There's a Message to Be Had...

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...but I'll be darned if I know what it is.

A strange coincidence occurred during these past few weeks and the result was that I've spent the last two weeks in Nazi Germany.

That's a strange thing to say, you're thinking. Well, this is what happened.

Before my surgery I planned ahead and picked up some books for my "convalescence." One of my blogging friends recommended The Boy in the Striped Pajamas to me, and while I had no idea what it was about, I stopped by the library one afternoon and borrowed their copy.

While I was at the library, I spotted the newest book of an author that I enjoy. I've read everything he's written, and even though I did not stop to read the synopsis, I grabbed the book and put it with my other borrows.

You may think it's strange that I borrow books without knowing the storyline. But, that's actually how I prefer to read a book -- starting with page one -- no sneak peeks.

Anyway, when I arrived home from the hospital I had another book waiting for me -- a good friend had sent a paperback over with some fresh flowers. Lovely friend. I was unfamiliar with the title, but set it with my other planned reads.

I started The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne soon after I came home. I was a bit surprised by the subject matter, but was riveted by the writing. It's the story of a young boy whose father becomes the commandant of Auschwitz. Picked up and moved by his parents to their new home outside the gates of the concentration camp, the young boy befriends one of the Jews (in the striped pajamas). I won't tell you the end, but it is a sad story (of course it is, it's about Auschwitz), but worth reading. I think it was actually in the teen section of the library, so would be a good book for an older teen interested in the subject.

After I finished The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, I picked up Skeletons at the Feast, by Chris Bohjalian. It was a new book, and had a two week loan -- better start it now. Again, I had no idea what the subject matter was. The cover was a pretty painting of a girl standing in a field. Just a few pages into chapter one, I thought, "this is really strange. What a coincidence to read two books in a row set in Germany during WWII." Again -- a riveting book. There was some gratuitous s*x, but the characters were very believable, lovable for the most part, and engaging. It was not quite as tragic as The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, but the mood I left the book with was mildly gloomy.

Not one to be put off though, I headed straight into book three. This is a thick book, over 500 pages, but I had plenty of time on my hands. The Book Thief (by Markus Zusak) started out unconventionally. The partial sentences on the first few pages were confusing and not at all poetic (in my opinion) as I believe the author intended. I almost put it down for another day (or not). But, once I got past the first few pages I was in shock. How could I have unknowingly read three books in a row about Nazi Germany? I finished The Book Thief last night. It is the story of a young girl who, in the first few chapters, finds herself in a new foster home in Molching, Germany, at the beginning of World War II. She is a most lovable character, and her thoughts and interactions make the story captivating. Strangely, the story is told by Death, he who captures souls. He becomes emotionally attached to the main character, and thus, tells her story. And though the story, like the others, involved a most gloomy subject matter, the story was excellent. Other than a little language (and mostly the language was translation of the German) it was not objectionable for teens. In fact, if the length is not off-putting, it would be an excellent book for teens.

So, the moral of my story here -- well, I have no clue. I don't necessarily believe that the planets aligned in order for me to read these three books during the past two weeks. Nevertheless, it a strange coincidence. One thing that I noticed that was common in each of these books, something I had not previously given thought to, was that the people of Germany, just the regular people trying to make it through the war, with food rations and air raids and death, had no idea was Hitler was doing in regard to the death camps. I realize these were all fictitious narrations, but it's a point of view I had not taken before.

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