical soil stained striped suits. For someone who does have some background knowledge of this time period, you are constantly putting little details together as you read.
At this point in the story Bruno has moved from his beautiful house in Berlin to a rundown home in a place they call "Out-With". The sudden move seemed to have occured after Bruno's father met with a person they refer to as the "Fury" (Could the Fury be Hitler?). Bruno's father is a very important man, who wears a uniform decorated with many metals. Bruno has heard that the Fury has big things in mind for his father. That is what confuses Bruno. If his father is an important man, why is he send to the horrible place Out-With. Was he being punished for something? When he finds the courage to confront his father and ask, his father tells him the move is what is best for a greater cause.
I think that John Boyne did a good job at setting up the scene of what a household in that day and time would reflect. Bruno is very aware of following the rules and showing polite behavior, even in the midst of all the confusion and change. There are soilders coming in and out of the house, coming to see Bruno's father. Bruno has been taught to salute his father and the soilders with the "Heil Hitler" salute. He describes it from the nine-year old perspective as "another way of saying, 'Well goodbye for now, have a pleasant afternoon'."
There were some other disturbing references to that time as well. The most significant is what Bruno finds behind his house. At the outskirts of their new home's property, and within view from Bruno's bedroom window, there is a tall fence topped with barbed wire. On the other side of the fence Bruno describes boys, fathers, uncles and grandfathers walking back and fourth, from one hut to another. They are among soilders who Bruno observes shouting at the children. Bruno's sister, Gretel, is repulsed by their appearance, it seems that they have never taken a bath. Bruno is more curious about the fact that they are all wearing the same striped clothing. When Bruno gathers the courage the ask his father who the people behind the fence are, his father responds, "they're not people at all...well at least not as we understand the term...you have nothing in common with them."
I find it interesting that they call their new home "Out-With", to me it sounds very similiar to "Auschwitz". Auschwitz was one of the extermination camps built in Poland. In the book Bruno describes going on a very long train ride to get to their new home. He also says that he thought it was odd that there were two train tracks going in the same direction. He was on train with lots of space and comfortable seats, and he was confused as of why some of the other people in the other train did not get on his train where there was more room. It is obvious that the other train was for people who were captured and sent to concentration camps, very likely the one neighboring Bruno's house.
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