John Powers

Human beings adapt, carry on, turn away from things they don't wish to see or hear.

If the book has a hero, it's probably Ruth Andreas Friedrich, a journalist who didn't turn away.

Along with her partner, the conductor Leo Borchardt, she ran a resistance group named Uncle Emil, risking her life to protect Jews, help them escape, and support other groups battling the Nazis.

All this makes her much braver than I've ever been, but I equally admire her refusal to be sanctimonious about those who, fearing prison or worse, didn't rise up against the dictatorship.

She had the rare virtue of being righteous without being self-righteous.

We will literally fight about anything, anything.

A song from our childhood.

Threatened.

Forget it.

No, listen, I couldn't do your day.

Not one day.

Not one day.

No, no, no, you win.

Maybe if I hadn't seen death at such a young age, I would have had some broader career choices.

Just maybe.

When I first discovered stories as a kid...

I was in love with plot.

I was thrilled by the way that everything could slide so neatly into place.

But as I watched and read more, the thrill began to vanish.

Plots began to feel like freeways.