My "word" for this year is "do". My goal was to stop thinking about things I want to do and start doing them.
So.
One of the things I have intended to become a part of is the book club which meets monthly at our local library. I attended one meeting a few years ago and really enjoyed it, but I never made it back. February is going to be my month to get involved.
Then I found out the book to be discussed. This one.
I DID NOT want to read this book. I taught 8th grade language arts for years and part of the curriculum was The Diary of Anne Frank. This was the most important thing we read all year, in my opinion, so we spent about a month learning all about the time period and the atrocities committed against the Jewish people during this time. We watched movies, researched, read fiction, and nonfiction and every year I cried.
How could people treat each other the way the Nazi's did?
How could so many normal German citizens turn a blind eye to the unbelievable horror?
How could the government leaders have brainwashed a whole society?
The whole topic makes me so very, very sad and gets my worry top spinning. There are people in the United States ready to give up their freedoms, singing the praises of socialism. It makes me sick.
Well, I gathered up my courage, downloaded the book, and started reading. For the last 3 days, I have been immersed in Germany during WW2.
And I have cried.
And been nauseous.
And shaken my head at man's inhumanity to man.
The book was good, and I learned more about the time period from the perspective of the common German.
Many of them were between a rock and a hard, hard place.
I look forward to the discussion tonight.
Have any of you read the book?
I haven't read the book, but I can imagine the horror and sadness in it. A book club sounds really neat. Our local library only has a youth book club, but not an adult one. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts about the meeting
ReplyDeleteIt's so sad to think about what happened. On a happier note, congrats on joining the book club. Sounds like a good group to join.
ReplyDeleteGood for you for getting after it this year! I have not read this one but feel very much the same on this topic. All I can say is that education is important. I recently watched a documentary on some of the survivors that are now in there late 80's who have been working on a remembrance museum right outside of Chicago. Their stories made me cry but as they said their stories need to be carried on after they pass through education and the museum so that people will not forget. As for what I am reading...just gardening books here...I hope you enjoy your time at your new book club!
ReplyDeleteI have not read that book but I have read similar ones and they just leave me aching and feeling sick. The inhumanity of man to man is sickening- xo Diana
ReplyDeleteI have not read that particular book, but have read others from that period. And have gone to the museum that My Garden Diaries mentioned. Just heart-wrenching! I wonder what others in your book club will have to say.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read this book, but many about Hitler's time. Sarah's Key really impacted my life and I learned some things I didn't know in it. I'd love to join your group!
ReplyDeleteHi Susan, you are so right about the Germans being brainwashed, and I agree with you the same is going on here in the U.S. I too get my worry top going and then I remember our heavenly Father and I pray for all the lost souls that so readily accepts us loosing our freedoms. I haven't read the book but, would sure like to listen to what your book club talks about. I always enjoy your posts. Blessings and smiles, Emilou :-)
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