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All the Broken Places
All the Broken Places: A Novel | John Boyne
29 posts | 19 read | 28 to read
From the New York Times bestselling author John Boyne, a devastating, beautiful story about a woman who must confront the sins of her own terrible past, and a present in which it is never too late for bravery Ninety-one-year-old Gretel Fernsby has lived in the same well-to-do mansion block in London for decades. She lives a quiet, comfortable life, despite her deeply disturbing, dark past. She doesnt talk about her escape from Nazi Germany at age 12. She doesnt talk about the grim post-war years in France with her mother. Most of all, she doesnt talk about her father, who was the commandant of one of the Reichs most notorious extermination camps. Then, a new family moves into the apartment below her. In spite of herself, Gretel cant help but begin a friendship with the little boy, Henry, though his presence brings back memories she would rather forget. One night, she witnesses a disturbing, violent argument between Henrys beautiful mother and his arrogant father, one that threatens Gretels hard-won, self-contained existence. All The Broken Places moves back and forth in time between Gretels girlhood in Germany to present-day London as a woman whose life has been haunted by the past. Now, Gretel faces a similar crossroads to one she encountered long ago. Back then, she denied her own complicity, but now, faced with a chance to interrogate her guilt, grief and remorse, she can choose to save a young boy. If she does, she will be forced to reveal the secrets she has spent a lifetime protecting. This time, she can make a different choice than beforewhatever the cost to herself.
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kellock
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Pickpick

What s wonderful book. Brought a wee year to my eye at the end.

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kellock
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A book borrowed from a friend is next. As always reading with the dust jacket on just in case I damage it.

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KathyWheeler
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Pickpick

Lots of storms today, so I didn‘t get to go walk, but I did finish All the Broken Places. I liked it. The ending was implausible, but I can accept it. There‘s a lot of talk about Boyne trying to elicit sympathy for Nazis in this and the related book. All I know is this book didn‘t make me feel any for Nazis, but I did understand that Gretel is a complicated character. I don‘t think we are supposed to love her.

LeeRHarry That was my day yesterday, but today the rain has cleared and the sun is shining so I‘ll be walking after I finish up work. 😊 3mo
KathyWheeler @LeeRHarry I‘m hoping tomorrow will be clear for me. 😊 3mo
36 likes2 comments
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KathyWheeler
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I‘ve got a couple of hours left in this book. I like it and am really interested to see how it ends. I also need to pick a new #audiowalk book.

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KathyWheeler
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There were a couple of shocking incidents that just happened in this book — one expected and one not. It was such a lovely day today that I had to get out. #audiowalk

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KathyWheeler
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I‘m not sure how I feel about Gretel yet, but we‘ll see. I‘m willing to continue with her story in order to learn more. #audiowalk

21 likes1 stack add
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KathyWheeler
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The tagged book is my new #audiowalk book. I‘d read The Boy in the Striped Pajamas years ago and am aware of the controversy surrounding it. This follow-up to it, about Bruno‘s sister, sounded interesting. I‘m in Birmingham with my daughter for a couple of days. These pictures are from around our hotel.

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candc320
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I can‘t believe the fun is almost over, but here we go!

1. All the Broken Places
2. The House on Hanging Hill Lane
3. Reading and trying to stay awake until midnight 🤣
4. I‘ve never really celebrated Boxing Day but I did hit up the annual Barnes and Noble sale
5. Well here in Florida it was a green Christmas and I was definitely disappointed if not surprised!

#wintergames #SantasBookshELVES

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Cinfhen
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Pickpick

The sequel to Boy in the Striped Pajamas but could be read as a standalone. This book follows Gretel, the daughter of the Nazi commander of Auschwitz as she tries to put her past behind her and make a new life for herself. I was fully invested in this book but I felt like the writing wasn‘t Boyne‘s finest. This book deals with complacency, grief, guilt, culpability and forgiveness.

TrishB I may read now after your review. Was a bit on the fence as saw so many mixed reviews. 6mo
Cinfhen I can send you this book @TrishB if you‘re interested 6mo
BarbaraBB I am in no hurry to read it. Was it as YA as 6mo
See All 8 Comments
Cinfhen It was not written as YA/ middle grade @BarbaraBB but this book lacked the finesse and expertise of 6mo
BarbaraBB It is hard for him to beat that one! 6mo
TrishB That would be great! Thank you 😘 6mo
Cinfhen My pleasure/ I have another book I think you might like that im going to include as well @TrishB hopefully you won‘t end up buying it before it gets to you! 6mo
TrishB Thank you 😘 I‘m intrigued! 6mo
70 likes2 stack adds8 comments
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candc320
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Pickpick

Now THIS was a wonderfully written story! I was a little worried after reading The Boy in the Stripped Pajamas and finding it kind of juvenile (which, duh, it was supposed to be) that I wouldn‘t love this author‘s writing style but I couldn‘t have been more wrong. It‘s absolutely mesmerizing! Going back and forth in time and telling Gretel‘s story, it deals with themes of complicity, grief, guilt, and the multiple ways we humans can be monsters ⬇️

candc320 Cont‘d: when I read the last word of the book I found myself tearing up and feeling slightly heartbroken that it was over. This book truly wrenches your heart into all sorts of shapes and isn‘t a happy read, which it shouldn‘t be given the content. However it is truly beautiful and is now a favorite. I want to read more from this author!! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟➕ 12mo
candc320 @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I hope you love it as much as I did! 12mo
31 likes3 stack adds3 comments
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DavidDiamond
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Pickpick

Exploring themes of guilt, complicity and grief, Boyne‘s follow up to The Boy In The Striped Pajamas is a beautifully written and compelling tale.

Jumping between the past and the present, 91 year old Gretel (the sister of Bruno from TBITSP) finds herself befriending a young boy from a troubled household and reflecting back on the years after the war.

Boyne continues to be one of my favorite authors.

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Coleen_Nieto
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When one of your favorite authors dedicates his book to another of your favorite authors...it's just magic!😍

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Birdsong28
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Third prompt completed for @melissajayne #readyourTBR challenge.
#2023challenge

BarbaraBB I didn‘t know he had a new book! 13mo
30 likes1 comment
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Birdsong28
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Pickpick

Very good. Sequel to The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. Focuses on the sister of the main character in the first novel. Shows how she deals with the consequences of her parents and the society she was brought up in . Emotional and beautifully written I was gripped throughout the book.

#TransworldPublishers
#Penquin
#PenquinRandomHouse
@penguinrandomhouse

38 likes2 stack adds
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Mirazzles
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I thought I‘d be waiting a lot longer for this hold to come in from the library! 📚

Bookworm04 I liked this one I was waiting while for my hold you wont regret it. Good read for sure 14mo
51 likes1 stack add1 comment
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peaKnit
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Pickpick

I have not met a John Boyne book I didn‘t like, this was no exception. This book is a sequel to The Boy in The Striped Pajamas, telling the tale of Bruno‘s oldest sister Gretel as she escaped Germany with her mother. It was hard to like Gretel but I learned there is good in her, despite her nazi roots, as the book progressed. I accepted that while I don‘t understand the people, I could appreciate the perspective of this story.

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Tove_Reads
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#12booksof2022 my December book. When it‘s not about serial killers it‘s about Nazis… 🫣🥶

Andrew65 Next up Nazi serial killers! This was an excellent read and made my list. Thanks for playing along, it has been a good way to review the year‘s reading. 1y
37 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Andrew65
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#August #12Booksof2022

I spent a lot of August catching up on books from series, but my favourite book has to be the follow up to The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. It was good to be back in this world and to find out what happened to his family, and especially he is sister after the war.

My favourite series read will have been the latest in the Josephine Tey Series by Nicola Upson, Dear Little Corpses.

65 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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Penny_LiteraryHoarders
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A gift from my brother-in-law.

PurpleyPumpkin Wow, sounds riveting! I think I‘ll pick this one up too. 😉 1y
30 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Andrew65
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Day 15 #AdventRecommends August Book 1

We waited 16 years for a follow-up to The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, and it was well worth the wait. This book tells the story of his sister during the rest of the war and after the war. Yet more impactful reading.

@emilyrose_x

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BeeMagical
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ARC courtesy of Pinguin Random House!💛

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Bookworm04

70 pages to go and book due back 10th. Now do I stop and make start on the shining as that‘s due back 10th also and not started yet. Might carry on with broken places on my breaks so can still progress and make start on shining tonight hmmmmm 🤔

SiameseCatsRead Renew renew renew! 1y
Bookworm04 Cant they waiting reservations. I picked up from library 19th for shining has broken places longer so been making way through it. Renewed places twice and it got reserved after me so got to go back. Shining I had since 19th but not had chance to read it. I try find on ebook on Libby. Should finish places soon As tried to renew that but can‘t 1y
29 likes2 comments
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Bookworm04
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Tonight‘s reading only started hour ago and already 5 chapters in

DavidDiamond One of my favorite authors! I look forward to getting my hands on this!
Jealously Yours,
David
1y
TalesandTexts @anushareflects you‘ll like this too. Sounds interesting 1y
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MicheleinPhilly
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But did you like it? 🤔

(An excerpt from The New Statesman‘s filleting.)

DanaManiac Yikes! 😳 1y
LeahBergen Oh, man. 🤣🤣 1y
TrishB Ouch 1y
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MicheleinPhilly @DanaManiac @LeahBergen @TrishB It has a very “John Boyne ran over my dog” tone. Naturally, I‘m here for it. 😇 1y
Cinfhen I‘ve seen really harsh reviews but they seem “justified” - I‘ll be avoiding this one 🫣 1y
Tonton Whoa. Skewered! 1y
Suet624 Wow! 1y
46 likes1 stack add8 comments
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Follow.my.read
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A NEW John Boyne book??? YES PLEASE!!! #JohnBoyne#AllTheBrokenPlaces#WWII#NaziGermany

43 likes1 stack add
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VRM1975
Pickpick

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Birdsong28
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Caroline2 This sounds good. Stacked. 2y
36 likes1 comment
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Andrew65
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This is the 6th book finished for #AwesomeAugust.

It is a sequel to The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, and covers the life of Bruno‘s sister after the war. There are many surprises in the books and an ending I didn‘t see coming until very near it happening.

I feel this one has left me reeling, in a very different way to TBITSP, but still reeling and trying to decide what I think of it all. A review will follow.

#AugustARC @Clwojick

Clwojick Great job! You‘re knocking them off! 💪🏻😎 2y
68 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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Andrew65
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Starting the latest book by John Boyne which is published next month.

A sequel for The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas @TrishB

#AugustARC @Clwojick

#AwesomeAugust

TrishB Interesting 👍🏻 2y
AllDebooks Oh my, I don't think I could cope with anymore of that story. Boy in striped pjs 💔 repeatedly. Fantastic novel by great author tho 2y
AmyG Oh wow- a sequel. 2y
Andrew65 @AllDebooks @AmyG This is set after the war and covers the sister‘s life and the impact it has on that life. Halfway through and really enjoying it. 2y
AllDebooks @Andrew65 sounds good. I'll look out for it 2y
74 likes1 stack add5 comments