LoveReading Says
This beautifully written sequel to The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, takes us right back to the time of the Holocaust, told with compassion and insight into how guilt and sorrow from the past follows Greta throughout her life.
We first met Greta in the Boy in the Striped Pyjamas as the 12 year old daughter of Auschwitz commandant. We now meet Greta as a 91 year old widow, living a solitary life in London, she shies away from meeting her new neighbours including 9 year old Henry. Something stirs in her as she gets to know Henry, his frightened mother and abusive father.
There is nothing Greta can do to change the past and the loss of her brother, but is there something she can do to change the life of 9 year old Henry?
The dramatic twist at the end of this superb novel, expresses Love, loss and family in its startling conclusion.
Lyndy Cooke
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John Boyne Press Reviews
'John Boyne is a master storyteller' Daily Express
'John Boyne is not just one of Ireland's best living novelists but also one of the best novelists of Ireland' Sunday Express
'Compulsively readable' Irish Independent
'Boyne offers writing of insight and beauty' Observer
'Boyne is an incredibly versatile author' New Books
'When is a monster's child culpable? Guilt and complicity are multifaceted. John Boyne is a maestro of historical fiction. You can't prepare yourself for the magnitude and emotional impact of this powerful novel' John Irving
'Exceptional, layered and compelling...This books moves like a freight train, with force and consequence for the reader' Amy Bloom
About John Boyne
John Boyne was our Guest Editor in May 2010 - click here - to see the books that inspired his writing.
John Boyne was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1971, and studied English Literature at Trinity College, Dublin, and creative writing at the University of East Anglia, Norwich, where he was awarded the Curtis Brown prize.
His early writing consisted mostly of short stories and he published a number of them. His first story, The Entertainments Jar, was shortlisted for the Hennessy Literary Award in Ireland. In total, he has published about 70 short stories.
He has published seven novels: THE THIEF OF TIME (2000), THE CONGRESS OF ROUGH RIDERS (2001), CRIPPEN (2004), THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PYJAMAS (2006), NEXT OF KIN (2006), MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY (2008) and THE HOUSE OF SPECIAL PURPOSE (2009).
His 2006 novel, THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PYJAMAS, was made into an award-winning Miramax film. The novel itself won 2 Irish Book Awards, the Bisto Book of the Year, and was shortlisted or won a host of international awards. Amongst other accolades, it spent more than 80 weeks at no.1 in Ireland, topped the New York Times Bestseller List, and was the bestselling book in Spain in both 2007 and 2008. Worldwide, it has sold more than 5 million copies and was the 6th highest selling novel of 2008.
His novels are published in 42 languages.
He lives in Dublin.
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