Life and Fate Read Along, Part 2 Chapter 8

This post, covering Part 2, Chapter 8 is part of The Slavic Literature Pod’s chapter a day read along of Vasily Grossman’s Life and Fate. Learn more about our project here.

In some chapters of Life and Fate, the gossip and overheard stories from certain characters can feel trivial compared to the overall situation of the war. In this chapter, what Karimov portrays as gossip instead takes on a different air of importance.

Karimov tries to explain that “he’d heard of some camps in Poland specifically for Jews. First they’re killed and then their bodies are cut up - just like in a slaughterhouse. But I’m sure that’s only a rumor,” (p. 362). In contrast to the last chapter, Viktor seems concerned by the news. Karimov brushes it off saying that it’s probably just a rumor and that he only asked because he thought Viktor might be interested.