Reflections on a Year of Reading German Literature
Titles Read:
Stones in Water by Donna Jo Napoli
Flowers in the Gutter by K.R. Gaddy
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Word count: 621
Germany is a country with a lot of history whether for better or for worse. When people hear of Germany they think about World War 2 and all the things that happened almost 100 years ago. But since then Germany has evolved into a much better country, known nowadays for other things like their culture, famous figures, sports, etc. Even in today’s society German culture and their customs are a very big thing throughout the world and followed by many people. They have changed drastically in the past couple of decades and in my opinion it is a very beneficial change. Another aspect of Germany that unfortunately isn’t as well known is their literature. The books I read this year all revolved around true stories of individuals that lived through the Holocaust and recounted their personal experiences and their journies. I would’ve liked to read some fictional books or other nonfiction books talking about other things but the ones I read in this year were very good books overall. They went in depth about the experiences of their lives during the Holocaust and the things going on in the world around them. Safe to say that there were no details spared and every single author wrote incredibly well.
Stones in Water by Donna Jo Napoli taught me that some things are necessary in order to mature in life. Although in the book it was purely to survive, I saw a character transformation like no other. Roberto is just an Italian boy who was exposed to World War Two and after that his eyes are opened to the horrors of the world. It shows the innocence lost which portrays a theme that happens even in today’s society, kids losing their innocence due to war and political problems.
Flowers in the Gutter by K.R. Gaddy taught me a very special lesson. It taught me that no matter who you are, what is going on around you, and what problems you are facing, there is always a way to fight back. Even in times of desperation, the Edelweiss Pirates found a way to rebel against the Nazi’s and stand up for what was right. It’s an amazing book with a very prominent theme/lesson.
My favorite book out of the three was The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. Liesel was an amazing character and a special girl to follow. It shows that curiosity and temptation can make a person do many things, especially a little girl like Liesel in the times she had to deal with. There are many aspects and details to break down but those are the two that are most prominent throughout the book.
Ever since middle school I always had one specific problem with reading books and getting into them. I didn’t dislike reading books but it wasn’t something that I would actively go and do like other hobbies of mine. It was hard for me to just start reading a book out of nowhere. The only exceptions are when it comes to school work. I remember for summer assignments we would have to do book reports on books we chose. I hated doing it but once I read the first ten pages of a book I would be hooked. Even today unfortunately, I still have the same trait but the books I read were genuinely amazing. They opened my eyes to many things about our world and how people in the past have had it as bad as it could possibly be. It makes me feel grateful to even read a book about their experiences and what they had to deal with. Books are always knowledgeable regardless of the genre and they’re a treasure to even pick up.