Week Three - Topic 2 & 1

Topic 1 - schumel's side to the story

Like every other day, Bruno came to the fence, and we sat and talked for what seemed like an eternity of fun. I learnt about his life, he has so many people in his house! But I don't think he understands why I'm here, I mean I don't either but I think he believes that I chose to be here. Bruno is such a fascinating character with such a broad imagination. We discussed what we want to do when we are older, I said I wanted to be a zoo keeper. I really do love animals, but here in this camp they treat us like animals. He brings me food almost everyday and I feel like I've made a new best friend.

Topic 2 - Which actor for which character?

For this topic, I have chosen to associate four actors, with the four main characters of the novel. In my opinion, the four main characters are Bruno, Schmuel, Gretel and Father. Even though we do not see much of father, i feel as though he is still a very important character to this story.

For Bruno, I have chosen Charlie Rowe, from 'The Golden Compass', 'Neverland' and much more. I have chosen him because i feel as though his appearances were just how i imagine Bruno to look like. He also looks alike to the actual actor who played Bruno in the movie - Asa Butterfield - and he would suit the character & role of Bruno.

For Schmuel, I have chosen Jackson Bond, from 'The Invasion.' Of course, his hair would be shaved for the movie, but he has the characteristics of Schmuel, and can play a character like him fairly well.  He also looks alot like Jack Scanlon, who played Schmuel in the movie.

For Gretel, I thought about how she was described in the book, and what her actor in the movie looked like (Amber Beattie). I decided that the young 'Julia Winter' from 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' would be the perfect fit. Gretel is quite similar to the character she plays in Charlie and the Chocolate factory, who was Veronica. So I could see that she could play Gretel really well. 

  

Finally, for Father, I have decided to put in an actor who I would imagine father to look like. Put aside the humour and jokes, John Cleese would suit father when he takes on a non-comedic role. He has the look, height, and posture of a person who Father would look like and that is why I chose him.

Week Two - Topic 1&2

Topic 1 - who will expirence the greatest change?

I believe that Bruno will expirence the greatest change in the novel, he has interacted with new people and discovered the camp, which is already a huge change in itself.

 Bruno has gone from a luxury mansion, to an old rickety house, he has gone from friends, to nobody at all me from adventures, to sitting in a room all day. 

Bruno's memories of his old life are slowly fading and he is expireincing new changes everyday, his father decides it is time for him and his sister to continue their education again, but he hires a tutor to come into the house called Herr Liszt, to teach them. Bruno is used to being in a class with a lot of girls and boys his age, but it has changed to just him and his sister.

If Bruno has expirenced so much change in the first nine chapters, more greater changes are bound to happen in the rest of this novel.

Topic 2 - how will the book end?

I believe by the end of the novel, Bruno and his family will not return to Berlin, but after that time I don't think Bruno would want to move back either. I believe something will happen, he will meet someone associated with the camp which was spotted, and that will make him enjoy Out-With. I think the mystery of what Bruno's dad does will be more clear and obvious to us, but obviously not for Bruno. I also believe there will be a plot twist, maybe someone goes missing such as Gretal or Bruno's mother, and will cause a stir.

A massive clue towards the fact that Bruno will discover someone, is the name of the next chapter. "The Dot That Became A Speck That Became A Blob That Became A Figure That Became A Boy"

The way it is said means that the closer Bruno got, the more the object changed and fit into focus.

Therefore I believe at the end of the novel, not many issues will be resolved, but Bruno will meet someone and a plot twist must happen soon.

Week One - Topic 2

Topic 2 - The Author

The author of the novel 'the boy in the striped pyjamas' is John Boyne.

He was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1971 and he studied literature at Trinity Collage, Dublin and creative writing at the University of East Anglia, Norwich. 

When he started to write, he wrote very short stories and published them, he was overall written 70 short stories. His famous novel ' the boy in the striped pyjamas'  was made into an award- winning movie. It own a lot of awards such as the Bistro book of the year, 2 Irish book awards and it also won quite a few international awards. Worldwide, this novel has sold over 5 million copies.

His inspiration for writing rose as a child, he was in hospital for a week and his mum had given him the Narnia series to try and read. He fell in love with the style omf the book, the adventure and thrills, he fell in love with writing. It was from then on that he wrote stories for himself, even throughout his teenage years. Now he has reached his goals and won so many awards and peoples hearts, to his creative writing skills.

NOVELS:

• The Thief of Time (2000)
• The Congress of Rough Riders (2001)
• Crippen (2004)
• Next of Kin (2006)
• Mutiny On The Bounty (2008)
• The House of Special Purpose (2009)
• The Absolutist (2011)
• This House Is Haunted (April 2013)

NOVELS FOR YOUNGER READERS:

• The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas (2006)
• Noah Barleywater Runs Away (2010)
• The Terrible Thing That Happened To Barnaby Brocket (2012)
• Stay Where You Are And Then Leave (forthcoming, September 2013)

Link to bibliography and website of John Boyne:

http://www.johnboyne.com