Such a good book. I started this one without even looking to see what it was about so was unsure at first about the connection to The Boy in the Striped Pajamas which I read when it first came out. This is a much superior book.

Wow, what a stunning book. My first book by John Boyne but will definitely not be my last as he has a beautiful way with words. I had not read Boy in the Striped Pajamas as I watched the movie and was so gutted by it that to read the book when I already knew the ending felt too heavy. I do wish now that I had as I think I would've appreciated this read even more than I already do. One main problem I had with this book was wishing there was clearer delineation between the timelines. I understood that each chapter changed between the two but it would've been lovely to have a reminder at the beginning of the chapter as to where/when we were in the story. I can't even imagine the amount of crippling guilt that Gretel had dealt with all her life and John did a magnificent job of portraying that and truly tugging on all my heartstrings. Like I said, I'll definitely be reading more from this gifted author!

Greta Fernsby is one of those fabulously flawed characters that I can’t help but love. She’s been hiding her family’s past for close to 80 years, her father the Nazi Commandant of Auschwitz’s camp. She’s held this guilt, shame & grief close throughout her long life.

The story follows Gretel through three different stages in her life from postwar Paris, as a young woman in Australia and then to present day London as a 91 year old. John Boyne weaves the timelines and characters together flawlessly and masterfully reminiscent of The Heart’s Invisible Furies.

When the man in the flat downstairs from Greta passes away she is worried about who will purchase the property. She soon meets the young family and forms an unexpected relationship with the couple’s nine year old boy Henry. When it comes to light that the boy’s father is abusing both Henry and his mother, Greta struggles with helping Henry without revealing her past.

Before reading this book I wasn’t aware that it was a continuation of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, which I hadn’t read prior to picking up All the Broken Pieces. I don’t think it took away from the story, however I did immediately pick up Striped Pyjamas upon finishing and appreciated reading Bruno’s perspective on Off-With (Auschwitz).

Set in three timelines All the Broken Places is powerfully evocative, intense, emotive, smart and thought provoking and the sequel to the unforgettable The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. As with the latter, it moved me deeply and caused me to ask questions. John Boyne writes his characters thoughtfully and insightfully. I don't know how he can capture and convey thoughts and emotions in words with such punch but he does. The story is about living with daily guilt and shame and whether one should feel responsibility for the sins of one's father. But it is also about courage, strength and desperately trying to live in the present, evinced not only in the protagonist but paralleled in other characters.

German Gretel Frensby was born into a life of comfort. But during WWII she was a young child and what she saw on the other side of the fence at "that other place" is seared upon her mind. Her father was a top commandant to Hitler and as such Gretel and her mother were protected. If Gretel admitted to things she and others would face international scrutiny and uproar. Gretel was riddled with guilt. She, her mother and others from her past including did not talk about the past and even assumed new identities. One day Gretel was shocked to the core by who she sees and her life takes her down a dark path. Though ensconced in her home away from prying eyes, her mind was constantly on alert.

In the present at the age of 91 in London, Gretel has lived in her luxury flat for sixty years and is apprehensive about who the new owners of the flat below her will be. Young boy Henry lives with his parents in a dysfunctional family. In him Gretel sees the pattern of pain which draws her to him and him to her. They are many decades apart yet woven together. The ending the author chooses is a fascinating one, as is the entire story.

If you wish to read stunning Historical Fiction from a different perspective (whether you agree with it or not), do prioritize these books. Prepare yourself for an emotional roller coaster!

My sincere thank you Penguin Random House Canada and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this haunting, dark and poignant book.

Would you grab the opportunity for a ‘do-over’ even if it meant a cost to yourself?

If you’ve read The Boy In The Striped Pajamas, you’ll want to read this long-awaited sequel! Where book one focused on the ill-fated relationship between the Commandant’s son, Bruno, and a boy prisoner in Auschwitz, book two focuses on Bruno’s older sister, Gretel. The author highlights the question: Is it ever too late for bravery?

Caught between helping a little boy in trouble and not wanting to reveal who she is for fear of a global scandal, 91-year-old Gretel struggles in finding a solution. What results is an ingenious answer to her problem.

This was a thought-provoking read about a guilt-ridden woman who attempts to put her past behind her and live in the present. It was heartbreaking to read about Gretal’s pervading shame, her denial of complicity, and the steps taken to hide her identity throughout her life. No matter where she relocated, she was haunted by her past. The novel time hops in three periods; 1946 Paris, 1950s Sydney, and present-day London. I appreciated that the author ruminated over this for 16 years and concluded that a contemporary sequel would have more of an impact than a historical novel.

There have been numerous reviews pointing out that both novels didn’t portray the Holocaust accurately. The main concern, citing the Auschwitz Memorial, was that, in this respect, the Holocaust shouldn’t be used as a teaching or learning tool. While I agree that book one should never have been integrated into the elementary school curriculum, I do believe that it’s a starting point for discussion with younger readers. It’s an ancillary point. I recall my high school teacher using Animal Farm as a springboard to teach the Russian Revolution. Is that any different? Shouldn’t we keep the stories of the Holocaust alive? Isn’t this a good starting point to foster one’s own research?

I enjoyed The Boy In The Striped Pajamas, was moved by it and welcomed this emotional sequel with an open heart. Keep in mind that I’m saying that I enjoyed the story, the fable, not that I enjoyed reading about the Holocaust. There's a difference. I genuinely wanted to know what happened to Boyne’s characters. This beautifully written book was everything I expected from this master storyteller and more! It was worth the wait.

Grab a box of tissues and be prepared to re-read this book time and time again. It's a moving and poignant read.

I was gifted this copy by Penguin Random House Canada, Bond Street Books and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.