SPOILER ALERTIf you have not started to read this book, and have stumbled across this blog, be warned, there are some spoilers in these passages.
First of all, I found it interesting how the author refers to Rudy in the first paragraph faintly as a boy, and then makes it obvious in the end that it is Rudy when he speaks to Liesel. I guess that makes us leap into the book during the first paragraph, because we think it is a new character being introduced, or an important event, but it turns out to be Rudy.
"A small announcement about Rudy: He didn't deserve to die the way he did."
Rudy is going to Die? He can't already be dead, because he is here in the story right before the announcement. Death tells us that Rudy isn't going to die of hyperthermia, so hopefully he will live a few more chapters, but sadly now we know he is going to die soon. Death is apparently touched by Liesel kissing Rudy, which I actually don't find surprising, since he has been described as someone "stuck" with the job instead of embracing it, so I have been thinking of him one os those humans. Why did the author decide to include Max's haircut in the next chapter? Is it because Liesel gets to do it? Is it to describe even more the troubles of hiding a Jew? Hopefully these questions will be answered further on.
In the next story, Liesel sort of cowers to the Major's wife, because she is afraid that she will tell her that she is hiding a Jew. Continuing through the story, we go to Liesel bringing a crossword to Max. It is amazing how much he appreciates it, it shows you that the little things in life really do count. The next story, Liesel scores a goal in soccer, and tells her whole family about it. Max asks if the goal was in the sun or the clouds. I wonder why he asked that question? In fact, why did the author have Liesel talk about a soccer goal? Liesel tells him the weather in a very cute and childish way, and her and Max draw a painting of it and write beneath it: "It was a Monday, and they walked down a tightrope to the sun.
Next is my favorite story, were Max imagines that he is in a boxing arena, battling Hitler. Is this a memory from a while ago? It seems like it, but I don't know for sure. When Max leaps to attack Hitler, it describes that he only aims at the mustache. Why the mustache? Hitler then takes off his gloves, and with a short speech, summons the whole crowd to attack Max. I could almost feel his pain just as Markus had described it. Blows to the chest, the face, falling to the ground. I guess why I really likes this chapter was because it gave a really good glimpse at Max's past, and his hatred toward Hitler. Liesel, during his vision, comes down to Max, and hands him the crossword puzzle, which I find warm and abruptly humorous as well. Max explains to Liesel about his daydreams. "It sounded like the beginning of a joke. Theres a Jew and a German sitting in a basement. Right? However, this was no joke. "
That sentence quickly brings this chapter into a dark tone.
In the next story, the family turns Mein Kampf into Max's daydream. Is this to get rid of the book, or to express Max's need to write.
In this next part, the Author explains 7 as unlucky. In Germany is 7 unlucky, because in American culture, 7 is lucky. Anyways, the major's wife tells Liesel that she cannot afford the ironing anymore, and that she is really sorry. Liesel is very mad, and with her words made the Major's wife bleed. This also hurt me, because I imagined her sobbing, her tears mixing with her thick, red blood. It was very unpleasing, to sum it up. Rose is getting a lot nicer since when she first arrived with them, she is not blaming much on Liesel, and when Liesel gave her the news, Rose didn't even flinch. This has been a huge improvement on Rosa's... uh... anger issues. Liesel is very upset with herself for hurting the Major's wife, and tells Papa that she thinks she is going to hell. This upsets me, that Liesel would go as far as to say that. But Hans reassures her, and all is well. In the next section, a half-deaf boy named Tommy gets in trouble with his coach Franz. Rudy tries to stand up for him, but ends up having to do laps with Tommy. Is Tommy really deaf, or just does not want to salute to Hitler? Oh, this is all very confusing.
Now that we know that Rudy is going to die, whenever he brings himself into trouble, we tense up. I could have sworn that when Victor attacked Rudy, that it was his time. I guess since it's not the best season for apples, Liesel and Rudy don't get a good payout for stealing with Victor and his gang. I don't even know how they are surviving on such an empty stomach.
Anyways, this was a really interesting 30 pages, and I hope you agree with me. If you happened to stumble across this blog, I hope that you will be inspired to read along with me!
-Keaten
#keatenstealsthebook
I loved your addition of detail to your post, as it gave me a different way to view these sections. I had the same reaction as you, when Death mentioned that Rudy died. Death says that he did not die from hypothermia, luckily, but instead hints towards bombs being the cause of death.
ReplyDeleteThe next section made me think as well, because of the seven-sided die, talking about what happens when you hide a Jew, and your post made me think of it as a kind of thing that will all happen, just not at once. I thought it meant that you get one of the seven-sides, depending on what it lands on.
Rudy's pre-mentioned death made me think of any section with him involved could be his last, so, like you, I made the best of it.