|
|
Post by Abby Cerano on Jul 21, 2013 12:22:40 GMT -5
In the beginning of the chapter it is clear Lina is in shock. She can't believe the death of her father is real. She is feeling different emotions. The small children began to die, because of the harshness of this first winter. At one point Janina discovers a dead white owl, buried in the snow. Because of the owls size (2 feet) they needed others to help cover her in order to get it back to their jurta. Luckily, others were kind enough to help. Lina and her family as well as all those in her jurta were able to eat a nice meal that night. Soon after that Christmas time came. It is also manifest that Lina's mother is becoming more and more fragile. Many of the others are also starting to get diseases or sicknesses. One night while Lina's mother was resting her head in her laps, she tells Lina how Kretzsky had helped her. She tells Lina she needs to apologize for saying she hated him. Soon after that Lina's mother starts to become even more sick and weak. Lina and Jonas as well as all the others in their tent tried in effort to stabilize her health. But it was no use. She was already too weak and too cold. That night she passed away. After conversations with the bald man and Mrs.Rimas Lina is determined she will stay alive. Lina and all of the others helped bury her mother. They did not want her body to be eaten by wolves. With a snow storm approaching, Lina went to attempt to steal wood from the NKVD. While trying to do so she is seen by Kretzsky. They converse and Lina see's another side of him. Jonas and Janina as well as many others are starting to get sick. Luckily a Dr.Samodurov came just in time. He was an inspection officer and could report the horrible conditions if the NKVD did not give the sick food and other needed materials. After the help many were able to get better. Lina also learned that there was a chance her father could still be alive. This is where the book ends. Not too much is told about weather or not some of the others survived. But what is known is that Andrius and Lina went on to marry each other after the were freed from Siberia. They buried a time capsule. They wrote down every bit of the scary awful truth they went through. It was shown that someone working came upon this and discovered it.
|
|
|
|
Post by Abby Cerano on Jul 21, 2013 12:27:06 GMT -5
I really loved this book! Though it was very sad, I enjoy reading books like these because they help you become aware. You learn stories about those who survived and how they did it. And though it's hard to believe you learn about all of the conditions and adversity they were put through. I was sad that Lina and Jonas' parents both died. I was hoping that their mother would at least make it. I was happy to learn that Andrius and Lina both did survive and married each other. I thought this story was well told and revealed truths about the revolting hardships they were faced with.
|
|
|
|
Post by Konrad Sartorius on Jul 22, 2013 14:48:21 GMT -5
Here the story finally comes to a close. At the beginning of the section Lina is still in shock over
the death of her father. In this time of tragedy, Andrius is still able to show his love for Lina through
well placed notes in Dombey and Son, that keep Lina’s hopes alive. After the news however Lina’s
mother’s health deteriorates, possibly due to the lack of will to live after the news. Eventually, she
perishes and the people in the hut have the decscency to bury her. Lina comes to have sympathy for
Kretzsky after hearing about what he has been through. Jonas becomes ill again with Scurvy.
Fortunately, a doctor, Dr. Samodurov comes a saves them. He is a beacon of hope for the prisoners,
and shows that despite the horrors that the Soviets visited upon innocent people there are still good
people in the this country. Towards the end of the story Lina regains hope of people making it out
alive from the prison. At the end of the story there is an epilogue that presents, briefly the reader
with a summary of the events that happen afterwards(Lina gets out of prison, marries Andrius, etc.),
and sums up the course of events after the books end. You can see that those that fought on and wanted to live and made it clear that their goal was to survive, overall made it out. To do so oen had to keep the mental will to do so. One can only imagine the difficulty with which it was to keep this will to live. Certainly the terror of the gulag system is shocking, combined with the seperation from loved ones and the intense weather(and perpetual night in winter and perpetual day in summer). Also One is left to wonder however at what
happened to other characters, such as Mr. Stalas. Did they regain hope and push through their
hardships, or they lose the will to live and therefore their life. One is left to ponder these questions
and much more after this intriguing novel that sheds light into a gray area of history.
|
|
|
|
Post by Konrad Sartorius on Jul 24, 2013 15:07:03 GMT -5
I would like to thank everyone here for posting in this forum. It has been a pleasure commenting and discussing this book with you. Look forward to seeing you guys at teh begining of the next school year.  -Konrad Sartorius |
|
