All the Broken Places

A Novel

By: John Boyne

Narrated by: Kristin Atherton, Helen Lloyd

Length: 12 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

“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….

©2022 John Boyne (P)2022 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“When is a monster’s child culpable? Guilt and complicity are multifaceted. John Boyne is a maestro of historical fiction. 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

“This novel, this exceptional, layered and compelling story, is built on modern history and all of us people who live it. The protagonist, the elderly, forthright and mysterious Mrs. Fernsby, is more than memorable and every one of Boyne’s characters, and every scene, dark or light, is limned in truth and insight. This book moves like a freight train, with force and consequence for the reader.”—Amy Bloom, New York Times bestselling author of In Love

“A powerful novel about secrets and atonement after Auschwitz… All the Broken Places is a defence of literature’s need to shine a light on the darkest aspects of human nature; and it does so with a novelist’s skill, precision and power.”—The Guardian

Complex characters

As with all of John Boyne’s books, this is well written with well developed, complex characters. I enjoyed it while I was listening. However, after it was finished, I thought back to the narrative and felt that some of the plotting didn’t quite work. I’d still recommend to fans of the author.

Worth Reading

As good or Better than The Boy In Stripped Pajamas. This is a MUST Read!

Fantastic sequel

I loved everything about this book! Narration is excellent. This was a sequel I did not think was needed as The Boy In The Striped Pajamas seemed complete, but I am so pleased he wrote Gretel’s story. Very satisfying read for me.

Best book I’ve read in a long time

I loved this book! So glad I listened to it! It kept me interested all the way through!

Worthy story

This story as a stand alone would have been a worthy listen. As an addition to the story of Bruno it is even more poignant.

Broken

Heart wrenching is all I can say about the story. Well written, well read. Prayerfully we will never allow this to happen again.

So good

Please do not pay attention to the negative comments, fantastic book! You will not be disappointed

All the Broken Places

Strong characters and emotions are woven throughout this story. Will not knowing the past keep history from surfacing??

Exceptional!!

I was beside myself when this book ended.
The reader is fabulous and the story is amazing!

Retrospect. Grief. Regret.

ONE OF MY FAVORITE BOOKS EVER! I very much liked the way this was written. The way the author went back to Gretel’s youth and then her perspective as an old woman. The language and word choices were beautiful!