Boxing match

This won't mean much to those of you who haven't read as far as I have (just over half of the book) but Max's imagined boxing match is one of the most powerful things I've read in a long time. You'll see.

I'm going to re-start the nominations for Book 3, starting with Atlas Shrugged and People of the Book.

Pam

Something small to say. Sort of.

Hello all,
I'm progressing slowly, way too slowly, through this excellent book. It's always interesting to read a book written by a man (or woman) in which the main character is a woman (or man). I've come to identify strongly with Liesel. Her tentative nature, her passion for books, and her fears about the larger world around her seem just about right as I recall being 11 and 12. While reading TBT, I'm also reading "O Jerusalem" and flipping through Jimmy Carter's book on Palestine. I have the latter book because Marv, who you all know (except maybe Shula...not sure you've met him), forced the book on me a year or so ago and demanded that I read it. So you can see that I've got a lot of overlap in my reading.

Back to TBT:

The hand-made book that Max gave Liesel for her birthday was a wonderful addition to the story, and also to the physical book itself. I'll probably remember that long after I've forgotten details of the story.

Every few pages or so my mind flips back to 6th grade at McCormick Elementary. I remember sneaking into the girls' room with my copy of the Diary of Ann Frank and reading a few pages before I dashed back to the classroom. I also can feel the same inner turmoil about how to accept that friends of mine had relatives who suffered the same fate, and worse, as Ann Frank and Max Vandenburg. So hard to absorb into my mind and heart that such evil exists, such prejudice exists, such cruelty is committed over and over again.

And then there's the issue of Hans and Rosa, Germans who could have been related to me. (I'm half German on my dad's side and half German on my mom's side, which makes me half German and half English. And let's face it about the English. They are not noted for their open-mindedness either.) All of my German ancestors came to America long before the 20th century, but I certainly have distant relatives who were in Germany during the Nazi era. Do I feel some guilt? Yes. Should I? Don't know.

So that's my little report.

Who else is reading? Shula, Paula, and Larry F. Did you start Ed?

Pam


*

Wait! I didn't mean to un-nominate those 2 books...

Hey guys. I guess I owe someone an apology. My comment on one of the two books nominated (anonymously) for book 3 wasn't a complaint, although I guess it sounded like that. I was just pointlessly commenting, as is my way, on Atlas Shrugged. Just b/c I don't want to read a particular book doesn't mean the book shouldn't be nominated. Maybe I should treat this blog a bit more seriously in the future instead of posting whatever random thoughts pop into my head. (But I sort of thought that would be part of the fun of the blog...you know...posting random and pointless thoughts among long-time friends. Isn't that the way we've been talking to each other for half a century? Maybe it was just me....that's depressing.)

On another topic: I'm about half-way through TBT, am enjoying it immensely, but frankly can't think of anything to say about it. Maybe I'm not suited to a book discussion group? Should I have more to talk about? My edition has a book discussion guide in the back. I've been avoiding it b/c I didn't want to be influenced by it. But I may resort to checking it out.

I will say this: The device of making Death speak, from time to time, in the first person is an extremely effective way to convey the horror of Germany in 1939. "We'll give him seven months. Then we come for him. And oh, how we come."


Greetings to all, lurkers and others. I promise to be more serious in the future.
Pam

remember to sign your posts & comments please

I'm guessing that Paula wrote the post titled "People of the Book" and that Fox suggested the 2 new books for Book 3. On second thought I decided that it was actually Ed who nominated the 2 new books...
Pam

PS: I won't be voting for, or reading, Atlas Shrugged. There is no power on the face of this earth that could make me read 1,200 pages of Ayn Rand. I read the Fountainhead & that was enough. But I would read something shorter by her---maybe Anthem? I think it's a novella (I like that length), but it's science fiction... Or maybe "We the Living"?

People of the Book

I already read it. I remember it being interesting, although somewhat predictable -- appealed to my love of both books and Judaism! I would read it again if everyone else wants to read it.

Me too!

I started the book today in the doctor's office, am on page 55. I love it so far. Intriguing perspective and beautifully written.
Paula

Started!

I finally started The Book Thief and am loving it. Anyone have ideas for how we should discuss it? It's such a fast read that maybe we should finish 1/3 or 1/2 and then discuss? I'm not even to page 100 yet but I suspect that many of you are far ahead of that.

Pam

(Happy Mothers' Day to all the moms, and Happy (Israel) Birthday to Ed and Shula and family! )