“Who among us is not stained by the past?”
As we went around the room at book club this was Jennie’s choice of what resonated with her from Jenna Blum’s “Those Who Save Us”. Heather said she cried when Anna’s stollen dish was left untouched on the refreshment table at the church’s potluck. Shaunda wondered if Anna REALLY fell in love with Obersturmfuhrer. Lisa once again gave a double dose of observation. She had a pit in her stomach each time an encounter with the Obersturmfuhrer was presented. On the other hand, she laughingly pointed out how she identified with Trudy when she huffed and was offended when her ex-husband compared her to mother. Recalling the part in the book where Trudy goes home and purposely “messes up” her house, only to clean it up because she couldn’t stand leaving it that way, proves how far we go to show “we are not like our mother”. Heidi noted she found the powerful mother/daughter relationship intricately layered and loved how it wasn’t completely resolved in a neat little bow at the end of the book. This segued beautifully into many comments that started with, “I love my Mom, but…” followed by gales of laughter.
The discussion questions we used were straight from the author’s page, however I am quite certain that the modesty and older women discussion we howled over would have had Jenna Blum rolling on the floor. It’s all Heather’s fault. She brought up that she has a friend who is a nurse and cares for elderly patients who have Alzheimer’s. One of the things the nurses encourage the patients to do is start with their opposite leg when getting dressed, as a way to exercise their brain. Well, these ladies protested, they would fall over if they started with their left leg. The nurse made the simple suggestion of sitting on their bed to help keep their balance. Shocked the elderly woman asked, “With my bare bottom?”
The story was powerful, to the degree where every person in attendance had to put down the book at some point and come back to it later. We agreed that this book would be a compelling movie and everyone affirmed that Alec Baldwin would indeed make a fine Obersturmfuhrer. We all left with a new perspective about the Holocaust and the challenges for those who managed to survive through that time.
As for me, I am going to try to put on my pants with my opposite leg tomorrow morning.
The Lit Wits: Heidi, Heather, Lisa, Jen, Shaunda & Jennie.
Well, I think I just found my next read. Thanks. :)
Posted by: Vvdenman | 04/22/2011 at 10:23 AM