So Im reading these books.. a coworker saw it..and..well..

Original post by Xelindrya

Mar 19, 2005 12:22 AM

WOW, such a quick opinion of me (negative)

I had to EXPLAIN the books.

Jim said most NYers read these books, I never had so they ended up on my booklist. Picked them up this week and I'm done with the first and onto the second..

Please tell me ya'll have read these books and the folks staring at me in the train aren't misunderstanding it!

marymoon Posted: Mar 19, 2005 12:12 PM

Re: So Im reading these books.. a coworker saw it..and..well..

I've never read them pr even heard of them before, but I would definitely put a cover on that book. I wouldn't even like to look at the swastika.

RedHead Posted: Mar 19, 2005 12:44 PM

Re: So Im reading these books.. a coworker saw it..and..well..

Posted by mrswask

I understand that these are very interesting books but I don't think it's necessary to keep posting the pics everywhere. I just noticed that you posted the pics on Storyboard and I find it unnecessary and offensive. No one else posts the covers of the books they're reading on storyboard and I think it's just being done for shock value. I wonder how people would react if the cover of your book showed an African-American person being lynched or a soldier in Iraq beheaded.
I just think it's in poor taste to keep posting it - you already did it once - you made your point.
Maybe the Holocaust didn't affect your life or your relatives and this is just interesting history to you, but it definitely affected a lot of relatives of posters on this board and a little tact would be nice.

yes i have to say i agree...posting the pic was a little much... i thnk it can be taken offensively...I really have to say that cover was just done in POOR TASTE
for shock value or not...

marymoon Posted: Mar 19, 2005 12:49 PM

Re: So Im reading these books.. a coworker saw it..and..well..

I think she psoted the pic to get our opinions on it. I don't think it's poor taste. She didn't post random ics of swastikas, she's showing us the covers of books that are available anywhere. that just IS what the book's cover is.

mrswask Posted: Mar 19, 2005 12:50 PM

Re: So Im reading these books.. a coworker saw it..and..well..

I think continuing to post in on other boards is in poor taste - re-read my post - that was my point.

marymoon Posted: Mar 19, 2005 12:52 PM

Re: So Im reading these books.. a coworker saw it..and..well..

I think the other post had the same purpose.

RedHead Posted: Mar 19, 2005 12:53 PM

Re: So Im reading these books.. a coworker saw it..and..well..

Posted by marymoon

I think she psoted the pic to get our opinions on it. I don't think it's poor taste. She didn't post random ics of swastikas, she's showing us the covers of books that are available anywhere. that just IS what the book's cover is.

To be honest i do think it is in poor taste...I don't think she meant to be mean or rude but i do think seeing that in a post is overwhelming and i was raised catholic...

I guess i will not look at this thread..

Jax430 Posted: Mar 19, 2005 12:55 PM

Re: So Im reading these books.. a coworker saw it..and..well..

Whenever I see those book covers I feel uncomfortable, even though I know what MAUS is and know the point of the books is not at all anti-semetic. It's just that the swastika raises a great deal of discomfort in many people. I would personally cover it with a book cover if I were reading it, just to avoid offending people when they see the symbol.

I've never actually read MAUS, but I'm going to ask my SIL to borrow them..she has them all.

mrswask Posted: Mar 19, 2005 12:56 PM

Re: So Im reading these books.. a coworker saw it..and..well..

Posted by marymoon

I think the other post had the same purpose.

As I said in my post, no reason to post the pic on Storyboard except for shock value - no one else ever posts the covers of the books they're reading...

marymoon Posted: Mar 19, 2005 12:58 PM

Re: So Im reading these books.. a coworker saw it..and..well..

It just seems like evryone wants to say what's poor taste and what isn't. I don't think she meant to offend anyone at all. The book cover isn't trying to be offensive either, even though I already said I presonally would cover it up if I were reading the book.

Crismicka Posted: Mar 19, 2005 12:58 PM

Re: So Im reading these books.. a coworker saw it..and..well..

I've read them...they were amazing! His retelling of his father's experiences were fantastic. He did a great job with the symbolism and the dialect, don't you think?

Crismicka Posted: Mar 19, 2005 01:00 PM

Re: So Im reading these books.. a coworker saw it..and..well..

Posted by RedHead

Posted by marymoon

I think she psoted the pic to get our opinions on it. I don't think it's poor taste. She didn't post random ics of swastikas, she's showing us the covers of books that are available anywhere. that just IS what the book's cover is.

To be honest i do think it is in poor taste...I don't think she meant to be mean or rude but i do think seeing that in a post is overwhelming and i was raised catholic...

I guess i will not look at this thread..

No offense, but if you haven't read the book, how can you feel offended by it? It was written about a survivor of the Holocaust...it is not a book about white supremicy...I studied the Holocaust in college and those were both part of our required readings...assigned by a survivor herself.

RedHead Posted: Mar 19, 2005 01:03 PM

Re: So Im reading these books.. a coworker saw it..and..well..

I am not offended by the book..i am offended at the use of the swastika

that i do find that offensive and sad usage of an evil symbol

marymoon Posted: Mar 19, 2005 01:05 PM

Re: So Im reading these books.. a coworker saw it..and..well..

The swastika wasn;t alwasy an 'evil symbol'

Doesn't mean I want to look at it though

RedHead Posted: Mar 19, 2005 01:10 PM

Re: So Im reading these books.. a coworker saw it..and..well..

Posted by marymoon

The swastika wasn;t alwasy an 'evil symbol'

Doesn't mean I want to look at it though

i am sure at one point in time it wasn't but lets face it...this thread was about how people were giving someone nasty looks and having to defend herself...

I can and do understand that. I am not saying ANYTHING about the books materials but rather the cover...

I didn't know about the book to be honest. If i saw someone reading it on the train
1. i would be upset (the cover imo is offensive)

2. i would think the person reading it is a wacko

3. i would be a little fearful

Of course this is all going by the cover...and we all know you can't judge by it....BUT it is very loud and blunt imo

Just like if there was a black man hung in a tree on the cover of a book....i would be offended by it too

if you don't understand that well i don't know how else to explain it

marymoon Posted: Mar 19, 2005 02:11 PM

Re: So Im reading these books.. a coworker saw it..and..well..

No, I completely understand. I haven't read the books either, if I saw that I would REALLY wonder about the person reading it, i really really would. But Veronica explained what the books were about and why she was posting it, she wasn't like 'oh look a swastika.'

Shorty McBride Posted: Mar 19, 2005 02:14 PM

Re: So Im reading these books.. a coworker saw it..and..well..

I've read them, it was for a Holocaust class.

I couldn't bring myself to read them in public (because of the covers).

I am not a huge fan of the way the book is laid out (comics), but the story is great.

eta: Veronica, if you are enjoying them, there's a novel written by a LI author - it's called 'the cage' - by Ruth Minsky Sender. True story, actually partly autobiographical, and very moving. I have it if you'd like to borrow it! (or if you're ever lost in KP again...)

palebride Posted: Mar 19, 2005 02:37 PM

Re: So Im reading these books.. a coworker saw it..and..well..

Those are amazing books and I believe the reason he made the covers look like that for a reason....he wanted to get people
s attention.
i would highly recommend them to anyone interested in reading about the Holocaust. Once you get past the cover...the story, told in a comic-strip style, is very powerful

shawl Posted: Mar 20, 2005 01:05 AM

Re: So Im reading these books.. a coworker saw it..and..well..

I read them years ago (tho' I haven't read his most recent book), and have always thought (like one of the earlier posters) of these books as pretty well-known.

PrincessRose Posted: Mar 20, 2005 09:39 AM

Re: So Im reading these books.. a coworker saw it..and..well..

Posted by shawl

I read them years ago (tho' I haven't read his most recent book), and have always thought (like one of the earlier posters) of these books as pretty well-known.

Ditto!!!!

I can't believe that most people *haven't* heard of these books! I was a kid when they came out and I knew about them then!

I have an uncle who's a survivor. I'll also let you know that when I was twelve a classmate threw a paper airplane with a swastika on it just to see my reaction. Oh, and while I was at Binghamton, someone painted swastikas all the way from the lecture hall to Hinman. That really isn't all that far, but that's besides the point. I and various members of my family have experienced a lot of anti-semitism over the years. All *those* things bother me.

The cover of Maus does not bother me.

I think a lot of it has to do with the intent behind using the symbol. Those events I listed above had hate and ignorance behind them. The cover of Maus was drawn by the son of a survivor who's whole intent was to pay tribute to his father.

Let's look at a few facts here:
1. Maus is a graphic novel. If there were a cover of two mice hugging without a symbol that terrifies the soul on it, people might not know what they're about to get into.
2. The Book Is About the Holocaust. It is about the terrors that survivors went through. Use of the symbol can help modern people who don't know why it makes us shudder, who need to understand why Jews fear persecution and anti-semitism as much as we do. I can't tell you how many times I have had to explain my reaction to anti-semitism to non-Jewish friends. You cannot possibly understand how it is to fear prejudice unless you've been the victim of it yourself.

IMO, understanding is the first step to acceptance.

Veronica, if the looks you're getting make you uncomfortable, put a cover on the books. But I applaud Jim and you for reading them.

girlygrl33 Posted: Mar 20, 2005 10:37 AM

Re: So Im reading these books.. a coworker saw it..and..well..

Ive never heard of them, and to be honest if I saw someone reading them in the gym or on the train, Im not sure how I would feel? I hate to say this but I guess it would also depend on how the person looked that was reading it- I know I know you shouldnt judge a book by its cover or a person either but with how this world is today and so open I dont know if I would be like hmmmmmm or think it was a student reading an assignment. A book is knowledge and in as much as a cover is offensive that shouldnt stop someone from reading, even those books. some of our history was really bad but I think its a good thing that so many are reading about it despite the cover, thats how the author sees it- its art not very good but to the author it is. and I guess it is by standards it is on the market!