What I have always believed to be a great book is one that has characters who are somehow surprising to read about whether the astonishment comes from the character's life or actions created by that certain person. What I truly liked about Bette Greene's creativity in Summer Of My German Soldier was that she used two different perspectives on one character. This character Patty Bergen, was one of dislike for she believed that her mom didn't appreciate her as a person because she didn't have the same beauty as she did. She is a very strong person however, she is brought down many times because she is different and cares more about her comprehension then her looks. The only friends that she had were her grandma, who spoiled her and her family's "nigger" Ruth. This is until she makes friends with a German prisoner of war.
At first, Patty and Anton met at her parents' store while the prisoners were there to buy straw hats for the cotton fields. Anton spoke with an amazingly perfect English vocabulary as the interpreter of the prisoners. As he wondered off, to look around, Patty took position as the clerk and helped him with his needs. While they talked, their friendship grew however, would they ever see eachother after this moment?
What soon became to became the top headline effected not only Patty's life but the plot of the story. The friendly German that Patty had met at the store, had just escaped from the prison camp that had held 15 other prisoners. He then became the one that everyone looked for. She knew that if there were any hope for his survival, she needed to give him shelter. This is where the story broke out. Mr. Reiker stayed in an old maid's quarters about 50 yards off of the house. It had been abandoned and Patty had fixed it up as her club house.
They over time became good friends but then, it happened, what she dreaded from the beginning, the thing that she knew had to happen did. He had to leave. He had been planing it for a while but when Ruth saw her German friend, they knew it had to be. So it happened. He got ready that afternoon and after saying goodbye to the encouraged Patty who wanted to go along, he took the 6 o'clock train to Winchester.
What has happened so far in he book, I am sure that patty and Anton have to be reunited for a bond like this one can't just leave it's sight, it will come back. Until then, I wait for this moment. When I read this book, I realize not only the meaning of of World War 2, the tragedy, the pain and so on, but the strong will of what you can do in a books like this one.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment