The Accordionist (The Secret Life of Hans Hubermann)

-Death notes early on in this section: "I've seen so many young men over the years who think they're running at other young men. They are not. They're running at me." -If this scene has repeated itself as often as Death insinuates, why do you think these young men never notice that they are running straight at Death?
-Hans makes two main mistakes in his life, both of which are detailed in this section. -Why does he take such reckless measures to make his views known? What does he learn from these mistakes?

A Good Girl

-Liesel and Max are briefly acquainted in this section. -How do you think the two of them will interact later on?

A Short History of the Jewish Fist Fighter

-At his uncle's deathbed, a thirteen-year-old Max vows that when Death captures him, "he will feel my fist in his face." Shortly after this, "he started to fight with great regularity." -Is there any significance in the juxtaposition of these events?
-Max is forced to leave his family behind to go into hiding and calls it his "desertion" rather than his escape. -Do you consider this a desertion, as Max does? What would you have done in a similar situation?

The Wrath of Rosa

-Shortly after meeting Max for the first time, Rosa sits him down with a bowl of pea soup, watching him with "a look of triumph on her face." This triumph, however, is not because of the nobility of her husband's actions, but rather because Max is eating her soup without complaint, as Liesel and Hans will not. -What does this say about Rosa? Is this a good or a bad thing?

Liesel's Lecture

-At the beginning of this section, Death attempts to define the kind of people Hans and Rosa Hubermann are, but he comes to no conclusions. -How would you define the Hubermanns? Kind? Ignorant? Insane?
-Death briefly touches on Max's immense feeling of shame. -What do you think Max is ashamed of? Does he have anything he should be ashamed of?
-When Hans talks to Liesel about why Max is here and what the consequences of his presence could be, he threatens to burn Liesel's books if she tells anyone about Max and describes what will happen to himself and Rosa and Max if anyone finds out. -Are these threats necessary? Do you think Liesel would have told anyone if Hans had not scared her half to death?

As always, any other comments are more than welcome.

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