The Master Butchers Singing Club-Chapter 1-SPOILERS

[Curmudgeoness]

This thread is set up for discussion of the book by Louise Erdrich, and will be posted chapter by chapter (as I finish them or if you want to participate, you can post an OP for the next chapter). This way, we can see how our opinions of the book and characters change or not over time. If you are joining the discussion, stop after each chapter and post before going on so you don't have more information than anyone else reading this.


Chapter 1 certainly wastes no time. Fidelis Waldvogel goes from the war to getting married to coming to America in short order. My head is spinning over it. But at least we are not wasting time.

I am in awe of all the immigrants who had the nerve to make the trip to the United States, leaving everyone and everything they know behind. The reason for Fidelis' move is one of the strangest I have heard, but maybe it is more typical of the reasons than I would expect. Wonderbread. Who would think that this would be inspiration to anyone???

I found it so short-sighted of Fidelis to have gone through everything he had before he decided to stop. I cannot imagine how anyone expects to survive with no money and no assets that are not needed to make his living. Is this just someone who is that confident? Or is he deluded into thinking that the rules don't apply here? I wonder if many other immigrants were just as optimistic about their abilities to make a living and survive. We have no real insight into his mind yet. But I keep thinking, how would he intend to make more sausage without the money to buy meat, spices, casings, whatever else is needed.

We really don't learn much about Fidelis, or Eva, the woman he married because he felt commited to do it. But I am very interested in finding out more about him and how he intends to survive.


What were your thoughts on finishing this chapter?