The Tiger’s Choice: Talking About the Boy
John Boyne says that he likes it when people read The Boy in the Striped Pajamas “in one or two sittings, over a couple of hours maybe…Because that, in a way, is how I wrote it.” That’s exactly the way I read this book, without stopping, in an hour or two, because once I began I couldn’t stop. Did this book pull you in from the first page, or did it take time before you were completely absorbed? If so, what part first pulled you in to the story?
Bruno incompletely understands the world around him and expresses his lack of understanding through puns. Was this something that enhanced the story for you or did it annoy you?
Do you think Bruno is a realistic portrayal of a nine-year-old boy, or is he young for his age? Do you think nine-year-olds today are more mature, and if so, why?
Why did Lieutenant Kotler disappear?
Do you think that Shmuel intended for Bruno to return home from their final meeting?
This is a book that left me yearning to talk about it. Please respond with your own questions and observations so we can continue this discussion next week.
June 23rd, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Janet -
I thought this book was fabulous and “made” my 11 year old read it. Here are some of my answers to your questions:
I read the book the same way you did! Once I started it, there was no way I could put it down until I had finished it.
Yes – I think the portrayal of Bruno is realistic. He is 9 year old boy that has led a sheltered life and has an over-bearing older sister. I don’t know if 9 year olds today are more mature (I don’t think they have as many responsibilities as kids did years ago) but I wonder if they are more knowledgeable in terms of the world around them due to television, computers, the internet, the ease of travel etc.
I think that Bruno’s father was uncomfortable with the close relationship developing between Lt. Kotler and his wife (Bruno’s mother) and therefore arranged to have Lt. Kolter transfered.
Yes – I think Shmuel intended for Bruno to return home. I don’t think either boy had any idea what would happen or the risks they were taking when Bruno crawled under the fence.
I will try and get Evan’s answers to your questions in the next day or so.
June 24th, 2008 at 9:48 am
Thanks Corinne! And you’re right–more knowledgeable is much closer to what I meant than more mature–although Bruno seems to be immature as well as unknowledgeable to me.
I’m really eager to know what Evan’s thoughts are on the book–he doesn’t have to answer the questions if he doesn’t feel like it–just what he thought about it and when it made him want to continue reading it. And of course what he thought of the end! At this point no need to worry about hiding the final scenes.
March 24th, 2009 at 1:07 pm
actually, im pretty sure that Lt. Kotler was sent away because Father found out that his parents are Jewish. they never saw him again after that.
March 24th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
I think you’re right, Leila, and of course the friendship between Kotler and Bruno’s mther didn’t help that situation at all.
April 28th, 2009 at 10:47 am
Looks like the movie added quite a bit more than the book revealed. I saw in a criticism that the guards should have seen that Bruno had long hair? In the book, the point was that he had head lice and his head was shaved so he looked like the other boys.
August 27th, 2009 at 4:10 am
I agree with Corinne.
In the book it is hinted that Mother was having an affair with Lt. Kotler,
things like when they go into a room together and Kotler locks the door hint this.
Kisses
April 10th, 2010 at 5:26 am
I’m pretty sure that the book says that Lt Kotler was sent away because he didn’t notify the authorities of his father’s opposition to the nazis and him moving to Switzerland. Also his father was an academic which was required to be reported at the time. It doesn’t mention anything of him or his parents being Jewish.
Rachael
August 25th, 2012 at 8:29 am
i agree with Rachael, it doesn’t say Kotler is jewish and in the film I didn’t notice any relationship developing between Kotler and Bruno’s mother?!