The book starts with the author, Art, recalling a memory of his childhood where Art is ditched by his friends. Art goes home crying to his Dad who immediately compares the situation to the holocaust. The book then skips to Art as an adult. Art visits his father, Vladek, as an adult and asks him to recall his life leading up to the holocaust with his wife Anja. Over the next couple of chapters Vladek's experiences go more and more into the holocaust. During this time he owns a textile factory, has a son, gets called up from the polish reserves, and becomes a German prisoner of war. He comes face-to-face with racism from the German soldiers and the terrible conditions for Jewish prisoner's of war.
The most interesting part of the book so far is how the different nationalities and races are depicted as different animals. The polish are shown as pigs, the french as frogs, the Jewish as mice, and the German as cats. Another interesting component of the book is the relationship Art has with his father Vladek. When Vladek talks about his experiences before the holocaust, he begs Art not to include it in is book because it is too personal. Apparently however he still include it even though he was asked not too. He also seems to have some resentment to his father.
The most interesting part of the book so far is how the different nationalities and races are depicted as different animals. The polish are shown as pigs, the french as frogs, the Jewish as mice, and the German as cats. Another interesting component of the book is the relationship Art has with his father Vladek. When Vladek talks about his experiences before the holocaust, he begs Art not to include it in is book because it is too personal. Apparently however he still include it even though he was asked not too. He also seems to have some resentment to his father.