17-20

I absolutely loved the ending. While I did feel bad for the family, imaging the pain of having lost a loved one, with no explanation or reason, but that is mainly because it was bruno that died. Had the sister been killed I would have been indifferent or happy at the fact the a person who condoned the holocaust, was dead. But I adore the irony, that the commandants son was killed in by commandant himself. It did not seem as if he understood that others had felt this same pain because of him, so all pain and suffering he feels is completely justified.

15-16

The book continues to improve in writing and the subject matter becomes more and more disturbing. John Boyne is quite skilled at revealing information through a childs perspective, like the case with Kutler and Bruno's mother, they were obviously having an affair and this was revealed to us by the information Bruno gave us, though he could not put it together himself. But I didn't understand why he didn't reveal that he was Shmuel's friend. As a child he wouldn't have been aware of the repurcosions he would have faced for being friends Shmuel and shouldnt have been afraid of Kutner since his father was the commandant. While Bruno not revealing it was crucial to the plot, it was out of character.

9-12

The story is getting even better. The mystery of Pavel deepens in Bruno's mind, while the answer is painfully obvious to the readers mind. I have begun to wonder though, if Bruno is just naive, or naturally stupid. He seems incredibly ignorant, refusing to accept facts that are obvious. He doesn't understand anything he is told. I have come to the conclusion that he is mentally retarded.

5-8

Now the book is beginning to improve. I find that the tone is speeding up and becoming more interesting. The fresh perspective of the holocaust is as refreshing as anything could be, considering the subject matter. The young boys naivety is almost funny, and you actually learn more from hearing an ignorant perspective. Also this is the first time I have heard from the german side, and was unaware that people were openly critical of the Nazis. Either Hitlers reign of terror had not reached the point where German dissidents were put in concentration camps or the grandmother was just stupid.

Honestly, I find this book boring and uninteresting. I have read many books about the holocaust and while this one is not from the usual perspective, there really is no usual perspective so it doesn't even have that. It is well written but not that well and the plot has not really made me want to read further. The author is a decent writer, but a writes a bit too convincingly like a nine year old. Hopefully it will improve later on.

terrible books

but yeah all these books sucked, incredibly. they have failed. the entire system of democracy has been undermined by stupid people. i can only hope that the real election is not destroyed in the same way.

books, not so good.

1. The boy in striped pajamas
2. Go ask Alice
3. To kill a mockingbrid
4. Black Hawk down.

chap 21

The last chapter was not what I expected it to be. Honestly I believed that the worst was behind him, I thought that the fact that he had gone to the children's parliament and that UNICEF was here meant that things would get better not worse. Instead the country collapsed into military rule. It was incredible the way it seemed to happen so quickly, I had to reread the section to fully comprehend what was happening. It was strange that the RUF would so willingly abandon their hypocrisy about "helping" the country, they and the military decided not to bother with the pretense about being there for good of the citizens. I was disgusted by how willing people were to take advantage of others, the constant taxes and bribes needed to escape horrified me. But atleast he got out

19-20

These chapters where a bit strange. He did not really talk about the events and instead went into detail about the little things. The thing he thought about the interview the most, was that he didn't like it when the man smiled. It did not really seem like he cared about going or not. It must have been an incredible experience to go to the Children's Parliament but the city and the cold seems to be what struck him most. Its quite amazing to see him be fully rehabilitated, other than the nightmares, and his inablitity to maintain a relationship.

17-18

Again Ishmael's talent as a writer is demonstrated. He blends the signs of rehabilitation with past memories of horrors committed. The nurse Esther was instrumental in helping Ishmael return to reality, though it made their relationship seem a bit more empty when I found out about the survey sheets. Ishmael seems to be as close to normality as he can be after the things he has gone through. He talks and jokes with his friends, and sits in silence with them. Though I hope that he can once again show his happyness. It is intersting to find out about the brothers he never knew his father had. Nice foreshadowing about the cousin that he would become closer to than all the others.

maxs list of awesome books

I suggest the following books. Necroscope by brian lumley, it is one of the few well written vampire books, and while it is similar to Lovecrafts writing, it is still unique enough to be worth the read. If comic books are allowed, Watchman, it's one of the most though provoking and deep books I've ever read. In the fantasy genre, The Chronicles of the Black Company, by Glen cook, or Amber. If short stories are allowed, anything by H.P Lovecraft (warning: he was a racist and a sexist, but if you can ignore that, it's really good.) If people want a challenge, Faust, by Goethe. Finally if religion is not an issue and people either want to see a different viewpoint, hear arguments for atheism, or just understand why athiests dont believe, the Pocket Athiest, a collection of essays. It's a very good read, even if you are religous.

15-16

These chapters demonstrated Ishmael Beah's ability as a writer. While it starts out with Ishmael still brainwashed and bloodthirsty, throughout the chapters his condition begins to improve, though he is far from where he was before. The main sign of improvement when they decided to sell the books. Before they just burned them out of spite and anger, but as they got got better, the boys began to think more. The trips to city were probably the best things to happen to them so far, and it was nice to see that Ishmael could still be amazed by something not involving violence.

13-14

It strange how effective the brainwashing is. I understand how the drugs worked on them, making them dependent on the army for more, but how did stabbing banana trees and pretending that they are rebels who killed their parents make them want to kill rebels. Why didn't Ishmael think more about the situation? He said that he had no time to think between fighting, getting high and working but before he got hooked on the drugs he already hated the rebels. He seems like an intelligent person, why didn't he realize that while the government forces didn't directly kill his family, they are just as responsible as the rebels?

11-12

For a moment I thought I had put A long way gone down and started reading a black comedy (for those of you who don't those what it is, it's a type of comedy where thing so horrible happen, that you almost laugh instead of cry.) The sheer irony of him reaching his family only for them to die...it would be funny if it wasn't so sad. When the government caught them, it was so sudden and abrupt. He wrote so little about it that I had to go back and reread to realize that he had been captured.

chapter 10

This chapter was interesting. It seemed to be clearer in his mind than any of the others so far, he went into a lot more detail about going to the places than before. It was kind of ironic what Saidu said about accepting death and how each time you do it, a little part of you dies, since Drew had said that all you had to do was accept death and you would be happy today in class. I thought it was really sad when Saidu died. Ishmael seems to be reflecting a lot more on the past.

8-9

This was probably the worst chapter so far. I don't really care about the graphic description but the rising level of human cruelty, paranoia and apathy continues to horrify me. The people never cease to amaze with how stupid they can be. There are how many of them? and only seven young boys who haven't done anything and yet the people hurt, try to kill them and take away their shoes. There is no good left in the country, even people untouched by the war have become afraid and heartless.

6-7

I was amazed by how mistrustful people had become towards outsiders. That the people didn't say hi to him while he was swimming was reasonable while still paranoid but the fact that the armed villagers captured him made no sense. They were just passing by, deliberately trying to avoid the town. The guards should have seen this and left them alone, not think that they were spies or rebels. What right does the village chief have to capture others just because he is suspicious? It seems that the whole country believes might makes right.

Once again the book has gripped me and has now horrified me. Before I was shocked by the how it switched from innocent childhood to graphic killing, but I was not disgusted by the description. I found what had occurred to these people depressing and sad but I did not have to stop reading at any time. It seemed like any other book or news report I had read about war and horror just a bit more graphic than most. But the new sections have caused sadness on unregistered levels. The fact that human beings are capable of such cruelty amazes me. I knew such things were happening but I didn't really understand that the people were actual doing these things, it didn't register on a subconscious level. To hear it from someone that actually went through these things was heartbreaking.

As I read I feel a bit strange knowing what going to happen next. He doesn't try to hide that he will be kidnapped, no matter how happy he is now, he will be unhappy later, and no matter how happy he will be after that, he will still have gone through horrible things. I like how he describes well how his life is and how he dresses and looks. The descriptions are quite graphic but sadly they do not seem to be over exaggerated. I like the dream about the wheelbarrow and the body, good metaphor.