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Date Posted: 07:08:14 07/07/12 Sat
Author: Elaine
Subject: Flights of Angels Chapters 34, 35 and 36

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(The tiny spot located in the upper left, unattached from Mother Russia, is where my adopted daughter was born – Kaliningrad on the Baltic Sea.)

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Chapter 34, Gregor’s Story

Jamie and Nikolai earn extra rations as a result of their felling skills. He takes a luxurious shower with hard-milled black market soap that Vanya has provided and feels almost decadent. Gregor surprises Jamie as he showers, but all he wants is conversation.

Gregor explains that he has gained respect for Jamie and wishes to share his story. Gregor was one of the wild children, a type of criminal breeding ground that would eventually land him a place in the Russian mafia.

One day the child Gregor picks the pocket of a powerful man named Viktor, a criminal himself who takes Gregor under his wing. All of Viktor’s protégés are asked to disregard their vulnerabilities such as drugs or alcohol. Gregor’s weakness is beauty, anything that speaks of beauty. And this is why he is drawn to Jamie.

Gregor determines that Jamie and Andrei are linked together because they both share a tattoo on their backs that commemorates their escapades in France. Gregor was clearly spying on Andrei as he had sex with Violet to be able to learn about the tattoo.

Gregor and Jamie end their discussion with a truce. Just before departing for the evening, Gregor tells Jamie about his pet wolf, his constant companion for many years during his youth. Viktor, his mentor, insisted that Gregor kill the wolf to prove his loyalty. Gregor loved this animal very much, but in the end he realized he had to choice but to kill it. Jamie clearly understands the implication.

Chapter 35, Camp Wife

Svetlana is the camp commander’s wife. A voluptuous redhead, she is a powerful woman in this world of mostly men. She notices Jamie, and sets her sights on him. Shura warns Jamie of her lustful pursuits.

In the coming days Svetlana asks Jamie to assist with some household needs. One particular day, it was a request to repair a radio. Jamie realized quickly that the radio had been deliberately broken, and that Svetlana had other intentions for his services. After she threatens to have Shura tortured, Jamie reluctantly gives in to her demands.

Chapter 36, Mother Russia

Jamie contemplates the beauty and the terror that is Russia, and compares it to his native Ireland. He longs to escape, but focuses instead on the fates of the people he has come to love – Violet, Shura, Nikolai – and knows that they would be punished should he manage to get away. The chapter ends with Jamie accepting the fact that Russia is now his home.

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Q1) Stalin’s cruelty created the wild children of Russia, the children who turned out like Gregor. There are still millions of children living on the streets of Russia today or abandoned in orphanages. What are some of the reasons the Russian people allow this to happen? Why is there seemingly no serious effort put forth to protect and shelter these children?

Q2) ”It is only a body. It is not who I am.” A statement of survival made by Pamela, Vanya and now Jamie. Do you think you could make that same statement to yourself if faced with a similar situation?

Q3) This chapter begins with a beautiful description of what comprises the nation of Russia, formerly the USSR. Somewhere mixed in with the harsh realities that define this vast country, one can find true beauty and poetry. In what ways are Russia and Ireland similar? How are they different?

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