A Summer’s Reading

Background – Bernard Malamud -The son of Russian Jews who immigrated to the U.S. -He grew up in NY during the Great Depression -His stories are usually about finding hope in poor urban settings -Malamud’s father’s business failed -His mother died when he was 15 -He started publishing short stories in magazines while working as a teacher -Malamud worked at odd jobs to pay for his studies

Background The Great Depression -The Stock Market crashes in Banks went bankrupt, people were homeless -Very few jobs were available Immigration from Europe -After 1880 larger steam-powered ocean going ships replaced older sailing ships which lead to increased immigration -Farming improvements in southern Europe created surplus labor in the Russian Empire. -Nearly 25 million Europeans came to America looking for the American dream -They were mostly young people age 15 to 30 -Italians, Greeks, Hungarians, Poles, and others speaking Slavic languages constituted the bulk of this migration. -From 1880 to 1924, around two million Jews moved to the United States, mostly seeking better opportunity in America and fleeing the pogroms of the Russian Empire. -The 1910s marked the high point of Italian immigration to the United States.

Setting A poor immigrant neighborhood in New York City NeighborhoodPark No treestrees Light from store windowsdark People sitting on the sidewalks/stoopsempty openfenced in

The two PROTAGONISTS CattanzaraGeorge Change makerUnemployed (left all jobs) Has an ugly wifeWants a girl Smart enough to read the NY Times but not educated Smart enough to read Almanac but not educated (quit high school at 16) Lives above a shoe makerLives above a butcher shop Immigrated from ItalyComes from an immigrant family (father works at fish market) Short and stockyTall and thin (like Sophie) Drinks to escape his realityGoes to the park to dream the American Dream Middle aged+Nearly 20 chainedstuck “Don’t do what I did”

PLOT He lies to Mr. C -Waiting for a job -Reading to pick up his education -Took out 100 books -Reading them all summer George is unsatisfied- Walks alone- Lazy

PLOT Mr. C spreads rumor that George is reading 100 books -The shoemaker stops George -His father and Sophie know -Sophie gives him 1$ -The storekeepers regard him highly George feels better -Walks erect -Skips the park -Cleans the house -Likes the neighborhood more -Enjoys ball games more

PLOT George avoids Cattanzara -Crosses the street -Walks a diff route -Starts to feel nervous -Decides to read something before he sees him again -Buys some “soft books” He loses interest in everything -Stops reading altogether -Stops cleaning

PLOT George runs into Mr. C -Mr. C is drunk -He gives George a nickel -He asks for the name of one book -He says “don’t do what I did” George thinks his lie has been revealed -He doesn’t lie to Sophie anymore about reading -She calls him a bum, stops giving him money -He stays in the room for 1 week -He can’t breathe

PLOT When George finally comes out he realizes Mr. C spread a rumor that he read the books - A neighbor says “it’s a wonderful thing for a boy your age to read so much” George goes to the library -it’s fall already -He takes 100 books out -He sits down to read them -He is trembling with excitement