All the Broken Places - John Boyne

All the Broken Places

By John Boyne

  • Release Date: 2022-11-29
  • Genre: Historical Fiction
Score: 4.5
4.5
From 578 Ratings

Description

“You can’t prepare yourself for the magnitude and emotional impact of this powerful novel.” —John Irving, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The World According to Garp

“Exceptional, layered and compelling…This book moves like a freight train.” —Amy Bloom, New York Times bestselling author of In Love

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 doesn’t talk about her escape from Nazi Germany at age 12. She doesn’t talk about the grim post-war years in France with her mother. Most of all, she doesn’t talk about her father, who was the commandant of one of the Reich’s most notorious extermination camps. 

Then, a new family moves into the apartment below her. In spite of herself, Gretel can’t 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 Henry’s beautiful mother and his arrogant father, one that threatens Gretel’s hard-won, self-contained existence.

All The Broken Places moves back and forth in time between Gretel’s 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 before—whatever the cost to herself….

Reviews

  • Sad but true

    5
    By Wine between the chapters
    I couldn’t stop reading about our main character, 12 year old, Gretal, whose Father was the Commandant of “the other place” we later learn is Auschwitz. She searches her entire life for the release of her guilt by association to find redemption or some sense of peace. The guilt she feels through the entire book becomes a bit overwhelming, although understandable. The comparison of her evil Father, her weak, but beautiful Mother and her younger brother, finally at the ripe old age of 92 allow her the opportunity for redemption. This comes in the comparison of a narcissistic, evil Hollywood producer, who wreaks terror to his weak, gorgeous actress wife and young son whom he beats and controls through threats of death and drugs. At 92 years of age, Gretal finally finds redemption in finding the strength to live without the lies from her past by helping those who need her to save them. The ending is satisfying and hopeful. Ugly reminders of evil and beautiful in salvation!
  • Well done

    5
    By Sleepy25674
    Well written and difficult to put done. Excellent flow and great story telling.
  • Great historical fiction

    5
    By No puzzle pro
    Intriguing novel
  • All the Broken Places

    4
    By PGA penny
    I liked it but hated last 1/3.
  • Buen libro

    5
    By Ferreto2023
    Muy bien escrito, mucha fluidez. No puedes parar de leer. Algún detalle difícil de creer, pero en general muy buena historia.
  • All The Broken Places

    5
    By Artymusician
    Outstanding book, well written, very sad.
  • Great book!

    5
    By socalmusefan
    Such an interesting twist of historical fiction! Wow! Loved it!
  • Disappointed

    2
    By Seasmoke1
    Too many unbelievable twists and turns.
  • Page Turning Thought Provoking

    5
    By MellowTraveler
    Adults facing the guilt of sins committed by beloved parents while the now adults were children is always thought provoking. This one especially. Very good read.
  • All the Broken Places

    5
    By GWYNEDD READER
    Great book, so interesting, so intriguing, so insightful. Best book I’ve read a quite awhile. I did read The Boy in the Striped Pajamas a couple of years ago, it was a very good story in its own right . That story takes place before this book. Excellent writing .

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