On to the questions!
1. How is this novel serving as the seemingly modern trend to look at how humans react to traumatic situations? How is this an open and honest look at the suffering caused by war?
This novel is representing how humans deal with traumatic situations really well. Instead of showing people gloriously fighting battles and heroically dying for their country, it shows the truths about war. While the people were still sometimes ardently proud of their country (think Lev serving on top of the Kirov or Kolya fighting with the regular army), they were also experiencing horrible things day to day and having to find some normalcy in the situation. This book shows things like Vadim the dying boy with the chicken/rooster, which shows child death in war. Also in that scene, just the dead old man who forced his grandson to be there with him. The dead people on the Neva also was pretty horrifying. In addition to that, the cannibals and how Kolya and Lev sort of ignore them.This book is very open and honest because it shows all of these things, but then it also shows people coping. We have Sonya who helps whoever needs and with her darning egg. We also have Kolya and Lev's companionship and how they lean on each other. There's happiness even in the darkest of times.
I also like your idea about propaganda. There is some propaganda in the book and they make fun of literally every single piece of it. This stamps out the idea that propaganda really does anything for the citizens of the country. It's for other people to look at and feel some kind of nationalism or patriotism.
2. What sort of commentary is Benioff offering about the treatment of Jews and the prominence of racism?
Lev always seems very afraid and/or annoyed when Kolya brings up that he's Jewish to other people. However, Kolya is very open and kind of childish in that he doesn't understand how other people might take this information. While Kolya acts old and mature, he's actually very childish in a lot of aspects. Also, I love how he uses the nicknames "my little lion" and "my grumpy Israelite," and Lev is just like *grump grump* stop it kolya. Kolya is so offensive, but I feel like he doesn't really realize it and Lev isn't going to say anything. I would say also that Lev isn't going to say anything because he's kind of used to these kinds of names and people looking down on him, which is another aspect we can add to how he isn't/wasn't loved a lot through his life.
Some of the racism is understandable in this setting, though. The Russians are obviously going to be wary of the Germans and vice versa. This means some prejudice and some racism.
There's a lot of stuff to talk about with this, but I'm not sure in which direction to head. What did you think of this topic?
3. Are there any other moments of homosexuality or companionship throughout the novel? How do these moments contrast the typically "manly" view of war? (yes, mr. lister, we can do the novel you want if you want)
There were some more moments! I noticed first of all, Vika says something about how the Kolya and her commanding officer were gonna "get it on" or something. And they all blow it off. And then later when they're all walking through the snow in the single file line at nine paces apart and Kolya and Lev start walking together and talking in whispers, Vika sneaks up behind them and suggests they *ehem* get a room. Seemingly all the talk of sex is directed towards Kolya. Also, I'm not sure if this is in chapter 18 or 19, but when they're sleeping on the floor of the house and Lev is describing how Kolya is like really close to him and won't leave him alone and is breathing in his ear and whatnot and then someone, again, I think, tells them to (politely) get a room.
I really, really love your thought about "how do these moments contrast the typically "manly" view of war." That is so interesting. I read that and was like "oh my god, that is actually really cool." I think it kind of contrasts this manly view of war by saying that war isn't really manly at all. War shows you that it's not about the things you have or the people you know, it's about who's on your side and making connections. Being a civilian during a war is about trying to live without possessions, and instead with love. I think this could be the author's view being cleverly imposed on the story. Lev and Kolya display this so perfectly because they were both jerked out of their normal life and only given each other as a kind of safety net. They're, obviously, pretty dependent on each other by now and care pretty deeply about each other. Whether or not they think they do.
I can't remember, but did Lev already figure out that Kolya was writing his own book? I just really love that scene. That scene and the whole scene where Lev is half-asleep/dead tired while they're trudging through the forest and Kolya is like "I'm right here, little lion. I'll hold you up." The latter had a kind of dream-like quality to it and I think it's probably, honestly, my favorite scene in the entire book. They are just really frank and honest with each other by that point and they depend on and trust so heavily in each other. so much companionship!!!
4. Eye color count and interesting information.
When they first meet Vika, Lev mentions her eye color actually a few times. I believe it says that they were brown. And then he says it again a little later. *hint hint wink wink*
I'm not sure if he says anyone else, but Vika does seem to be a little different for Lev. She's not an object like every other girl. She's a real, whole person. It's kind of funny because usually, I mean from an evolutionary standpoint, the boy would go for the pretty girl and he would be the protector. But with Lev and Vika, Lev is kind of looking for someone to protect him. And Vika is perfect for him in this respect. It's another reversal of roles that I think Benioff is really fond of. It could also be showing, again, how war isn't masculine or manly.
I'm not sure I understand exactly what you mean by coming in for half of psychology and also on Monday? Here's what I got from that: you can come in on Friday for two periods, since it's a half day; you can come in during half of psychology on Thursday/or Monday (i don't know what you meant) and then if you came in Thursday, you would have a blog post due that Sunday (three days away the 10th) or if you came in Monday then that weekend (the 17th). I kind of have no idea what you mean there.
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